Hebrew Aron HaBrit, "the Ark of the Covenant." Described in Exodus 25:10-22 and 37:1-9. A rectangular chest of acacia wood overlaid with pure gold, 2.5 cubits long by 1.5 wide by 1.5 high (about 3'9" x 2'3" x 2'3"). Two gold cherubim faced each other over the "mercy seat" (Hebrew kapporet, "atonement cover"), their wings overshadowing it. The ark contained: the two stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, a jar of manna (Exodus 16:33-34, cf. Hebrews 9:4), and Aaron's budded staff (Numbers 17:10, Hebrews 9:4). The ark was the throne of God on earth — His localized dwelling place among His covenant people.
The Ark of the Covenant's history. Carried through the wilderness (Numbers 10:33-36 — "Rise up, O LORD, and let your enemies be scattered"), led Israel across the Jordan (Joshua 3-4), circled Jericho (Joshua 6), captured by the Philistines for seven months (1 Samuel 4-6, causing plagues), returned to Israel, kept at Kiriath-jearim for 20 years, finally brought up to Jerusalem by David (2 Samuel 6) and installed in Solomon's temple. The ark disappears from the biblical record before the Babylonian exile (587 BC); it is not mentioned in the lists of what Nebuchadnezzar carried to Babylon. Its fate is unknown — Jewish tradition places it hidden by Jeremiah (2 Maccabees 2:4-8); Ethiopian tradition claims it is at Axum; others suspect it was destroyed in the destruction of the First Temple. It does not appear in the Second Temple. The Holy of Holies in Herod's temple was empty. Revelation 11:19, however, pictures the heavenly temple with "the ark of his covenant... seen within his temple" — suggesting the earthly ark was only a shadow of the eternal reality. Christ Himself is now the true hilasterion (mercy seat), the place where God meets with His people in mercy (Romans 3:25).