The Ark of the Covenant

Termed Aron Habrit in Hebrew, The Ark of the Covenant is said to house the stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments along with other sacred texts of the Israeli people.

This Ark, as explained the Bible's Book of Exodus, was constructed on Mount Sinai at God's instructions and under Moses' supervision. Through a channel of communication between God and Moses, the Ark preserved the good from the disastrous deluge. Some texts suggest that there were two arks—one built by Moses and the other by Bezalel later.

When the Israeli people journeyed, the Ark was carried by priests into the bed of the river Jordan which parted ways to let everyone pass through. The Ark was then taken to Jericho, wrapped in a veil and a blue cloth, concealed from the Levites who carried it.

Made of the Shittah Tree wood, the Ark was covered in pure gold with two gold rings on each side and wooden poles to enable its carriage.

The Bible says that there were two tablets comprising God's covenant with his people in the Ark. There was also a gold jar with some manna from the Israelis' long journeys, and the rod of Aaron. Once the ark was built, Moses had to consecrate it with the oil of holy ointment.

Historians say that the Ark was intentionally concealed, removed from Jerusalem and eventually destroyed but there are different interpretations of its fate. Some feel that the Covenant and the Tabernacle were hidden and may one day be recovered.