Where is the Ark of the Covenant?
What happened to the ark of the covenant? There are theories galore. Here’s a quick rundown. Let’s start with Egypt. After Solomon died, his son Rehoboam became king, and Pharaoh Shishak invaded Jerusalem. He carried off treasures from the temple (1 Kings 14). That theory, of course, lies behind Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Others think that when King Jehoash from the northern kingdom invaded Jerusalem and plundered the temple treasury, he took the ark as spoils of war (2 Kings 14). Both theories run into a snag. There is evidence that the ark was restored to (or still present in) Jerusalem generations later during the reign of Josiah ( 2 Chronicles 35:3).
That brings us to the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC. Nebuchadnezzar razed the temple and carried many sacred objects away to Babylon. Some think the ark was destroyed then or taken into exile.
That brings us to the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC. Nebuchadnezzar razed the temple and carried many sacred objects away to Babylon. Some think the ark was destroyed then or taken into exile.
Here’s the problem: Jeremiah 52, which we read today in Bible in One Year, gives a long inventory of temple items taken by the Babylonians, yet the ark is never mentioned. Revelation 11:19 says “the ark of his covenant” was in God’s heavenly temple, but that is part of an apocalyptic vision, and thus should not be interpreted literally.
There is a tradition in 2 Maccabees 2 that Jeremiah hid the ark in a cave before the Babylonian invasion. Finally, there is the claim of the Ethiopian church that they possess it, but no verifiable proof has yet been put forward. But the truth is much simpler and far less exciting: We don’t know. Disappointing, yep, but facts are facts.
God knows. We do not.
From a Christian perspective, it doesn’t matter. The ark was always a road sign, never the destination. It pointed beyond itself to Christ, who fulfilled everything about the temple. Jesus is the true sanctuary. The meeting place between God and man. The true atonement. Paul explicitly calls Jesus the ark's ἱλαστήριον, the “atonement cover,” in Romans 3:25.
When he shed his blood on the cross, the shadows gave way to light. So if folks want to search for the lost ark, sure, go for it. Christians know the greater treasure has already been found.
There is a tradition in 2 Maccabees 2 that Jeremiah hid the ark in a cave before the Babylonian invasion. Finally, there is the claim of the Ethiopian church that they possess it, but no verifiable proof has yet been put forward. But the truth is much simpler and far less exciting: We don’t know. Disappointing, yep, but facts are facts.
God knows. We do not.
From a Christian perspective, it doesn’t matter. The ark was always a road sign, never the destination. It pointed beyond itself to Christ, who fulfilled everything about the temple. Jesus is the true sanctuary. The meeting place between God and man. The true atonement. Paul explicitly calls Jesus the ark's ἱλαστήριον, the “atonement cover,” in Romans 3:25.
When he shed his blood on the cross, the shadows gave way to light. So if folks want to search for the lost ark, sure, go for it. Christians know the greater treasure has already been found.
