The location of the Ark of the Covenant, the gold-overlaid box with a solid gold lid, has been and is the topic of many speculations. We are all familiar with the Indiana Jones film where the Ark ended up being stored in a gigantic government warehouse. In reality, no one knows where it is, and it is the subject of feverish treasure hunts. But the Bible gives us other information.
The Ark of the Covenant was created according to a design provided by the Lord, while the Children of Israel were camped at Mount Sinai. It was carried through the desert as Israel moved about for forty years.
During the times of the Judges, the Tabernacle and the Ark dwelled at Shiloh. During a battle with the Philistines, Israel thought is was a good idea to bring the Ark to the scene of the battle. This was not a good move and the Ark was captured. Bad things happened to the Philistines and they returned the Ark of the Covenant to Israel.
Later, King David brought the Ark to the City of David during his reign. Then, Solomon placed the Ark in the Temple that he built. From the time of King Solomon until the reign of King Josiah, a period of two-hundred to three-hundred years, the Ark is not mentioned in the Bible. The last historic mention is the event of King Josiah giving instructions for Passover (II Chronicles 35:3).
Good King Josiah was followed by a series of poor kings; Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin and Zedekiah. Jehoahaz only reigned for three months and the others ruled over Judah during the fall of the nation to Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. It does not appear that the Ark was taken as spoil to Babylon. It is probable that it was hidden from the Babylonians. If this is the case, those who knew the location died without disclosing it.
The Ark of the Covenant is not mentioned in the Old Testament again until the Prophet Jeremiah records the words of the Lord.
"And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the LORD, they shall say no more, The Ark of the Covenant of the LORD: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more. – Jeremiah 3:16The word “done” in the above verse, in the Hebrew, is asa (Strong’s H6213) which is defined as “to work on something.” This Hebrew word is used five times in Genesis chapter one as the Lord made the physical world.
Therefore, the Lord said that Israel would not remember the Ark, nor would another one be made!
It is interesting that the Prophet Jeremiah announced that the Ark would not be remembered and the same prophet also announced the New Covenant just a few chapters later.
“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they broke, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.” – Jeremiah 31:31-33The same prophet told us that the Ark, a symbol of the Old Covenant, would be forgotten and then informed us of the New Covenant from the Lord. I think this is an important transition from the Old Testament to the New Testament, found in the Book of Jeremiah. My thanks to Brother Gary Manning for noticing this.
Praise the Lord for His wonderful New Covenant that includes all mankind, not just the one chosen group of people. Praise the Lord for His wonderful plan to include us all. Always praise Him!