What Happened to the Ark of the Covenant?

Within God’s Word there are many places, artifacts, and treasures that tend to catch our attention. For example, many are intrigued by the resting place of Noah’s Ark because they would like to know exactly where humanity started again. Others are fascinated with artifacts such as Sennacherib’s Prism because they provide further evidence to the Bible’s credibility. Whatever the case may be, people have always taken a keen interest in the archaeological realm of Scripture. Certainly, there are a great number of relics that gain popularity and curiosity, but perhaps the most intriguing is the Ark of the Covenant.

It was in the context of Exodus 25 that God gave Moses and the Israelites divine instructions to build this world-renowned box. As the years passed by, the Ark was consistently seen throughout Israel’s history. When the Israelites crossed the Jordan river the Ark was there (Josh. 3:6). As punishment for the wickedness of Eli’s sons, the Israelites lost a battle and the Ark to the Philistines (1 Sam. 4:11). There was even an occasion in which a man lost his life for touching the Ark (2 Sam. 6:6, 7). Over and over again the Ark of the covenant etched its mark on Israelite history, the question is, what happened to it? For hundreds of years the Ark was in Jerusalem, but today no one knows where it is. Having said that, consider a few propositions for the location of the Ark.

First, there are some who suggest the Ark was taken to Egypt by Shishak during the days of Rehoboam. The basis of this proposition comes from 1 Kings 14:25, 26 where the Bible says, “It happened in the fifth year of King Rehoboam that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem. And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king’s house; he took away everything.” If you have ever seen the movie, Indianna Jones, this is the theory that was suggested and that is why Dr. Jones went to Cairo looking for the Ark.

A second theory submits that the Ark was moved to Samaria when Jehoash was reigning over the Northern kingdom. During this time, Amaziah, the king of Judah, challenged Jehoash in battle, however after Amaziah was defeated many suggest the Ark was taken by Jehoash. This theory gets its evidence from 2 Kings 14:14.

Now, on the surface both of these theories seem to be a possible solution to the Ark’s location, but there is one major problem with both propositions. The problem is there is Biblical evidence which supports the Ark’s presence in Jerusalem at a later date. Which leads to one final suggestion regarding the Ark’s dwelling place. Right before Judah was taken into Babylonian captivity, “Babylonian ambassadors” showed up on the doorsteps of king Hezekiah’s house. You will remember Hezekiah was more than happy to provide a tour, and when Isaiah asked, “What have they seen in your house?” Hezekiah gladly responded, “They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them” (2 Kings 20:15). Now, there is no way this can be proven, but some propose when Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians ransacked Jerusalem in 586 B.C., they remembered what Hezekiah had shown them years ago, and the Ark of the Lord was taken then melted down, leaving it destroyed forever.

Without a doubt, mankind has always been fascinated by the relics we find in Scripture, but in all reality, we need to remember it does not matter what happened to the Ark. As New Testament Christians while it can be fun to guess and examine what could have happened to the Ark, the truth is we do not know.