The Ark of the Covenant, a sacred chest that held the tablets of the Ten Commandments and other holy items, was originally kept in the Tabernacle during the Israelites' desert wanderings and later housed in the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem. Its exact fate remains a mystery, with no definitive historical record after the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BCE
. Several theories and traditions exist regarding what happened to the Ark:
- Babylonian Conquest : Jewish tradition suggests the Ark disappeared during the Babylonian sack of Jerusalem. Some believe it was taken to Babylon or hidden before the temple's destruction
- Hidden by King Josiah or Jeremiah : Some accounts propose that King Josiah hid the Ark to protect it from the Babylonians. Another tradition, found in 2 Maccabees, says the prophet Jeremiah concealed it in a cave on Mount Nebo (modern-day Jordan) to keep it safe until the end of time
- Ethiopian Claim : According to Ethiopian Orthodox Church tradition, the Ark is kept in the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion in Aksum, Ethiopia, guarded for centuries and not accessible to the public
- Underground in Jerusalem : Some speculate the Ark remains hidden beneath the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, possibly in secret vaults or tunnels designed by Solomon. Political and religious sensitivities have prevented thorough archaeological exploration there
- Other Locations : Various less substantiated claims place the Ark in locations such as Mount Gerizim (Samaritan tradition), Qumran, Ireland, Rome, or Zimbabwe, but these lack strong evidence
In summary, the Ark of the Covenant's whereabouts are unknown today. It may have been lost, hidden, or taken away during ancient conflicts, and it continues to be a subject of religious reverence, mystery, and speculation
