Since its disappearance more than 2,500 years ago, the ark of the covenant could arguably be the most sought after artifact in the history of the world. We know from scripture that it was built during the time of the wanderings of the children of Israel in the wilderness around 1,440 BC, but after the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC it disappears from the Biblical narrative. Was the ark of the covenant spirited away from the temple by prophet Jeremiah during the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, or did the ark really end up in Ethiopia as a result of King Solomon’s relationship with the Queen of Sheba? The origins of these theories are found in the apocryphal book of 2 Maccabees, and also in the Ethiopian holy book the Kebra Nagast. However, though the Kebra Nagast gives an account of the events from Antiquity, it was written nearly 2,000 years later in the 14th– century AD. So too are the books of the Maccabees doubted to be the inspired word of God. That being said may we study with a discerning eye as we go in search of the lost ark of the covenant.
According to 2 Maccabees 2:4, “…the prophet [Jeremiah], having received an oracle, ordered that the tent and the ark should follow with him, and that he went out to the mountain where Moses had gone up and had seen the inheritance of God.” This mountain where Moses had gone up is identified in Deuteronomy 32:49 as, “…mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho.” Today the acknowledged site of the Biblical mount Nebo is located in the country of Jordan, situated due east from the most northerly tip of the Dead Sea. When comparing the locations of Jerusalem and mount Nebo from a geographical standpoint the distance is quite far, not to mention the rocky terrain which makes travel more difficult and arduous, especially when carrying temple furniture such as the ark of the covenant and other items. So if Jeremiah did indeed take the ark before the Babylonians destroyed the Temple then its location could be much closer to Jerusalem, or even possibly buried somewhere beneath the Holy City.
Another theory as to the whereabouts of the lost ark, relates that the ark has come to rest in the highlands of northern Ethiopia in the holy city of Axum. To this day a single priest guards the ark which is housed in the church of St. Mary of Zion. The duty of guarding the ark lasts for as long as the priest lives, as he is never allowed to ever leave the shrine. The story of how the ark ended up in Ethiopia is found in an ancient Ethiopian religious text known as the Kebra Nagast. The Kebra Nagast goes into great detail of how king Solomon seduced the Queen of Sheba, and how a son was born from their relationship. Eventually Solomon’s son, whose name was Menelik, travels to Jerusalem to visit his father. On Menelik’s return to Ethiopia the ark of the covenant also came with him, along with many of the Levites in order to establish the worship of the One True God in Ethiopia just as the LORD was worshiped in Jerusalem.
In recent years a claim has been made that the ark has indeed been found, hidden in a subterranean chamber located just outside of the walls of Jerusalem. The man who made the claim of discovering the lost ark was the late American archaeologist Ron Wyatt. Ron claimed that in January 1982, while excavating in the tunnels underneath Jerusalem, he broke into a chamber that contained the table of showbread, Goliath’s sword, and a stone box with the ark of the covenant inside of it. For several years after this initial discovery, Ron traveled to Jerusalem repeatedly to work on excavating the Garden Tomb area. On one such visit Ron said that as he entered the chamber that housed the ark, he was met by four angels who spoke to him of things concerning the Ten Commandments and the Mark of the Beast. Over the years many have believed Ron’s claims and many more have been critical of his discoveries. However, in 1999 while on his deathbed Mr. Wyatt continued to proclaim his findings and did not retract any of his claims concerning his work on the lost ark.
From the claims of Ron Wyatt and with what we see concerning the ark in the apocryphal book of 2 Maccabees, a possible solution as to where the ark is located may be found. From 2 Maccabees 2:5 we see that, “Jeremiah came and found a cave-dwelling, and he brought there the tent and the ark and the alter of incense; then he sealed up the entrance.” This verse from 2 Maccabees paints a very similar scenario as to what Ron Wyatt claimed about a sealed chamber that had golden furniture inside, not least of all the ark of the covenant. But the fact that the cave’s location according to 2 Maccabees doesn’t match with Ron’s discoveries could back up why the books of the Maccabees are doubted to be the inspired word of God, and thus labeled as apocrypha. Ron Wyatt’s claims could also be considered as doubtful, since Ron was the only person who entered the chamber, leaving his findings without a witness.
In conclusion we see that the claims as to the whereabouts of the ark are varied, with not much physical evidence to back up these traditions. Whether the ark is in Jerusalem, Ethiopia, or even in a cave somewhere in Jordan, the fact that it has remained hidden for over 2,000 years demonstrates how much the Lord is protecting this most holy object, waiting until the right time to reveal it to the world. And that revelation may not come until the end of this age, with God Himself providing the revelation. For in the book of Revelation the ark is mentioned at the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and rewards given to the prophets, and to the saints. And after these things the Bible says that, “…the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament.” (Revelation 11:19). So to be exactly sure as to where the ark rests, we will just have to wait until the Kingdom comes.
References:
Barker, M. The Gate of Heaven. (Sheffield, England: Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2008).
Bowen, J. The Ark Secret. (Denton, NC: Barnes Printing, 2016).
Brooks, M.F. Kebra Nagast. (Kingston, Jamaica: LMH Publishing Limited, 2001).
Cambridge University Press. The Apocrypha, New Revised Standard Version. (Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press, 1992).