This sacred chest contained the Two Tablets of the Law. Sources indicate varying opinions regarding the Ark's full contents; some maintain it held both the first set of tablets broken by Moses and the second intact set, as well as the Torah scroll written by Moses. The Ark was also known as the Ark of the Covenant or the Ark of the Testimony.
The Ark itself was constructed from three boxes, one wooden box placed inside a slightly larger gold box, and an additional golden box inside the wooden one, thus being covered in gold "on the inside and on the outside". The dimensions of the wooden box were two and one half cubits long, one and one half cubits wide, and one and one half cubits high.
Covering the Ark was the Kaporet, a solid gold tablet with two Cherubim fashioned on top. The Kaporet was a rectangular tablet measuring one and one half cubits by two and one half cubits. The Cherubim were integral to this cover, hewn from the same piece of gold. These golden Cherubim had wings that spread over the Ark. Various descriptions exist regarding their appearance, with the Sages stating their faces were like those of a young boy and girl. They faced each other, symbolising the relationship and affection between God and the People of Israel. In the First Temple, King Solomon built larger Cherubim of shemen (possibly olive or pine) wood overlaid with gold, whose wings spanned over the Ark and touched the walls of the Holy of Holies.
The Ark was equipped with carrying poles made of acacia wood overlaid in gold, affixed to its sides. While other vessels in the Mishkan (Tabernacle) had removable poles for travel, a special commandment dictated that the poles of the Ark were never to be removed. This symbolised that the Torah would accompany the Children of Israel always. The sources note a remarkable phenomenon regarding these poles: they were ten cubits long but protruded outwards through the curtain separating the Holy of Holies. The Talmud interprets this as indicating the Ark was "above the natural realm of space".
In addition to the Ark, several other items were placed in the Holy of Holies, typically beside the Ark, as testimony for future generations:
- A jar of Manna: Placed as a memorial and testimony to God's continuous protection and provision for Israel in the desert.
- A jar of anointing oil: Used to anoint the Mishkan, its vessels, and later Kings from the House of David and High Priests.
- Aaron's staff that blossomed with almond flowers: This was placed as testimony following Korach's controversy, indicating God's selection of Aaron's descendants for the priesthood for all time.
- The box that the Philistines sent when they returned the Ark.
These items were hidden together with the Ark towards the end of the First Temple period.