# Speculation: What if the Ark of the Covenant were discovered? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 21, 2004, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-what-if-the-ark-of-the-covenant-were-discovered/260790 "2004-08-21T00:11:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-what-if-the-ark-of-the-covenant-were-discovered/260790/41 "2004-08-23T16:18:13Z")
I see no reason to believe that the ark survived the destruction of the first temple, when it probably occupied a small area called the tabernacle within the temple that was itself a replica of the desert tent-thingie. But I also assume that both tabernacle and ark actually existed as physical artifacts that were sacred to the people of Judah and which they had with them for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-what-if-the-ark-of-the-covenant-were-discovered/260790/42 "2004-08-23T16:23:47Z")
I have a couple cool links on the Ark- [National Geographic](http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/data/2001/07/01/html/ft_20010701.6.html) has a brief article on the Ethiopian church that claims it. And here is [a link of links](http://www.shortcuts.com/arklinks.html) for those that really want to read. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-what-if-the-ark-of-the-covenant-were-discovered/260790/43 "2004-08-23T16:44:27Z")
**Me** > [@](#): > > I see no reason to believe that the ark survived the destruction of the first temple, when it probably occupied a small area called the tabernacle within the temple that was itself a replica of the desert tent-thingie. “that was itself a replica of the desert tent-thingie” should be understood to be a phrase that modifies “the tabernacle”, not “the temple”. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-what-if-the-ark-of-the-covenant-were-discovered/260790/44 "2004-08-23T17:00:39Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > Or an unidentified government warehouse. Apropos of nothing, one of the weirdest bits of ridiculous minutiae lodged in my trivia-clogged head is the number stenciled on the side of the crate. I sometimes deploy this tidbit when a thermonuclear trivia weapon is called for. Oh, and calling it a ‘dingus’ is cracking me up. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-what-if-the-ark-of-the-covenant-were-discovered/260790/45 "2004-08-23T20:21:21Z")
Since it is likely the first temple existed, and it is not too improbable that a holy item like the Ark would be in it, I don’t know that finding the Ark would be particularly earth-shattering. It not doing any tricks might actually help knock down the mythology. I agree that it being found does not imply it wandered all over the Sinai, unless there were some good evidence (like pollen or something) that it had been to other places. It would be cool to have found an artifact that old, and it would probably merit its own museum. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-what-if-the-ark-of-the-covenant-were-discovered/260790/46 "2004-08-23T21:43:26Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > True. Actually, I believe the safekeeper lives alone and can’t leave the place. He’s a sort of hermit. > But since, as you mentionned, nobody is allowed to approach the thing, it’s not like this claim is taken very seriously. There’s probably _something_ in this church, but probably as real as the relics found all over Europe. At least, with the shroud of Turin, people can see it from time to time. Careful with this one friends. This theory is mainly propagated by one Graham Hancock in his book “The Sign and the Seal” wherein he uses all sorts of nifty logic (including deciphering hidden meanings in the statuary at the cathedral at Chartres) to reach this conclusion. Noteworthy as well is that despite all 2000 pages of the book, it sums up quite quickly when the priest at the church in Ethiopia will not let Hancock see the “tabot”. Careful reading suggests that Hancock is, while way below the Von Daniken standard, a bit of a nutter. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2004, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-what-if-the-ark-of-the-covenant-were-discovered/260790/47 "2004-08-23T21:46:57Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > Apropos of nothing, one of the weirdest bits of ridiculous minutiae lodged in my trivia-clogged head is the number stenciled on the side of the crate. I sometimes deploy this tidbit when a thermonuclear trivia weapon is called for. > > Oh, and calling it a ‘dingus’ is cracking me up. 🙂 9906753 ---
**Author:** ![rfgdxm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@rfgdxm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rfgdxm)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-what-if-the-ark-of-the-covenant-were-discovered/260790/48 "2004-08-24T01:51:51Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Once again going with Biblical history as a guide, it could be placed on a cart drawn by two oxen and let the oxen free to pull it without human guidance. > > Otherwise, I suppose that some sort of tent could be set up in Jerusalem as an interim home for it (e.g., the dedicated museum you mentioned - but treated with respect due a sacred object rather than as a historical artifact for every curious person to lay eyes on) until a new Temple can be rebuilt. That’s what King David did. Hmm…consider the political implications of housing this thing in Jerusalem? To start, that tent had better well damn be within a fortress. ☹ Only thing going for the idea is that the Ark would be considered a sacred object by Jews, Christians and Muslims. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-what-if-the-ark-of-the-covenant-were-discovered/260790/49 "2004-08-24T02:34:35Z")
Would Jews, Xtians, & Muslims all see it as sacred? Wouldn’t some Muslims see it as a vestige of offensive Jewish claims to specialness? And Xtians have a “New Covenant,” after all. What does the Quran say about it? Personally, I suspect the following: Since it incorporated graven images, it got tossed by that king who removed the idols from the temple. It may have been irreparably compromised by the previous regime’s idolatry. It was probably burned/melted down before a restorationist got hold of it. Sorry! ---
**Author:** ![rfgdxm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@rfgdxm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rfgdxm)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-what-if-the-ark-of-the-covenant-were-discovered/260790/50 "2004-08-24T02:48:03Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > Would Jews, Xtians, & Muslims all see it as sacred? Wouldn’t some Muslims see it as a vestige of offensive Jewish claims to specialness? And Xtians have a “New Covenant,” after all. What does the Quran say about it? > **[Ark of the Covenant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ark_of_the_Covenant)** > > The Ark of the Covenant (Hebrew: אֲרוֹן הַבְּרִית ʾărōn habbrīṯ; Koinē Greek: Κιβωτὸς τῆς Διαθήκης, romanized: Kibōtòs tês Diathḗkēs also known as the Ark of the Testimony, or the Ark of God), is the most sacred relic of the Israelites. It consisted of a pure gold-covered wooden chest with an elaborate lid called the Mercy seat. The Ark is described in the Book of Exodus as containing the two stone tablets of the Ten Commandments. According to New Testament Book of Hebrews, it also containe The b... In the Qur’an There is only a brief mention of the Ark of the Covenant in the Qur’an: Their prophet said to them, “The sign of his kingship is that the Ark of the Covenant will be restored to you, bringing assurances from your Lord, and relics left by the people of Moses and the people of Aaron. It will be carried by the angels. This should be a convincing sign for you, if you are really believers.” 002:248 ## According to some Muslim scholars, the Ark of the Covenant does not have a religious basis in Islam and Islam does not give it any special significance while others believe that it will be found by Mahdi near the end of times and inside there will be relics left by the people of Moses and the people of Aaron. They might be the sceptres of Moses and Aaron, plates of Torah and Aaron’s turban. It is mentioned in the Qur’an. Certainly from what the Prophet said a Muslim shouldn’t want to destroy it. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-what-if-the-ark-of-the-covenant-were-discovered/260790/51 "2004-08-24T17:21:52Z")
> [@Cluricaun](#): > > 9906753 Look again. (The number actually onscreen is not the same as the number in the book, script, etc.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-what-if-the-ark-of-the-covenant-were-discovered/260790.md?page=2)