the temple, the ark was probably taken away by Nebuchadnezzar and destroyed, as no trace of it is afterwards to be found. The absence of the ark from the second temple was one of the points in which it was inferior to the first temple. |
the temple, the Ark enters the domain of controversial legend. Historians suppose the ark was probably taken away by Nebuchadnezzar and destroyed. The absence of the ark from the second temple was acknowledged. Variant traditions include the intentional concealment of the Ark under the Temple Mount, the removal of the Ark from Jerusalem in advance of the Babylonians (this variant usually ends up with the Ark in Ethiopia), and the miraculous removal of the Ark by divine intervention. |