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Two Arks of the Covenant? The Ancient Case for a Second Ark

Two Arks of the Covenant? The Ancient Case for a Second Ark

Last updated on: September 27, 2026 at 11:28 am by Rebecca Wallace Keene

Two Arks of the Covenant? The Ancient Case for a Second Ark 2026-09-27T11:28:40-04:00 Rebecca Wallace Keene

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Two Arks of the Covenant? by Rebecca Keene made using chatgpt

Two Arks of the Covenant?

We learn about the Ark of the Covenant, but what if there were two Arks? As we follow the Ark throughout the text, a pattern suggesting two Arks arises. One Ark was the footstool of G-d in the Holy of Holies, and one led the Israelites. It seems like an outrageous claim, but this is not a new theory. The Jerusalem Talmud Shekalim 6:1 records:

“It was stated: “Rebbi Jehudah ben Laqish says, two arks were traveling with Israel in the desert; one in which the Torah was deposited and one in which the broken pieces of the tablets were deposited. The one in which the Torah was deposited was put into the Tent of Meeting; that is what is written: Moses and the Ark of the Eternal’s covenant did not move from the camp. The one in which the broken pieces of the tablets were deposited was going out and coming in with them.”

While there were other Rabbis who disagreed with Laqish, this proves that the debate about two Arks has existed for many years and is not a modern retelling of the story. This is the first in a series of articles in which we will trace the two Arks through history and try to determine what happened to both. Sign up for the newsletter so you don’t miss any of this series, as we go on the hunt for The Arks of the Covenant. Why did Rabbi Laqish and others believe there were two Arks? The Torah preserves differing tales of the Arks’ making, purpose, and eventual hiding spot.

Making of the Two Arks

There are competing claims in the Torah about how the Ark was made and by whom. Deuteronomy 10:1–5 tells us that Moses made the Ark. It says he made the Ark from wood. Deuteronomy 10:3 reads, “So I made the ark out of acacia wood and chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones, and I went up on the mountain with the two tablets in my hands.”

However, Exodus tells us another story. Exodus 37 says that the Ark was made by Bezalel and that it was covered in gold with rings, poles, and cherubim.

“37 Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.[a] 2 He overlaid it with pure gold, both inside and out, and made a gold molding around it. 3 He cast four gold rings for it and fastened them to its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other. 4 Then he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. 5 And he inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it. 6 He made the atonement cover of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. 7 Then he made two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. 8 He made one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; at the two ends he made them of one piece with the cover. 9 The cherubim had their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim faced each other, looking toward the cover.“

Then Exodus tells us there was also a table made with The Ark. This will become very important later in the series when we try to determine where The Arks are now. For now, just know that the Deuteronomy and Exodus record different makers and different designs. The Torah has now given us two makers and two differing descriptions. The simplest explanation is sitting in front of us. These are two separate Arks.

Purpose

These two Arks were not made for the same purpose according to the text. Moses’ Ark is built to carry the stone tablets that G-d gave Moses on the mountain. Deuteronomy 10:1-2 says, “10 At that time the Lord said to me, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones and come up to me on the mountain. Also make a wooden ark.[a] 2 I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. Then you are to put them in the ark.” However, The Ark of Exodus is made to travel with the Israelites. Exodus 37:3-5 records:

“3 He cast four gold rings for it and fastened them to its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other. 4 Then he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. 5 And he inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it.“

This is The Ark we later see carried into battle with the Israelites.

Two Places At Once

Still, the best evidence for two Arks is that one Ark would require it to be two places at once. In Numbers 10 the Ark goes out before Israel. Numbers 10:33 says, “33 So they set out from the mountain of the Lord and traveled for three days. The ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them during those three days to find them a place to rest. ”

Then in Numbers 14:44 we are told that the Ark remains at camp. “44 Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up toward the highest point in the hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the Lord’s covenant moved from the camp.” How can the Ark both go with the Israelites and remain with Moses in camp if there is only one? This is the exact problem Rabbi Yehudah ben Laqish noticed years ago. This is the argument he used in The Jerusalem Talmud Shekalim 6:1 to argue for two Arks. One went out with the Israelites. The other stayed in camp. If there are two, the Ark of Moses can remain with the sanctuary while the portable Ark with rings and poles made by Bezalel goes into battle in front of the Israelites.

Where Are the Two Arks

Further, when the Israelites realize Babylon is coming, we get competing stories about where the Ark was placed for protection. 2 Chronicles 35:3 has Josiah tell the Levites to place the Ark in the temple.

“3 He said to the Levites, who instructed all Israel and who had been consecrated to the Lord: “Put the sacred ark in the temple that Solomon son of David king of Israel built. It is not to be carried about on your shoulders. Now serve the Lord your God and his people Israel.“

The Jerusalem Talmud Shekalim 6:1 explains this is because he foresees the attack by Babylon and wants to hide the Ark. The same source that tells us there are two Arks tells us why Josiah hid one. 2 Chronicles 35:3 is the last time the Ark is mentioned in the Biblical History, but later sources tell us the Ark has been spotted beneath the Temple where Josiah hid it. However, 2 Maccabees 2:4-8 tells us Jeremiah had already hidden the Ark in a cave:

“4 It was also contained in the same writing, how the prophet, being warned by God, commanded that the tabernacle and the ark should accompany him, till he came forth to the mountain where Moses went up, and saw the inheritance of God. 5 And when Jeremias came thither he found a hollow cave: and he carried in thither the tabernacle, and the ark, and the altar of incense, and so stopped the door.”

There is an Islamic tradition that the Ark was later found in that cave. This suggests it remained there and was not taken back to camp. Therefore, we must ask, what Ark is Josiah putting in The Temple? How could The Ark have been hidden both in a cave and The Temple? If there were two Arks, it becomes possible that Moses’ Ark remains in The Temple while the mobile Ark is moved to a cave.

We will explore these later sources and where the Arks traveled to later in the series. So, sign up for the Newsletter so you can be updated when we take the next step in our journey to find The Arks of the Covenant. I think you’ll be surprised where we end up. I know I was shocked. We aren’t going to France. Not Rosslyn. Not even Ethiopia, but somewhere rarely mentioned in The Ark story.

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About Rebecca Keene

Rebecca Keene holds a B.S. in Psychology and Religion and is currently pursuing an M.A. in Women, Gender, Spirituality, and Social Justice. An ordained minister, Kabbalah student, and fierce advocate for the marginalized, she is the author of Faith Under the Rainbow: Reclaiming the Truth About Homosexuality and the Bible. Rebecca founded the social media community Reclaiming the Truth and lives in Kentucky, where she practices Non-Denominational Judaism. Read Rebecca's articles at Reclaiming the Truth. You can read more about the author here.

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