In First Kings, chapter eight, verse one, the ark of the covenant was the only article of furniture in the Most Holy Place. It was a rectangular chest three and three-quarter feet long by two and a quarter feet wide by two and a quarter feet high, made of acacia wood and overlaid inside out with pure gold. The ark contains three reminders of God’s kingship over Israel. First are the stone tables, which the Ten Commandments receive engraving as in Exodus twenty-five, verse sixteen, stanza twenty-one, and chapter forty, verse twenty, respectively. Secondly, a golden jar full of manna, which God had provided daily for Israel during the years in the wilderness. Thirdly, Almond’s rod that supernaturally budded.
However, by Solomon’s time, the ark only contained two tables of stone, as in Second Chronicles five, verse ten. Fitting over the top of the ark was the “mercy seat:” which the blood of sacrifices was sprinkled once a year by the high priest on the day of the atonement. Two gold cherubs carved as one piece, facing each other with their wings spread forward, hovered over the mercy seat in an arch. At the center of the mercy seat, the presence of God symbolizes by a brilliant supernatural light called the shekinah in Israelite history.
The work of the house of the Lord was practically complete, as stated in First Kings seven, verse fifty-one: however, we know that it took place in the seventh month of the year, but of what year we cannot be so sure. The elders consisted of senators, judges, and rulers. Each tribe has a peculiar head or governor. The temple stood upon the mountain so that by attendance, they might make a public profession of the respect, obedience, and service which they owed unto that God, who had been graciously and gloriously present with the ark.