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What happened to the Ark of the Covenant?

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The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Ark of the Covenantā€™s final fate is unclear. Jewish tradition maintains that the Ark disappeared during the Babylonian sack of Jerusalem in 586 BCE. Archaeologists believe that there are no reliable records of the Arkā€™s whereabouts after this date. Despite this, many theories and claims exist about the Arkā€™s subsequent location.