It was the single most sacred object in the Jewish faith.

According to the Bible, it was an object of incredible power that could win battles.

And it was the entire reason why the temple in Jerusalem was built.

And then, it just disappeared and was never mentioned again.

Since then it's become an object of mystery capturing the attention of explorers,

and even Indiana Jones.

Learn more about the Ark of the Covenant on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. Book your ticket to happiness with Sun Express Airlines. Thank you. Everything we know about the Ark of the Covenant comes from the Old Testament of the Bible.

So any discussion of the Ark should begin with an overview of the biblical story.

The Israelites were enslaved in Egypt. Moses, aka Charlton Heston, is born and petitions the Pharaoh to set them free.

Pharaoh says no, and Moses brings down 10 plagues to punish Egypt, lots of frogs, insects, and blood.

Eventually, the 10th plague killing the firstborn of every household, except the Israelites,

was the final straw, and they are freed.

Today this is celebrated as Passover.

Moses and the Israelites then wander around the Sinai desert for 40 years.

During this time God looks out for them, sending them manner from heaven that they could eat.

Then Moses is commanded by God to climb on Sinai where he is given the 10 Commandments on stone tablets from a burning bush.

Moses was up on the mountain for 40 days and 40 nights, and while he was there, God gave

him the plans for a container to house the stone tablets with the Ten Commandments.

The instructions for the container in the Bible were oddly specific.

It was to be 2.5 cubits long, 1.5 cubits wide, and 1.5 cubits high.

A cubit was defined to be the distance from your elbow to the end of your middle finger.

The size of it would be approximately the size of a steamer trunk today.

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