Although the prophet does not mention the Ark of God, Commander of legions, there is no need to prove that the Ark will return and be present in the Future Beis HaMikdash. For our entire hope and trust is that the Beis HaMikdash will return to its initial eminence. Indeed, “the glory of this later House will surpass”¹ 2:9. that of the Second Beis HaMikdash in the five matters that were lacking in it, one of them being the Ark.

footnotes: ¹ Cf. Chaggai

The Ark was entombed prior to the destruction of the First Beis HaMikdash, because King Yoshiyahu had a prophetic vision that the Beis HaMikdash would be destroyed. The Ark was not present in the Second Beis HaMikdash, because it too was destined to be destroyed because of our sins.² 12a; Rambam, Hilchos Beis HaBechirah 4:1. There are other Sages who maintain that the Ark was not entombed, but taken in captivity to Babylon. This opinion is based on the prophecy,³ 20:17; this verse communicates God’s warning to King Chizkiyahu that all the treasures of the Beis HaMikdash would be taken to Babylon. “Nothing shall remain,” i.e., not even the Tablets, as stated in Tractate *Yoma.*⁴ 53b, which explains the prophet’s words, לא יותר דבר. Our Sages explain that the word davar, which means “nothing” alludes to the dibros, the “commandments,” i.e. the Tablets into which the Ten Commandments were hewn. Nevertheless, the Ark was not present in the Second Beis HaMikdash for the same reason stated above. Since the Second Beis HaMikdash would ultimately be destroyed, God did not want His Ark and the Tablets to be exiled again.

footnotes: ² Horios ³ II Melachim ⁴ This statement is taken from Yoma

The design of the Ark, its staves that will not be removed from it, and its golden cover with the cherubs on it are described in *Parshas Terumah.*⁵ 25:10-22.

footnotes: ⁵ Shmos