When and under what circumstances the Ark disappeared is unknown. The Bible does not say, and we should not worry about it. The sacred chest located in the Most Holy of the tabernacle and, later, in the temple built by Solomon. The Ark was made at Jehovah God's command and according to his design. ( REFERENCE: READ Exodus Chapter 25) The Ark served as a holy archive for the safekeeping of sacred reminders or testimony, the principal contents being the two tablets of the testimony, or the Ten Commandments. (Ex 25:16) A "golden jar having the manna and the rod of Aaron that budded" were added to the Ark but were later removed sometime before the building of Solomon's temple. (Heb 9:4; Ex 16:32-34; Nu 17:10; 1Ki 8:9; 2Ch 5:10) Just before Moses died, he gave a copy of the "book of the law" to the Levitical priests with instructions that it should be kept, not within, but "at the side of the ark of the covenant of Jehovah your God, . . . as a witness there against you." De 31:24-26 Jehovah's presence continued to be demonstrated when the Philistines captured the Ark and took it to Ashdod to sit alongside the image of Dagon. That night, Dagon fell on his face; the next night he again toppled before the ark of Jehovah and his head and the palms of both of his hands were cut off. During the next seven months, as the Ark circulated among the Philistine cities, the people were plagued with piles, and the city of Ekron was plunged into "a death-dealing confusion," until finally the Ark was returned to Israel with proper offering. Reference: Please 1Samuel 5:1 and 6:12. However, the Ark was not a magic charm. Its presence alone did not guarantee success; Jehovah's blessings depended on the spiritual standing and faithful obedience of those possessing the Ark. Hence, the Israelites under the leadership of Joshua suffered defeat at Ai because of unfaithfulness, despite the presence of the Ark in their camp. (Joshua 7:1-6) The only historical reference to the ark of the covenant after King Solomon's day , is nearly 900 years after it was made, is at 2 Chronicles 35:3 where King Josiah, in 642 B.C.E., commanded that it be returned to the temple. How it had come to be removed is not stated. Josiah came to the throne following some very apostate kings, one of whom had put an image in the house of Jehovah, and possibly one of these wicked kings removed the Ark. (2Ch 33:1, 2, 7) On the other hand, Josiah sponsored extensive repairs of the temple, during which time the Ark might have been kept elsewhere for its own protection against damage. (2Ch 34:8 and 35:19) There is no mention of the Ark's being taken to Babylon. The Ark is not enumerated among the temple articles carried off. Likewise, there is no mention of its being returned and placed in Zerubbabel's rebuilt temple; neither was a replacement made for it. When and under what circumstances the Ark disappeared is unknown. REFERENCES please see 2Ki 25:13-17; 2Ch 36:18; Ezr 1:7-11; 7:12-19. One final note. In the symbolic book of Revelation, John says that "the ark of his covenant was seen in his temple sanctuary" in heaven. This ark of the covenant has to do with the new covenant of God with men and the appearing of the Ark was an indication that Jehovah was again ruling by means of his Anointed One. REFERENCE see Revelation 11:15, 19.

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In that huge government warehouse, where they left it after Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Out in my back yard, over by the chickens.