<P> The Levites were appointed to minister before the Ark . David's plan of building a temple for the Ark was stopped at the advice of God . The Ark was with the army during the siege of Rabbah; and when David fled from Jerusalem at the time of Absalom's conspiracy, the Ark was carried along with him until he ordered Zadok the priest to return it to Jerusalem . </P> <P> When Abiathar was dismissed from the priesthood by King Solomon for having taken part in Adonijah's conspiracy against David, his life was spared because he had formerly borne the Ark . Solomon worshipped before the Ark after his dream in which God promised him wisdom . </P> <P> During the construction of Solomon's Temple, a special inner room, named Kodesh Hakodashim (Eng . Holy of Holies), was prepared to receive and house the Ark; and when the Temple was dedicated, the Ark--containing the original tablets of the Ten Commandments--was placed therein . When the priests emerged from the holy place after placing the Ark there, the Temple was filled with a cloud, "for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord". </P> <P> When Solomon married Pharaoh's daughter, he caused her to dwell in a house outside Zion, as Zion was consecrated because of its containing the Ark . King Josiah also had the Ark returned to the Temple, from which it appears to have been removed by one of his predecessors (cf. 2 Chron. 33 - 34 and 2 Kings 21 - 23). </P>

Where was the last known place of the ark of the covenant