Affluent Savvy
Photo by cottonbro studio Pexels Logo Photo: cottonbro studio

Who has the Ark of the Covenant today?

Whether it was destroyed, captured, or hidden–nobody knows. One of the most famous claims about the Ark's whereabouts is that before the Babylonians sacked Jerusalem, it had found its way to Ethiopia, where it still resides in the town of Aksum, in the St. Mary of Zion cathedral.

What jobs make you a billionaire fast?
What jobs make you a billionaire fast?

Top 15 Careers That Can Make You a Billionaire Investment banker. Author. Athlete. Entrepreneur. Lawyer. Real estate developer. Surgeon. Inventor....

Read More »
Which zodiac sign is naive?
Which zodiac sign is naive?

1. PISCES (February 19 - March 20) Pisces individuals promise themselves that they won't let themselves be taken advantage of yet again, but...

Read More »

For centuries, people have tried in vain to locate and recover the Bible's most sacred objects. Among the most sought-after of these religious antiquities is the famed Ark of the Covenant. This legendary artifact is the ornate, gilded case said to have been built some 3,000 years ago by the Israelites to house the stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments were written. Biblical accounts describe the Ark as large, about the size of a 19th-century seaman's chest, made of gold-plated wood, and topped with two large, golden angels. It was carried using poles inserted through rings on its sides. The Ark has been linked to several of the Old Testament's miracles. It is said to have cleared impediments and poisonous animals from the path of the Israelites during the Exodus. When the Israelites crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land, the Bible says that the river stopped flowing the moment the Ark-bearers set foot in it. And many believe that when the Israelites besieged Jericho, they carried the Ark around the city for a week, blowing trumpets until, on the seventh day, the walls fell down, allowing easy conquest. (This is what archaeology is telling us about the real Jesus.) But in 597 and 586 B.C., the Babylonian Empire conquered the Israelites, and the Ark, at the time supposedly stored in the Temple in Jerusalem, vanished from history. Whether it was destroyed, captured, or hidden–nobody knows. One of the most famous claims about the Ark's whereabouts is that before the Babylonians sacked Jerusalem, it had found its way to Ethiopia, where it still resides in the town of Aksum, in the St. Mary of Zion cathedral. Church authorities, however, say only one man, the guardian of the Ark, is allowed to see it, and they have never permitted it to be studied for authenticity. Another claim is that the Ark was hidden in a warren of passages beneath the First Temple in Jerusalem before the Babylonians destroyed it in 586 B.C. But that theory can't be tested either, because the site is home to the Dome of the Rock shrine, sacred in Islam. Digging beneath it simply isn't an option. Other more dubious claims exist, too. But perhaps the most famous quest for the Ark was on the big screen. In the 1981 movie Raiders of the Lost Ark, adventure hero Indiana Jones must find the Ark before the Nazis, who intend to use its power for world domination.

Searches for such biblical relics are compelling, says archaeologist and National Geographic Society fellow Fred Hiebert, but ultimately doomed to failure. Even if there is an ancient, Ark-like object in Ethiopia, he asks, how do you determine it's the one from the Bible?

"We are talking about things [at] the crossroads between myth and reality," he said. "I think it's great to have stories like [that of] the Ark of the Covenant. But I do not believe, as a field archaeologist, that we can use the scientific method to prove or disprove [them]."

This story was updated on January 31, 2020.

What makes a perfectionist angry?
What makes a perfectionist angry?

Perfectionists think they have to be perfect; when they are not, they get angry. They also expect other people to be perfect—and get angry or...

Read More »
What spices clean your arteries?
What spices clean your arteries?

Spices, including ginger, pepper, chili, and cinnamon may help protect against clogged arteries ( 30 ). These and other spices have anti-...

Read More »
Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly
Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »

Is manna good for health?

Manna is a plant. Its dried sap is used to make medicine. People use the dried sap of manna as a laxative for constipation. They also use it as a stool softener to relieve pain during bowel movements caused by cracks around the anus (anal fissures), hemorrhoids, and rectal surgery.

Interactions

Interaction Rating:Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.

Manna is a laxative. Some laxatives can decrease potassium levels in the body. Low potassium levels can increase the risk of side effects of digoxin (Lanoxin).

Interaction Rating:Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.

Manna can work as a laxative. In some people manna can cause diarrhea. Diarrhea can increase the effects of warfarin and increase the risk of bleeding. If you take warfarin do not to take excessive amounts of manna.

Interaction Rating:Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.

Manna is a laxative. Some laxatives can decrease potassium in the body. "Water pills" can also decrease potassium in the body. Taking manna along with "water pills" might decrease potassium in the body too much. Some "water pills" that can decrease potassium include chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Thalitone), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Microzide), and others.

Why do Catholics pray to Mary?
Why do Catholics pray to Mary?

Catholics do not pray to Mary as if she were God. Prayer to Mary is memory of the great mysteries of our faith (Incarnation, Redemption through...

Read More »
When was the last time anyone saw the Ark of the Covenant?
When was the last time anyone saw the Ark of the Covenant?

The last time the Ark of the Covenant was supposedly seen was in Jerusalem, some 2,600 years ago. Now archaeologists are exploring the ancient town...

Read More »
Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly
Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »
Which plant is lucky for money?
Which plant is lucky for money?

Pachira money plant is usually used to bring good wealth and attract money. There is a famous tale about this tree is a poor farmer from Taiwan who...

Read More »
Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly
Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »
Do I need a business license to sell crafts?
Do I need a business license to sell crafts?

CAN I SELL HANDMADE CRAFTS WITHOUT A BUSINESS LICENSE? It's very unlikely you can legally sell crafts without a business license. Most...

Read More »