The ark of God, which is called by the name of the LORD of hosts who sits enthroned on the cherubim. (2 Samuel 6:2) He has lived in a tent since He brought his people up from Egypt to the day of David and never asked any of the judges who shepherd His people for a house. He also did not ask David for a house of cedar. (2 Samuel 7:4-8)
Description
The Book of the Law was put by its side. (Deuteronomy 31:24-29)
History
The Ark is taken by the Philistines
Hophni and Phinehas accompanied the ark of the covenant to reenter battle with the Philistines after a substantial loss near Ebenezer and Aphek, killing 4000 Israelites. The Philistines won again anyway, capturing the ark of the covenant and killing both Hophni and Phinehas. Ichabod was born upon the news, bearing the name "the glory has departed from Israel." (1 Samuel 4)
The Philistines brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod, setting it in the house of Dagon next to Dagon. The next day, Dagon had fallen face downward before the ark. The same thing happened the next day, but both his hands and head were cut off. The people of Ashdod faced tumors, so they sent it to Gath, spreading tumors there. Ekron would not allow it, so their diviners suggested they return it with a guilt offering of five golden tumors (one for each major city - Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron) and five golden mice (actually more, for all the cities and villages). It had stayed in Philistia for seven months. (1 Samuel 5-6)
They sent it on a new cart with two milk cows who never had a yoke. Their calves were shut up at home, and the cows went straight to the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh. The Levites there set the golden figures on the great stone that was there and used the cart to make a burnt offering of the cows. The five lords of the Philistines watched and returned to Ekron. (1 Samuel 5-6)
The Ark rests at Kiriath-jearim
God struck 70 men for looking upon the ark, so they sent it to Kiriath-jearim, to the house of Abinadab, consecrating his son Eleazar over it. (1 Samuel 6:19-7:2)
The Ark is brought to the house of Obed-edom
David gathered all the chosen men of Israel, 30,000, to bring the ark of God from Baale-judah out of Abinadab's house to Jerusalem. Abinadab's sons brought it on a new cart, Ahio in the front, and Uzzah driving. David and all the house of Israel were making merry before the LORD with songs, lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals. When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled and Uzzah put his hand to the ark and held it, so God struck him down for his error. David was angry, and the place is called Perez-uzzah even still in the days of 2 Samuel. David asked, "How can the ark of the LORD come to me?" So he took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months. (2 Samuel 6)
The Ark is brought to Jerusalem
When David heard, "The LORD has blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God," David brought it from Obed-edom's house to the city of David. After the ark moved six steps, David sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal and danced before the LORD with all his might in his linen ephod, and all the house of Israel was shouting with the sound of the horn.
Michal watched from her window and despised David. David had the ark set in a tent he had pitched for it and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings then blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hoses and distributed all men and women of Israel a cake of bread, a portion of meat, a cake of raisins, and each departed to his house.
(2 Samuel 6)
The LORD will build David a house instead of David building His ark a house
During a time of peace, David told Nathan the prophet of his intentions, that he lived in a house of cedar while the ark dwelt in a tent. The word of the LORD came to Nathan, explaining that He has not asked for a house since He brought up His people from Egypt, but He will build a house for David and establish his kingdom through his offspring. (2 Samuel 7)
Abiathar and Zadok brings the ark to King David as he flees Absalom, but David has them return the ark to the city
When King David was fleeing Absalom and his conspiracy, Abiathar and Zadok came to him with all the Levites, bearing the ark of the covenant. They set down the ark until the people had all passed out of the city. King David told Zadok, "If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me back and let me see both it and his dwelling place. But if he says, 'I have no pleasure in you,' behold, here I am, let him do to me what seems good to him." So Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark to Jerusalem and remained there. (2 Samuel 15:24-29)
The Ark is forgotten
And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. And when you have multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, declares the LORD, they shall no more say, "The ark of the covenant of the LORD." It shall not come to mind or be remembered or missed; it shall not be made again. (Jeremiah 3:15-16)