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1Ki 14:25 In King Rehoboam's fifth year, King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem.
1Ki 14:26 He took away the treasures of the LORD's temple and of the royal palace; he took everything, including all the golden shields that Solomon had made.

Shishak seems to have been the first King after Solomon built the Temple to have plundered it. The verse says that he took the treasures of the Temple. Surely he would have taken the Ark too. Are there any later references to the Ark being in the Holy of Holies after this time?

I'm taking into account the idea that it could have been hidden by the priests. But if it, why not hide the golden shields?

The gold shields Solomon had made were actually stored in the armory which was close by the Temple. 2 Chronicles 35:1-3 mentions King Josiah (over 250 years after Rehoboam) celebrating Passover and telling the Levites to put the Ark of the Covenant (which Solomon had built) in the Temple. This means that for some time it was still mobile (which was not the only time in Israel's history where the Ark was not kept in the Holiest Place). I don't actually believe that it was "hidden" in the days of Rehoboam (though I suppose that is a possibility), but that it was mobile (it was designed specifically for carrying) or had been previously removed to some other location (out of disobedience?).

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Hello Jatfla

I think it might help to think of the temple as a bank, butchery and a school. Traditionally these functions were 'secular' functions, except for the more religious ones, which the temple and its personnel was responsible for. When Antipater writes that the shields were kept in the armory near the temple, it is probably already on the temple ground.

Kind regards


Elimelek

Elimelek is quite right (as I understand it). The armory is actually a part of the larger Temple area that included the Royal House (among other Royal buildings), but I was specifically speaking to the Temple proper and not the larger Temple complex.

Blessings Elimelek

Rick

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The text is not clear as to where the ark would have been nor the Assyrian's motives. However, it can probably be presumed that certain politics were involved. The Assyrian king was concerned about submission to his authority and to a lesser degree, the tribute that such authority meritted. Ancient kings were very ruthless and selfish, but he was still very smart. Taking the shields represented a great deal. It represented his authority, their submission, monetary resources, and with the loss of shields, it represented vulnerability on the part of Judah. The ark would have been a great treasure and certainly would have been a proud moment for the Assyrian king, but I think he probably recognized how inpalatable submission to his sovereignty already was. To remove their most holy artifact would not exactly instill a submissive attitude among his Hebrew subjects.

I assume he was just being a good politician.

The wonderful thing about God is that He is in control of everthing.
"Then God's temple in Heaven was opened, and within the temple was seen the ark of the covenant" Revelations 11:19