The primary purpose of the ark was to hold the document of the Covenant, hence its name “ark of the Covenant” or “ark of the testimony.” Later, tradition added the staff of Moses and the portion of manna that the Lord had commanded to be kept, as mentioned in 16:32-34. Most importantly, the ark featured a specially designed lid, resembling a golden plate, which served as the place where the Lord met Moses to give his commands (22). This lid is described as the most sacred space in the ark due to the presence of two cherubim, which symbolize its profound significance. The religious sentiment of Israel led to the symbolic meaning of this lid evolving toward a penitential and expiatory understanding, viewing the place as “propitiatory” or a place of forgiveness (cf. Lv 16).