Trump's Spear of Destiny: The Ark of the Covenant at Mar-a-Lago

Collecting artifacts is a rich man's game. But why has an Ark of the Covenant replica been sitting at Mar-a-Lago? Is this Trump's Spear of Destiny?

There are lots of old, strange artifacts that have been displayed at the Florida home of President Donald Trump, I’m not just talking about Sylvester Stallone and Jon Voit. The beautiful home that sits on 17 acre on two sides of water-front was built for an heiress of the Post cereal fortune in 1927. The home’s roof is laid with Spanish tiles repurposed from the 1500s, its archways are cast with Italian limestone full of actual fossils, and its checkered floor was repurposed from a Cuban castle. After the Post family gave the estate to the government, the government transferred it back to the Post Foundation because it couldn’t afford the upkeep. Neither could the Post Foundation, so they put it up for sale.

And along came Donald Trump.

It’s only fitting in an old place built with materials that are even considerably older, for historic artifacts and old artwork to be on display. On his insurance paperwork for the home, Trump listed 87 paintings that go back hundreds of years, and many other items of old or ancient nature. But one recent display has been reported as notable recently, despite the mainstream media not picking the story up.

And y’all…it’s weird.

THE ARK OF THE COVENANT

The Ark of the Covenant is one of the most famous and enigmatic artifacts described in the Bible. According to the Book of Exodus, the Ark was constructed at the command of God during the time of Moses on Mount Sinai. It was made of acacia wood, overlaid with gold inside and out, and had a gold molding around the top. It measured about 2.5 cubits in length, 1.5 cubits in width, and 1.5 cubits in height.

The Ark contained the two stone tablets of the Ten Commandments (or the Testimony), which God gave to Moses. Over time, it was also said to hold Aaron's rod and a pot of manna.

It was the physical manifestation of God's presence among the Israelites, often described as the "mercy seat" where God would appear in a cloud. It played a central role in religious rituals, especially during the wanderings in the wilderness and later in the Tabernacle and Solomon's Temple.

After its construction, the Ark was carried by the Levites during the Israelites' journey through the desert.It was involved in significant events like the crossing of the Jordan River into Canaan, where the waters parted much like during the Red Sea crossing. The Ark led the Israelites in battle, notably in the siege of Jericho where its presence was believed to bring about miraculous victories.

The Ark was placed in the innermost sanctum of Solomon's Temple, the Holy of Holies, where only the High Priest could enter once a year on Yom Kippur. After the Babylonian destruction of Solomon's Temple in 586 BC, the Ark's fate becomes a mystery. There is no mention of it in the Second Temple, suggesting it was either hidden, destroyed, or captured.

According to some Jewish traditions, King Josiah hid the Ark before the destruction of the First Temple. Other rabbinic sources suggest it was hidden in a cave beneath the Temple Mount or even transported to a different location like Mount Nebo or Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church claims to possess the Ark in the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion in Axum. Access to the supposed Ark is restricted to one guardian priest who lives with it until death, and no one else is allowed to see it, fueling both belief and skepticism.

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, explorers like James Bruce searched in Ethiopia for the Ark, but they did not find conclusive evidence. Various archaeological digs around the Temple Mount have been conducted, but due to political, religious, and archaeological sensitivities, no definitive proof of the Ark's whereabouts has been uncovered.

An American amateur archaeologist, Ron Wyatt, claimed in the 1980s to have found the Ark hidden beneath the crucifixion site in Jerusalem. However, his claims have been largely discredited by professional archaeologists due to lack of evidence and scientific rigor.

The popularity of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" has indirectly spurred interest in the Ark, leading to a blend of scholarly and amateur investigations.

THE REPLICA

A recent replica of the Ark of the Covenant was showcased in Jerusalem during the Sukkot festival in 2024. The replica was displayed at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem during the intermediate days of the Sukkot holiday. This event attracted attention from various members of the Knesset, Israeli activists, and the public.

The replica was made using approximately three tons of Egyptian Acacia wood, covered with high-purity gold (23.75 carats). It was constructed to match the Torah's specifications. This replica notably included a Holocaust-surviving Torah scroll from Thessaloniki, Greece, housed within the Ark, symbolizing a connection between Jewish history and contemporary times.

The project took three and a half years with the involvement of 17 volunteers from multiple countries. The chief architect, who remained anonymous, described the project as not just a matter of following biblical instructions but a journey of discovery due to the lack of explicit modern-day building guides in the Torah.

The unveiling was seen as significant, especially given the ongoing security challenges in Israel at the time. Discussions by attendees, including MK Simcha Rothman, drew parallels between the Ark's historical significance and contemporary issues, emphasizing its symbolic power.

But before its display in Jerusalem, the Ark replica had visited places like Shiloh, the ancient site of the Tabernacle, and sat for eight months at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago in Florida.

But why? Why was the best and most accurate Ark replica ever constructed sitting in residence at Mar-a-lago for eight entire months? And what could be the significance of this?

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