What happened to the Ark of the Covenant?  Precisely what happened to it is unknown after the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem in 597 BCE.  Some sources say the Babylonians took the Ark and its contents to Babylon.  Other sources say the Ark of the Covenant was stored away and hidden under the Temple Mount so the Babylonians would not take it.  Other sources, including 2 Maccabees, say the Ark was hidden in a cave on Mt. Nebo, in present day Jordan.  A strong claim is made by the an Orthodox Church in Ethiopia, in a small city called Axum, the Ark is kept by them in their Church.  There are many other claims as well.  The three most plausible claims are (1) the Babylonians took the Ark in 597 BCE; (2) the Israelites hid the Ark under the Temple Mount; and, (3) the Ark is hidden in a cave in Mr. Nebo.