CHAPTER 10

BERNARDO REMEMBERED from his first interview that he had done, he was still an intern and got a report on "the location of the Ark of the Covenant" – a story in celebration of the Jewish New Year that his boss had requested, this had happened about eight years ago .

–– GOOD AFTERNOON, PROFESSOR – Bernardo said, turning on the recorder – I could talk a little about you before we get into the subject.

–– Of course... – said the professor with a smile of satisfaction – my name is Carlos Cardeñas, I was born in Madrid, Spain on February 28, 1933, I studied History and Ancient Symbology at five different Universities, I can speak seven languages fluent, in addition to being a profound connoisseur of ancient Egypt and hieroglyphics.

–– Cool, teacher, this week we are celebrating the Passover, could you tell us something about that?

–– With pleasure, Easter comes from the term pesah, which is associated with the verb passah, which means "to pass over" or "to jump", and is related to the liberation of the Hebrew people from their slavery in Egypt, and is considered the date most important in the Jewish calendar.

–– Could you tell us about the most valuable object that belonged to the Jews?

–– Well… – the teacher cleared his throat and continued his account – The Ark of the Covenant, Ark of God or Ark of the Covenant – as it is commonly known – comes from Hebrew: aróhn hab • beríth, from Greek: ki • bo • tós tes di • a • thé • kes, and is described in the Bible as an object in which the tablets of the Ten Commandments would have been kept, in addition to the flourishing Aaron's rod and a jar with manna. It was also used as a vehicle of communication between God and his chosen people, the legend about the Ark says that it not only represented Him, but was His own presence on Earth.

"He was the object of veneration among the Hebrews until his disappearance, which, according to speculation, occurred in Nebuchadnezzar's conquest of Jerusalem. According to the Deuterocanonical book of II Maccabees, where he says that the prophet Jeremiah hid it."

"The Bible describes the Ark of the Covenant as follows: box and lid made of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long – one meter and eleven centimeters or 111 cm –, and one and a half cubits wide and high – 66, 6 cm. It was covered with pure gold inside and out – according to the book of Exodus 25:10 to 16."

"On the cover, called Propitiatory – the Kapporeth –, a piece of gold was sculpted, formed by two cherubim kneeling facing each other, whose wings stretched forward, touching the extremity, forming an arch, in a defensive way and protector. They bowed towards the lid in an attitude of worship – Exodus 25: 10–21; 37: 7–9. According to the account in verse 22:"

"God was present at the mercy seat in the middle of the two golden cherubs in a mysterious presence that the Jews called Shekinah, or the presence of God."

–– For many historians – of whom I do not share this idea – the Ark was brought by King Solomon's son with the Queen of Sheba – present–day Ethiopia. And it is kept in a temple in the city of Aksum, where a single Priest can see it.

"The last account of the Ark that I would like to highlight is that a historian named Ronald Wyatt would have found it in a complex of sites that he understands in the alleged tomb of Jesus and Calvary. They were mostly based on 4th century AD tradition, due to evidence of Jewish tombs, Roman artifacts, constantine constructions and Ottoman influences. Identification remains conjecture".

"Ronald Wyatt and his two sons were so sure that the Ark was on Mount Skull, or Golgotha. Ronald said that when he found it, God Himself prevented him from touching it, and that it was only due to him finding it and nothing else.

"What they say about the Ark outside of that is pure speculation, as well as the legend, that the first Knights Templar would have found it in an underground Temple room in Jerusalem. I affirm and confirm, they are pure speculations without foundation, I guarantee, what they found there were some papers reporting to the locality of the Ark, and not the Ark itself."

BERNARDO TURNED OFF the recorder and said:

–– It is people like you that remind me and inspire me to study more, Professor Cardeñas.

–– Just studying sometimes is not enough to reach your goals, you need to focus, sometimes luck, for example, when I was a child, they taught at school to find the 'X', but I am still looking for the blessed one, I must be the most ignorant in the world in mathematics, physics and chemistry.

–– We cannot be good at everything, teacher.

–– This is the secret of being happy with your imperfections.