The people were being commanded to place the most precious item in the world into this vessel they were to create. The very words of G-d carved into stone were to be placed into an ark made of acacia wood lined with gold. On the one hand the menorah representing G-d's light was to be made of pure gold (ibid 25:31) and on the other these precious tablets were to be placed in an ark made of wood that was simply lined with gold Read more »