What was inside the Ark of the Covenant?
Inside the Ark of the Covenant were the tables of the Ten Commandments, a sampling of the manna, and Aaron's rod that budded. These specific items were placed within that gold-overlaid box, which was housed in the Holy of Holies.
Les explains that the Ark of the Covenant was a little box overlaid with gold, and inside it were the tables of the Ten Commandments, a sampling of the manna, and Aaron's rod that budded. He notes that above the Ark was the mercy seat, the place of mercy. The Shekinah glory cloud rested above the Ark in the Holy of Holies, signifying God's presence and mercy, and it would lead the children of Israel. The people were commanded to keep a space of about 2,000 cubits, roughly 3,000 feet or over half a mile, from the Ark, never drawing too near. Joshua then told the priests to take up the Ark and pass over before the people.