Ark of the Covenant

[Jona Lendering]

Joking apart now, the Ethiopian church has indeed a tradition that goes back to Secon Temple Judaism. The Book of Henoch was at first believed to be a medieval text, but eventually revolutionized our understanding of the world of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and early Christianity. The object the Ethiopians want to show the world may be really, really ancient, although it cannot be genuine. Still, I see no reason why the Jewish temple of Elephantine (fifth century BCE) or Leontopolis or Heracleopolis (third century BCE) would not have made some vessels of its own, according to the blueprint offered in the Torah. Once islam came, the believers, whether Jewish or Christian, may have thought it prudent to bring it to the south. So, the object will not be genuine, but very interesting to understand Second Temple Judaism.