the second or interior portion of the tabernacle. It was left in total darkness. No one was permitted to enter it except the high priest, and that only once a year. It contained the ark of the covenant only (Ex 25:10-16). It was in the form of a perfect cube of 20 cubits. (See Tabernacle.)
And make ye an ark of acacia wood: two cubits and a half its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height And thou shalt spread pure gold over it, from within and from without thou shalt spread over it; and make to it a wreath of gold round about read more. And thou shalt cast to at four rings of gold, and give upon its four steps: and two rings upon its one side, and two rings upon its second side. And make bars of acacia wood, and spread over them gold. And bring the bars into the rings upon the sides of the ark, to lift up the ark with them. The bars shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not remove from them. And give to the ark the testimony which I shall give to thee.