1 Kings 8:9
There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.
At the dedication of the finished temple Solomon assembled all Israel, with many people from other nations present to witness it with great splendor. He addressed the people to remove heathen superstitions about Jehovah. He taught that the God of Israel is not confined to a built temple as the heathen gods were supposed to be. He taught instead that God would meet His people by His Spirit when they assembled in that house dedicated to His worship.
The sacred ark brought into the temple contained only the two tables of stone. That same ark was later removed just before the temple was destroyed because of Israel's transgression of God's commandments and wicked acts. A few faithful servants to whom God had revealed the fate of the temple and the captivity of Israel carried it away with mourning and sadness and secreted it in a cave. There it was to be hidden from the people of Israel because of their sins and to be no more restored to them. That sacred ark remains hidden and has never been disturbed since it was secreted.