Which Temple are you talking about? TB Yoma 52

 The Mishnah on today’s daf TB Yoma 52 continues to describe the High Priest’s path into the Holy of Holies and the burning of the incense.

“The outer curtain between the Sanctuary and the Holy of Holies was hooked [perufa] slightly open on the south side of the Sanctuary, and the inner curtain hooked slightly open on the north side of the Sanctuary, and therefore the High Priest could not enter the Holy of Holies directly. Rather, he enters through the southern opening and walks between the curtains until he reaches the opening to the north. When he reaches the opening to the north, he enters the Holy of Holies through that opening, turns his face to the south, and walks to his left along the curtain until he reaches the area before the Ark.

“When he reaches the Ark, he places the coal pan between the two staves. He piles the incense atop the coals, and the whole chamber in its entirety would fill with smoke. He then exits and comes out the way that he entered. He does not turn around but leaves the Holy of Holies walking while facing the Ark. And he recites a brief prayer in the outer chamber, in the Sanctuary. And he would not extend his prayer there so as not to alarm the Jewish people, who would otherwise conclude that something happened and that he died in the Holy of Holies.” (Sefaria.org translation)

There’s only one problem with this description. Which Temple is the Mishnah describing? The Holy of Holies was separated from the rest of the Temple by a wall and not by curtains in the First Temple built by Solomon. Only in the First Temple did the Ark of the Covenant rest in the Holy of Holies.

Not only was the Ark of the Covenant missing but the Gemara shares other objects that were hidden away. “it taught in a baraita that when the Ark was buried, along with it was buried the jar of manna that was next to it, and the flask of oil used for anointing, and Aaron’s staff with its almonds and blossoms, and the chest that the Philistines sent as a gift [doron] to the God of Israel after they captured the Ark and were stricken by several plagues, as it is stated: “And put the jewels of gold that you return to Him for a guilt-offering, in a coffer by its side, and send it away that it may go” (I Samuel 6:8)”

“And who buried the Ark? Josiah, king of Judea, buried it. And what did he see that he decided to bury it? He saw that it is written: “The Lord will bring you, and your king whom you shall set over you, to a nation that you have not known” (Deuteronomy 28:36). Since he knew that the Jewish people would ultimately be exiled, he felt it was better that the Ark should not be disgraced in exile, and therefore he arose and buried it.

“The Gemara cites the source for the tradition that Josiah buried the Ark. As it is stated: “And he said to the Levites who taught all of Israel, who were sacred to the Lord: Put the sacred Ark in the house that Solomon, son of David, king of Israel, built. There shall no more be a burden upon your shoulders; now serve the Lord your God, and His people Israel” (I Chronicles 35:3). In other words, from now onward the Levites will no longer carry the Ark on their shoulders, and they should dedicate themselves to their service of singing and locking the gates of the Temple.” (Sefaria.org translation) According to tradition, Josiah knew that the Babylonians would destroy the Temple and exile the Jewish people. If the Babylonians would take the Ark of the Covenant and the Jews could not bring it back with them when they returned, the Second Temple could not be sanctified. Consequently, he hid it away somewhere on the Temple grounds.

Josiah was one of the few kings in Judea who was considered completely righteous. “He did what was pleasing to the LORD and he followed all the ways of his ancestor David; he did not deviate to the right or to the left.” (II Kings 22:2) While he was repairing the Temple during his reign, a scroll was discovered. He inquired from the prophetess Hulda whether this scroll was authentic are not. She affirmed that it was. According to modern scholarship this “lost” scroll was the book of Deuteronomy. After reading it he reformed Israelite religion. He destroyed and desecrated any place of idolatry found in Judea and he celebrated Passover as described in Deuteronomy. (II Kings 22:1-25)

The Gemara answers our original question, which Temple is the Mishnah describing? “The Gemara answers: Actually, the mishna is referring to the Second Temple, and what is the meaning of the phrase: Reaches the Ark? It means the place of the Ark. The Gemara raises a difficulty: But it is taught that he places the coal pan between the two staves, which indicates that the staves of the Ark were present. The Gemara answers: Emend the text and say: As though it was between the two staves, i.e., in the place where the staves had been located when the Ark was there.” (Sefaria.org translation)

The Ark of the Covenant gave the Holy of Holies its special level of holiness. If the Temple is the Beit Hamikdash, synagogues are known as Mikdash Me’at, a small sanctuary. We should not be surprised therefore that the arks which contain the Torahs give our sanctuaries its holiness.