Timeline for Samuel, Saul, David, and the Missing Ark. The Ark of the Covenant was missing from the Tabernacle, having been taken to a battle without consulting the LORD*. When the Ark travelled, it was to be covered since it was to be seen by the Aaronite priests only. Numbers 4:5. and when the camp sets forward, Aaron and his sons will come and they will take down the covering veil and cover the Ark of Testimony with it, 6. and will put on it the covering of badgers’ skins and will spread over it a cloth wholly of blue, and will put in its poles. Not even the Kohathite priests who carried the Ark were to see the Ark, only the Aaronite priests were given that privilege. Numbers 4:19. But do thus to them, so they may live and not die when they approach the most holy things: Aaron and his sons will go in and appoint them, each one, to his service and to his burden, 20. but they will not go in to see when the holy things are being covered, lest they die! When the children of Israel crossed the Jordan River, coming into the Promised Land for the first time, the Ark was not only covered, but the people were not permitted to come within 3,000 cubits of the Ark—well over three quarters of a mile! (Joshua 3:3,4)