V.1-4 The ark was a plain box of wood, covered with pure gold, about 45 inches long, 27 inches wide, 27 inches high. It contained the ten commandments.
V.6 Its cover was a slab of pure gold. It formed the mercy seat where God could meet with Aaron.
V.7-9 The cherubim (like heavenly beings) are a picture of those who carried out God’s punishment against sin (Gen. 3:2424So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. (Genesis 3:24)). So together, these three suggest to us the ark — the holiness of God. The cherubim — the power of God to punish sin. But the mercy seat where blood was put once a year shows God’s mercy in providing the blood of Christ to come between a holy God and sinful people.
V.10-29 All the following pieces were in the holy place.