[Harmless Teddy Bear]

There is a pretty good argument that the ark was taken from the temple long before the Babylonians arrived.

Now where it went from there....

[jjotto]

It was hidden by King Josiah before the Babylonian conquest. It is hidden on the Temple Mount itself. There are only two explanations offered from ancient times; the King Josiah one and the Babylonian capture one.

Josiah was king after the fall of the northern kingdom and after several wicked kings, and there was little prospect that righteous rule would follow him, so he would have reason to hide the Ark and other items.

[redgolum]

Melted down, or rotted away.