The items in the Ark of the Covenant preserved the evidence of the Covenant God made with the Nation and they were not there to be venerated.
The two stone tablets, on which God wrote the Law for His people.
The staff of Aaron, as a testimony of rebelliousness of that broken Law, but which had sprouted leaves and fruit, as a testimony to the continuance.
Manna, a symbol of God's grace to a rebellious people.
The LORD said to Moses, "Put back Aaron's staff in front of the ark of the covenant law, to be kept as a sign to the rebellious. This will put an end to their grumbling against me, so that they will not die."Numbers 17:10
The Israelis did not venerate the staff. They place it into the Ark, before the presence of God, as a sign of the rebelliousness of the people. When a priest fulfilled the command to place blood on the top of the Ark, it covered up their sin.
