The Ark of the Covenant was made of acacia wood and covered with pure gold. Inside the ark were the tablets of stone upon which were written the Ten Commandments. According to the Book of Hebrews in the New Testament, the ark also contained a container of manna—the Israelites source of food as they wandered in the wilderness, and the Rod of Aaron. Atop the Ark was the Covering, often called the Mercy Seat, with two cherubim made from solid gold. These cherubim stretched their wings over the ark, symbolically guarding the place where the presence of the Lord would dwell.