Exodus 40:20

20 And he took and he put the testimony into the ark, and he placed the poles on the ark, and he put the atonement cover on the ark, above [it].

Exodus 40:20 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 40:20

And he took and put the testimony into the ark
The ten commands, called the "testimony", because they testified and declared what was the will of God with respect to things to be done, or not done. The Targum of Jonathan says, he put the broken pieces of the tables into it; but what became of them, or were done with them, we nowhere read; and it does not appear that any other, but those that Moses hewed by the order of God, were put into the ark; see ( Deuteronomy 10:1-5 )

and set the staves on the ark;
that it might be ready to be carried whenever a remove was necessary:

and put the mercy seat above upon the ark;
together with the cherubim.

Exodus 40:20 In-Context

18 And Moses raised the tabernacle, and he placed its bases, and he set up its frames, and he placed its bars, and he raised its pillars.

19 And he spread the tent over the tabernacle; he placed the covering of the tent over it, above [it], as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

20 And he took and he put the testimony into the ark, and he placed the poles on the ark, and he put the atonement cover on the ark, above [it].

21 And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and he set up the curtain of the screening, and he shielded the ark of the testimony, as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

22 And he put the table in the tent of assembly on the north side of the tabernacle outside the curtain.