The Mercy Seat

In Jewish tradition the Mercy Seat (Kapporeth)was the golden covering on the lid of the Ark of the Covenant, kept in the Holy of Holies of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem.

It is described (Leviticus 16:2; Numbers 7:89) as flanked by two cherubim with their faces turned toward each other — the sole exceptions to the ban against graven images.

The Mercy seat represented the throne of God. The wings of the cherubim outspread over the top of the Ark of the Covenant are described as forming the throne of God, while the ark itself is his footstool (Exodus 25:10-22; 37:1-9).

The Ark of the Covenant (ארון הברית in Hebrew- aron habrit) is described as a sacred container

texto in: http://reflection-in-the-river.blogspot.com/2006/10/in-kapporeth.html