Many of the vessels which were used in the First and Second Holy Temples were those made under the supervision of Moses when the Jews constructed the Sanctuary in the desert. Others were made by King Solomon, who built the First Holy Temple.
The ark, which stood in the Holy of Holies and housed the Tablets (of the Ten Commandments), in the First Temple was absent from the Second Temple. King Solomon knew, by way of prophecy, that both Temples were destined to be destroyed, and he constructed a hiding place for the Ark deep in the foundations of the Temple. It was there that King Yoshiyahu concealed the Ark and there it awaits the rebuilding of the Third Holy Temple.
When the Ark was in the Holy of Holies, it took up no physical space. That is to say, although the entire area of the Holy of Holies measured 20 cubits, the space on each side of the Ark was 10 cubits. During the time the Jews wandered through the desert, sparks would shoot out from the poles of the Ark, destroying poisonous snakes and scorpions which lurked before it. When the Jews entered the Holy Land and were about to cross the Jordan River, the water parted at the feet of the kohanim (priests) who were bearing the Ark and the entire Jewish people passed on dry ground. Not until the kohanim reached the other bank did the river begin to flow again.
On the two sides of the Ark were the keruvim (cherubs). These were two figures in the form of angels with the faces of children, a boy and a girl, with wings that extended over the Ark. There were also miracles associated with the keruvim. When the Jewish people conducted themselves according to the will of G-d, the two figures faced one another, but when G-d was displeased with His people, they turned in opposite directions. In addition, when G-d spoke to Moses in the Holy of Holies, the voice seemed to emanate from between the two angelic figures.
The golden Menora, or candelabra, which stood in the Holy Temple was made of one solid block of gold, but was intricately decorated. Each night it was kindled with pure olive oil, and it burned throughout the night. Many miracles occurred in connection with its lighting. For instance, one of its lights did not go out, even though all the other lights which contained the same amount of oil went out. At times, this light, when lit on Rosh Hashana, did not go out until just prior to the following Rosh Hashana.
Another of the articles in the Temple was the Shulchan, the Table, upon which were laid the 12 show-breads that were the spiritual source of bounty and blessing for the Jewish people. These challot were arranged on the Table every Shabbat when the challot from the previous week were removed. One of the miracles was that when they were replaced with fresh ones the following week, they were still warm. The Table which Moses made was also used in the First Temple.
The Altar on which the incense was burned was placed between the Menora and the Shulchan, and incense was burned on it twice a day. The Altar, which was made of acacia wood plated with gold, was also miraculous, for although it was burned with fire for many years, it was never scorched or damaged by the heat.
It is related in the Midrash that when Moses questioned how it could be that the wood would not be burned by the fire, G-d replied that the nature of Divine fire is unlike that of earthly fire, for although it burns, it does not consume. There were many other vessels used in the Temples. The Kiyor, the Wash-basin which was used for washing the hands and feet of the kohanim, was made from the mirrors of the women who used them to beautify themselves while in Egyptian bondage in order to cheer their downtrodden husbands. This act was valued so highly by G-d, that Moses was commanded to construct the basin from the copper, even though it isn't a precious metal.
The Temple service was conducted with enormous grandeur. The kohanim used 93 types of gold and silver vessels in their service, in addition to many beautiful and varied musical instruments which the Levites used to produce their exquisite music. During the destruction of the First Temple, the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar plundered the wealth of the Temple and took all the vessels to Babylonia. When he had the effrontery to exhibit and use them in a great feast, he met his death the same night. When the Babylonian exiles returned to rebuild the land under Zerubavel, King Cyrus released 5,400 vessels to be returned to the Temple.
Then, when Titus destroyed the Second Temple, the vessels were again looted and, this time, brought to Rome. We await the day when they are returned to their rightful place in the Third Holy Temple, and may that day come immediately.
