Exodus 40:20

20 He took the covenant document and placed it inside the chest. He put the poles on the chest, and he set the cover on top of the chest.

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 Moses set up the dwelling. He laid out its bases. He set up its boards, inserted its bars, and raised up its posts.

19 He spread the tent out over the dwelling, and he put the covering of the tent over it, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

20 He took the covenant document and placed it inside the chest. He put the poles on the chest, and he set the cover on top of the chest.

21 He brought the chest into the dwelling. He set up the veil as a screen to hide from view the chest containing the covenant, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

22 He placed the table in the meeting tent, on the north side of the dwelling, outside the veil.