These are good questions. I do not personally believe that they both were exactly the same. I believe that the testimony placed inside the ark just contained the ten words. I believe that the one placed on the side of the ark contained all the ordinances and such that were given. The one inside was just a testament of who God is and what He requires. It is the principal of how we can distinguish Him apart from all the other "gods" that are out there. The one placed on the side, with the ordinances and regulations is how we can 'relate' to God. This, I believe, is the direct representation of who Christ is. Of course, the one on the side would have also contained the ten words.
The bearing, to reiterate, is that we can see and test false spirits against the law of God. They will not be contrary to it. Even ourselves, when held up, should be fulfilling the law as we are in Christ. Christ fulfilled the law, so if we are in Him, we will be too. I look at them as the test-imonie, and witness, to the one True God. If you find "love" apart from them, that does not point back too them, then its not true love.
My whole premise, which seems to get smeared around a lot in the manner in which I have not stated it, is that we can know the truth of Godly love simply by examining how it stands up against the law. My premise is NOT that we are under the law, and through that obedience to it, then we love. That is not it at all. We love, and through that obedience, we find the law being fulfilled in our 'wake'.
Now, the over riding thought for all of this is because we are to a day and age in our society that we actually see Christians asking if its ok to lie, cheat, steal, worship false gods, etc. Obviously they "claim" these things are done in love. If they were, then they would not speak against the testimony of God. If a person is in Christ then they are NOT going to lie. Christ never lied.
We have this idea that obedience to "love" will cover things that are contrary to the law. Passage upon passage is taken out of context and the whole of the Bible is being broken down bit by bit. We are starting to 'wonder' through this pilgrimage on earth all the while stating "love, love, love". There will come a time when this "love" of ours will be tested by God. He does this to all He truly loves. And when this moment of testing comes, will we be able to identify what true love is? We should, there is a written record of it.
Just the same when Jesus blinded the eyes of the guys on the road, then proceeded to show them the Scriptures, and when they still would not believe He stated:
Luk 24:25 And he said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
He scolded them for their unbelieving, even though He had blinded them to the fact of who He was. Why? Because He wanted to show them that the Scriptures, the OT, showed everything He was. There is documented, physical proof, of who God is and what His love looks like. My plea is that we do not be like the guys, and see who Christ is and what true love looks like. Not this mushy, mushy worldly love junk that many are following straight into the pits of hell. And NO I am not talking specifically about anyone. Just them who follow it.