Poles/staves

There are various interpretations about the poles used to carry the Ark of the Covenant.

• Ex 25.15 says they were to remain mounted in the rings on the Ark, e.g. on the wooden, gold-clad box itself.
• Num 4.6 says when the Ark was being prepared for transport after the goatskin, then the blue cloth coverings were placed on the Ark the poles would be inserted.
• 1 Ki 8.8 says the Ark installed in the temple Solomon built were so long they could be seen from the Holy Place, the 20x60’ room just prior to the 20x20x20’ room that was the “most holy place”, aka the “holy of holies”, in Hebrew the Naos.

Note the following sample of commentaries on reconciling these passages:

If the staves were never to be taken out, how can it be said, as in Num. 4:6, that when the camp should set forward, they should put in the staves thereof, which intimates that when they encamped they took out the staves, which appears to be contrary to what is here said? To reconcile these two places, it has been supposed, with great show of probability, that besides the staves which passed through the rings of the ark, and by which it was carried, there were two other staves or poles in the form of a bier or hand-barrow, on which the ark was laid in order to be transported in their journeyings, when it and its own staves, still in their rings, had been wrapped up in the covering of what is called badgers’ skins and blue cloth. The staves of the ark itself, which might be considered as its handles simply to lift it by, were never taken out of their rings; but the staves or poles which served as a bier were taken from under it when they encamped. Clarke, A. (2014). [The Holy Bible with a Commentary and Critical Notes (New Edition, Vol. 1, p. 428). Bellingham, WA: Faithlife Corporation.]

The Hebrew word rendered “put in,” signifies also “dispose” and probably refers here to their insertion through the openings in the coverings made for receiving them, to preserve them from the touch of the carriers as well as from the influence of the weather. It is worthy of notice that the coverings did not consist of canvas or coarse tarpaulin, but of a kind which united beauty with decency. [Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). [Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 1, p. 96). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.]

Lastly, they were to place the staves into the rings again, that is to say, the bearing poles, which were always left in their places on the ark (Ex. 25:15), but had necessarily to be taken out while it was being covered and wrapped up. [Keil, C. F., & Delitzsch, F. (1996). [Commentary on the Old Testament (Vol. 1, p. 665). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson.]