דברי הימים ב, פרק ה׳, פסוק ט׳

The placement of the Ark of the Covenant inside the Holy of Holies involved a unique arrangement of its carrying poles, leaving a permanent physical mark on the Temple structure. The poles were pulled and extended forward, pointing eastward toward the entrance of the Inner Sanctuary.

Commentators question how the poles could reach the entrance given the size of the room. One perspective suggests that special, longer poles were crafted specifically in honor of the Temple [רד״ק]. However, the primary approach among commentators is that these were the original carrying poles. In the past, they were centered to allow four men to carry the Ark evenly from the front and back. Once the Ark reached its permanent resting place and no longer needed to be carried, the poles were pulled entirely to the front. To ensure they reached the entrance, the Ark was not placed flush against the western wall but was positioned closer to the center of the room, directly under the wings of the Cherubim.

The intentional pulling of the poles served a practical purpose. It marked the exact location for the High Priest to burn incense on the Day of Atonement, ensuring he would not wander in the sacred space [רד״ק]. As a result of being pulled forward, the tips of the poles pressed against the curtain draped across the entrance. They protruded noticeably, making their presence clear from the outside. The Sages compared the visual effect of these two protrusions against the fabric to the appearance of two breasts [רד״ק]. Despite pressing outward, the poles remained completely concealed. They did not tear the fabric or extend past the walls of the Inner Sanctuary [מצודת דוד, שטיינזלץ].

This constant protrusion had a direct architectural impact. Because the poles always pushed outward, the doors of the Inner Sanctuary could never be closed. Consequently, the curtain was required to serve as the necessary dividing screen [רד״ק]. The Ark and its poles were left in this exact position permanently [שטיינזלץ]. The poles were never removed or pushed back into their original centered alignment [רד״ק]. This distinct physical arrangement was maintained for generations, lasting until the Ark of the Covenant was eventually hidden away during the reign of King Josiah [מצודת דוד].