מלכים א, פרק ח׳, פסוק ז׳

Placing the Ark of the Covenant inside the Holy of Holies created a space where the wings of the cherubim wrapped around and protected it. These figures spread their wings across the entire width of the room, reaching from one wall to the other [רש״י].

How exactly this protective canopy formed over the Ark is a subject of discussion. One approach explains it as a natural result of the room's original design. The cherubim were exceptionally tall and were positioned in advance with their wings already spread toward the designated spot. Therefore, the moment the Ark was brought into its place, they automatically formed a shelter over it [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Conversely, another perspective suggests a miraculous event took place. At first, the cherubim merely extended their wings toward the area. Once the Ark was brought inside, they miraculously bent their wings downward to physically cover it [מלבי״ם]. Regardless of how it occurred, this action formed a complete shelter from above, with the cherubim covering both the Ark itself and its carrying poles [ביאור שטיינזלץ, מלבי״ם].