THEY SHALL MAKE AN ARK OF SHITTIM WOOD, TWO CUBITS AND A HALF LONG, ONE AND A HALF CUBIT WIDE, ONE AND A HALF CUBIT HIGH. YOU SHALL COVER IT WITH PURE GOLD, FROM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE YOU SHALL COVER IT, AND YOU SHALL MAKE ON IT A GOLDEN DIADEM ALL AROUND (Shmos 25:10-11).
Why is the Ark made of both wood and gold?
Gold represents firmness and immutability. Wood represents fresh ability to develop and progress. We who receive and bear the Torah need to have both qualities (Rav SR Hirsch).
Why is both the inside and the outside made of gold?
Talmud Yoma 72b says a genuine Torah scholar must be the same on the inside as he appears on the outside (Sforno).
THE POLES MUST STAY IN THE RINGS OF THE ARK; THEY SHALL NOT BE REMOVED FROM IT (25:15).
Why did the poles need to remain even when the Ark was stationary, and not carried?
The Torah and its mission is in no way limited to the Sanctuary, as symbolized by permanently placed poles. Torah is forever portable (Rav SR Hirsch).
The Ark deserves honor as the Torah's sanctuary. The Ark must be ready to move at any moment. The poles should be secure so no mishap occurs. A mishap would dishonor the Ark (Sefer Hachinuch).
The poles represent the benefactors of Torah learning. Supporters of Torah scholarship forever share in the merit of the accomplishments of those they support (Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky).
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