Torah Portion: Terumah
The poles must remain in the ark’s rings and not be removed (Shemos 25:15).
It is a negative commandment to not remove the poles that are used for carrying the Ark from the Ark’s rings, as it is written, The poles must remain in the ark’s rings and not be removed (Shemos 25:15).
Among the roots of the mitzvah is the idea that the Ark houses the Torah, which is our entire Root and our honor, so we were enjoined to accord it every honor and splendor in our power. We were therefore commanded that we not remove the poles of the Ark from it, lest the need arise to go forth with the Ark suddenly, and perhaps in the haste we might not properly check that the poles are sufficiently strong. If that be the case, the Ark could —Heaven forefend — fall from their hands. This would not be honor for it. But since the poles are always ready and are never removed from the Ark, we [knew to] make them very strong and no mishap could ever happen with them.
Another reason: The shapes of all the utensils of the Sanctuary perforce allude to very great and supernal ideas that impact people for the good (when they contemplate those designs), and God wished for our good that [the special] design [of the Ark] should not be missing for even a short while.
