Exodus 25:13-14
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The plain acacia wood poles, meant to carry the ark, are completely covered with gold. This detail emphasizes that even the seemingly ordinary or functional parts of God's dwelling were to be treated with the highest honor, reflecting His presence and glory in all aspects of His dwelling place.
You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. And you shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark by them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God is instructing Moses on how to build the Ark of the Covenant, a sacred chest that will hold the stone tablets of the Law. This detailed process involves specific materials and construction methods for the Ark itself and its accompanying poles. These poles are essential for carrying the Ark, emphasizing its portability and sacred nature within the Israelite journey.
Why did God design the Ark of the Covenant to be carried? And why were there special poles made for this purpose?
The instructions for the poles used to carry the Ark of the Covenant reveal a crucial aspect of God's presence among His people: it was meant to be mobile and accessible.
The Ark's poles were made of wood and then covered in gold. What does this combination tell us about God's interaction with humanity?
The construction of the poles, using both acacia wood and gold, symbolizes the profound union of the divine and human in God's dealings with His people.
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Understand the original words
shittim · Hebrew Noun
Acacia wood (or shittim wood) is a dense, durable, decay-resistant timber common in the wilderness region. Its use in sacred furniture represents the blending of humble, earthly materials with divine holiness when overlaid with gold.
bad · Hebrew Noun
Poles were long bars used to carry heavy sacred furniture, allowing priests to transport holy objects without touching them directly. This design maintained the sanctity of the items and signified their portability for the nomadic life of Israel.
aron · Hebrew Noun
The Ark (or chest) refers specifically to the Ark of the Covenant, the sacred box containing the tablets of the Law. It served as the earthly footstool of God's throne and the place where His presence uniquely dwelt among His people.
This verse describes the construction of the staves for the Ark of the Covenant, directly referencing the same materials and purpose as Exodus 25:13.
Exodus 26:26Similar staves overlaid with gold are mandated for the construction of the Tabernacle's framework, highlighting a consistent use of this method for carrying sacred objects.
1 Kings 8:7This passage shows the fulfillment of the instruction from Exodus 25:13, as it records the staves being placed in the Ark of the Covenant in Solomon's Temple, ready for its carrying.
2 Chronicles 5:8Similar to 1 Kings 8:7, this verse also describes the staves being in the Ark in the Temple, demonstrating the enduring principle of carrying sacred items with these specially prepared poles.
calvinExodus 25:1-22: "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,"
And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.
Expandentque cherubim duas alas superne tegentes alis suis propitiatorium, et se mutuo aspicient: ad propitiatorium erunt facies cherubim.
And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put th…
pulpitExodus 25:13: "And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold."
Verse 13. - Staves of shittim wood. Similar staves, or poles, are to be seen in the Egyptian sculptures, attached to arks, thrones, and litters, and resting on the shoulders of the men who carry such objects.
The plain acacia wood poles, meant to carry the ark, are completely covered with gold. This detail emphasizes that even the seemingly ordinary or functional parts of God's dwelling were to be treated with the highest honor, reflecting His presence and glory in all aspects of His dwelling place.
God is instructing Moses on how to build the Ark of the Covenant, a sacred chest that will hold the stone tablets of the Law. This detailed process involves specific materials and construction methods for the Ark itself and its accompanying poles. These poles are essential for carrying the Ark, emphasizing its portability and sacred nature within the Israelite journey.
God is instructing Moses on how to build the Ark of the Covenant, a sacred chest that will hold the stone tablets of the Law. This detailed process involves specific materials and construction methods for the Ark itself and its accompanying poles. These poles are essential for carrying the Ark, emphasizing its portability and sacred nature within the Israelite journey.
"You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. And you shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark by them." — The plain acacia wood poles, meant to carry the ark, are completely covered with gold. This detail emphasizes that even the seemingly ordinary or functional parts of God's dwelling were to be treated…
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Last reviewed October 2026
