1 Kings 8:8 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

And they drew out the staves, that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy place before the oracle, and they were not seen without: and there they are unto this day. They drew out the staves, [Septuagint, ta hagia, 1 Kings 8:7, and ta heegiasmena, 1 Kings 8:8] - a little way, so as to project (see the notes at Exodus 25:15; Numbers 4:6), and they were left in that position until an advanced period of the monarchy. The object was that these projecting staves might serve as a guide to the high priest in conducting him to that place where, once a year, he went to officiate before the ark; otherwise he might miss his way in the dark, the ark being wholly overshadowed by the wings of the gigantic cherubim, and he had not nothing to guide him but the glowing embers in his censer, and the mysterious light that emanated from the mercy-seat. The partial removal of the staves might, like everything else in the temple, have a symbolical signification, that the tabernacle was now stationary, and not to be changed (see the notes at 2 Chronicles 35:3).