Exodus 25:12 - Exposition

Four rings of gold . These rings were to be fixed, not at the upper, but at the lower corners of the chest, which are called pa'amoth , literally "feet" or "bases." The object was, no doubt, that no part of the chest should come in contact with the persons of the priests when carrying it (see Exodus 25:14 ). As Kalisch notes, "the smallness of the dimensions of the ark rendered its safe transportation, even with the rings at its feet, not impossible."