Rashi adds one word, okugk, forever, which according to Horav Yitzchak Goldwasser, Shlita, implies a profound thought. The badim, carrying poles of the Aron Ha’Kodesh, were never to be removed from the Aron. Thus, the badim were an integral part of the Aron. The Leviim who carried the Aron by “the badim” were carrying the actual Aron. There is no distinction between the Aron and its badim; they are one and the same.
We may add to this thought. Badim serve as a metaphor for the supporters of the Torah. They can never separate themselves from the Torah which they support. Indeed, by establishing an irrevocable bond with the Torah they will come to realize a basic truth. They are not the supporters of the Torah but rather it is the Torah which supports and sustains them throughout their continued relationship with it. As the badim are part of the Aron, so, too, are the supporters of the Torah to be considered part of the lomdei Torah, those who study Torah.
For the Torah supporter to be bonded with the Torah, he must respect those whom he supports, be it the institution or its disseminators. The supporter of Torah views this opportunity as a privilege by which he is able to repay Hashem for the good he has received. When the Torah’s supporters attempt to dictate policy or impose their own orientation upon the Torah, they are actually severing their relationship with it. We may note that this respect should be reciprocal. This is not only due to the sense of gratitude which the lomdei Torah must have, but also because they are two sides of a single bond. Each side must merge together with the other in order to develop a healthy symbiotic relationship.
