I 'sleep', yet my heart waketh

Summary: according to the Meiri, with an interesting Freudian interpretation of the poles of the ark.

Post: In parashat Teruma:

15. The poles of the ark shall be in the rings; they shall not be removed from it.

טו. בְּטַבְּעֹת הָאָרֹן יִהְיוּ הַבַּדִּים לֹא יָסֻרוּ מִמֶּנּוּ:

The Meiri on Mishlei perek 3 writes:

"The verse states in Shir Hashirim (5:2) אֲנִי יְשֵׁנָה, וְלִבִּי עֵר, 'I sleep, but my heart waketh'. What is intended by this is that even at the time that he is engaged with bodily needs -- and this is the time which is euphemistically referred to as 'sleeping' {namely, sexual intercourse} -- and he is engaged in this based on what nature obligates alone, and even so, his heart stands before Hashem.


Thus, בְּטַבְּעֹת הָאָרֹן יִהְיוּ הַבַּדִּים לֹא יָסֻרוּ מִמֶּנּוּ {with ממנו meaning from Hashem}, meaning that despite all this, his thoughts incline to the service of Hashem, and are not removed to the needs of the body, except a bit according to what is necessary.


This is as Mishlei 3 states, 

ו  בְּכָל-דְּרָכֶיךָ דָעֵהוּ;    וְהוּא, יְיַשֵּׁר אֹרְחֹתֶיךָ.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct thy paths.

{perhaps with a stress on 'in all thy ways'.}"

Thus, it seems that he takes the poles and the rings as Freudian imagery. Interesting.