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Selected Verse: Exodus 25:31 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ex 25:31	Strong Concordance	And thou shalt make [06213] a candlestick [04501] of pure [02889] gold [02091]: of beaten work [04749] shall the candlestick [04501] be made [06213]: his shaft [03409], and his branches [07070], his bowls [01375], his knops [03730], and his flowers [06525], shall be of the same.
	King James	And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
candlestick--literally, "a lamp bearer." It was so constructed as to be capable of being taken to pieces for facility in removal. The shaft or stock rested on a pedestal. It had seven branches, shaped like reeds or canes--three on each side, with one in the center--and worked out into knobs, flowers, and bowls, placed alternately [Exo 25:32-36]. The figure represented on the arch of Titus gives the best idea of this candlestick.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

candlestick--literally, "a lamp bearer." It was so constructed as to be capable of being taken to pieces for facility in removal. The shaft or stock rested on a pedestal. It had seven branches, shaped like reeds or canes--three on each side, with one in the center--and worked out into knobs, flowers, and bowls, placed alternately [Exo 25:32-36]. The figure represented on the arch of Titus gives the best idea of this candlestick.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Exo 25:31 A candlestick of pure gold - (Compare Exo 37:17-24.) A lampstand rather than a candlestick. Its purpose was to support seven oil-lamps. Its height appears to have been about three feet, and its width two feet. The original foot was lost or stolen when the candlestick was taken out of the temple, and the pedestal in the sculpture was added by some Roman artist to set off the trophy. His shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers - Or, its base, its stem, its flower cups, its knobs, and its lilies. Exo 25:33 Three bowls made like unto almonds - Three cups of almond flowers. These appear to be the cups in immediate contact with the knobs as shown in the sculpture. A flower - A lily; and this rendering well agrees with the sculpture. The candlestick - Here, and in the two following verses, the word appears to denote "the stem," as the essential part of the candlestick. It would seem from Exo 25:33-35 that the ornamentation of the candlestick consisted of uniform members, each comprising a series of an almond flower, a knob and a lily; that the stem comprised four of these members; that each pair of branches was united to the stem at one of the knobs; and that each branch comprised three members. In comparing the description in the text with the sculptured figure, allowance must be made for some deviation in the sculptor's copy. Exo 25:37 Seven lamps - These lamps were probably like those used by the Egyptian and other nations, shallow covered vessels more or less of an oval form, with a mouth at one end from which the wick protruded. The candlestick was placed on the south side of the holy place Exo 26:35, with the line of lamps parallel with the wall, or, according to Josephus, somewhat obliquely. If the wick-mouths of the lamps were turned outwards, they would give light over against the candlestick; that is, toward the north side (see Num 8:2). Light was of necessity required in the tabernacle, and wherever light is used in ceremonial observance, it may of course be taken in a general way as a figure of the Light of Truth; but in the sanctuary of the covenanted people, it must plainly have been understood as expressly significant that the number of the lamps (seven) agreed with the number of the covenant. The covenant of Yahweh was essentially a covenant of light. They shall light - See the margin and the note at Lev 1:9. Exo 25:38 The tongs - Used to trim and adjust the wicks. (Compare Isa 6:6.) The snuff-dishes - These were shallow vessels used to receive the burnt fragments of wick removed by the tongs. The same Hebrew word is translated, in accordance with its connection, "fire pans," Exo 27:3; Exo 38:3; and "censers," Num 4:14; Num 16:6. Exo 25:39 A talent of pure gold - about 94 lbs.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

Exo 25:31

A candlestick of pure gold - (Compare Exo 37:17-24.) A lampstand rather than a candlestick. Its purpose was to support seven oil-lamps. Its height appears to have been about three feet, and its width two feet. The original foot was lost or stolen when the candlestick was taken out of the temple, and the pedestal in the sculpture was added by some Roman artist to set off the trophy.

His shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers - Or, its base, its stem, its flower cups, its knobs, and its lilies.

Exo 25:33

Three bowls made like unto almonds - Three cups of almond flowers. These appear to be the cups in immediate contact with the knobs as shown in the sculpture.

A flower - A lily; and this rendering well agrees with the sculpture.

The candlestick - Here, and in the two following verses, the word appears to denote "the stem," as the essential part of the candlestick. It would seem from Exo 25:33-35 that the ornamentation of the candlestick consisted of uniform members, each comprising a series of an almond flower, a knob and a lily; that the stem comprised four of these members; that each pair of branches was united to the stem at one of the knobs; and that each branch comprised three members. In comparing the description in the text with the sculptured figure, allowance must be made for some deviation in the sculptor's copy.

Exo 25:37

Seven lamps - These lamps were probably like those used by the Egyptian and other nations, shallow covered vessels more or less of an oval form, with a mouth at one end from which the wick protruded. The candlestick was placed on the south side of the holy place Exo 26:35, with the line of lamps parallel with the wall, or, according to Josephus, somewhat obliquely. If the wick-mouths of the lamps were turned outwards, they would give light over against the candlestick; that is, toward the north side (see Num 8:2).

Light was of necessity required in the tabernacle, and wherever light is used in ceremonial observance, it may of course be taken in a general way as a figure of the Light of Truth; but in the sanctuary of the covenanted people, it must plainly have been understood as expressly significant that the number of the lamps (seven) agreed with the number of the covenant. The covenant of Yahweh was essentially a covenant of light.

They shall light - See the margin and the note at Lev 1:9.

Exo 25:38

The tongs - Used to trim and adjust the wicks. (Compare Isa 6:6.)

The snuff-dishes - These were shallow vessels used to receive the burnt fragments of wick removed by the tongs. The same Hebrew word is translated, in accordance with its connection, "fire pans," Exo 27:3; Exo 38:3; and "censers," Num 4:14; Num 16:6.

Exo 25:39

A talent of pure gold - about 94 lbs.

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
candlestick Candlestick, type of Christ our Light, shining in the fullness of the power of the sevenfold Spirit (Isa 11:2); (Heb 1:9); (Rev 1:4). Natural light was excluded from the tabernacle. Compare (Co1 2:14); (Co1 2:15). (See Scofield) - (Gen 1:16) (Joh 1:4).

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
(cf. Exo 37:17-24). The Candlestick was to be made of pure gold, "beaten work." מקשׁה: see Exo 25:18. For the form תּיעשׂה instead of תּעשׂה (which is probably the work of a copyist, who thought the reading should be תּעשׂה in the Niphal, as the י is wanting in many MSS), see Gesenius, Lehrgeb. p. 52, and Ewald, 83b. "Of it shall be (i.e., there shall issue from it so as to form one complete whole) its ירך" (lit., the loins, the upper part of the thigh, which is attached to the body, and from which the feet proceed, - in this case the base or pedestal, upon which the candelabrum stood); its קנה, or reed, i.e., the hollow stem of the candelabrum rising up from the pedestal; - "its גּבעים," cups, resembling the calix of a flower; - כּפתּרים, knobs, in a spherical shape (cf. Amo 9:1; Zep 2:14); - "and פּרחים," flowers, ornaments in the form of buds just bursting. Exo 25:32 From the sides of the candlestick, i.e., of the upright stem in the middle, there were to be six branches, three on either side. Exo 25:33-34 On each of these branches (the repetition of the same words expresses the distributive sense) there were to be "three cups in the form of an almond-flower, (with) knob and flower," and on the shaft of the candlestick, or central stem, "four cups in the form of almond-flowers, its knobs and its flowers." As both ופרח כּפתּר (Exo 25:33) and וּפרחיה כּפתּריה (Exo 25:34) are connected with the previous words without a copula, Knobel and Thenius regard these words as standing in explanatory apposition to the preceding ones, and suppose the meaning to be that the flower-cups were to consist of knobs with flowers issuing from them. But apart from the singular idea of calling a knob or bulb with a flower bursting from it a flower-cup, Exo 25:31 decidedly precludes any such explanation; for cups, knobs, and flowers are mentioned there in connection with the base and stem, as three separate things which were quite as distinct the one from the other as the base and the stem. The words in question are appended in both verses to משׁקּדים גּבעים in the sense of subordination; ו is generally used in such cases, but it is omitted here before כפתר, probably to avoid ambiguity, as the two words to be subordinated are brought into closer association as one idea by the use of this copula. And if כפתר and פרח are to be distinguished from נביע, the objection made by Thenius to our rendering משׁקּד "almond-blossom-shaped," namely, that neither the almond nor the almond-blossom has at all the shape of a basin, falls entirely to the ground; and there is all the less reason to question this rendering, on account of the unanimity with which it has been adopted in the ancient versions, whereas the rendering proposed by Thenius, "wakened up, i.e., a burst or opened calix," has neither foundation nor probability. Exo 25:35 "and every pipe under the two branches shall be out from them (be connected with them) for the six (side) pipes going out from the candlestick;" i.e., at the point where the three pairs of the six side pipes or arms branched off from the main pipe or stem of the candlestick, a knob should be so placed that the arms should proceed from the knob, or from the main stem immediately above the knob. Exo 25:36-37 "Their knobs and their pipes (i.e., the knobs and pipes of the three pairs of arms) shall be of it (the candlestick, i.e., combined with it so as to form one whole), all one (one kind of) beaten work, pure gold." From all this we get the following idea of the candlestick: Upon the vase there rose an upright central pipe, from which three side pies branched out one above another on either side, and curved upwards in the form of a quadrant to the level of the central stem. On this stem a calix and a knob and blossom were introduced four separate times, and in such a manner that there was a knob wherever the side pipes branched off from the main stem, evidently immediately below the branches; and the fourth knob, we may suppose, was higher up between the top branches and the end of the stem. As there were thus four calices with a knob and blossom in the main stem, so again there were three in each of the branches, which were no doubt placed at equal distances from one another. With regard to the relative position of the calix, the knob, and the blossom, we may suppose that the spherical knob was underneath the calix, and that the blossom sprang from the upper edge of the latter, as if bursting out of it. The candlestick had thus seven arms, and seven lights or lamps were to be made and placed upon them (העלה). "And they (all the lamps) are to give light upon the opposite side of its front" (Exo 25:37): i.e., the lamp was to throw its light upon the side that was opposite to the front of the candlestick. The פּנים of the candlestick (Exo 25:37 and Num 8:2) was the front shown by the seven arms, as they formed a straight line with their seven points; and עבר does not mean the side, but the opposite side, as is evident from Num 8:2, where we find מוּל אל instead. As the place assigned to the candlestick was on the south side of the dwelling-place, we are to understand by this opposite side the north, and imagine the lamp to be so placed that the line of lamps formed by the seven arms ran from front to back, by which arrangement the holy place would be better lighted, than if the candlestick had stood with the line of lamps from south to north, and so had turned all its seven lamps towards the person entering the holy place. The lamps were the receptacles for the wick and oil, which were placed on the top of the arms, and could be taken down to be cleaned. The hole from which the wick projected was not made in the middle, but at the edge, so that the light was thrown upon one side. Exo 25:38 The other things belonging to the candlestick were מלקחים tongs (Isa 6:6), i.e., snuffers, and מחמּות snuff-dishes, i.e., dishes to receive the snuff when taken from the wicks; elsewhere the word signifies an ash-pan, or vessel used for taking away the coal from the fire (Exo 27:3; Lev 16:12; Num 17:3.). Exo 25:39-40 "Of a talent of pure gold (i.e., 822,000 Parisian grains) shall he make it (the candlestick) and all these vessels," i.e., according to Exo 37:24, all the vessels belonging to the candlestick. From this quantity of gold it was possible to make a candlestick of very considerable size. The size is not given anywhere in the Old Testament, but, according to Bhr's conjecture, it corresponded to the height of the table of shew-bread, namely, a cubit and a half in height and the same in breadth, or a cubit and a half between the two outside lamps. The signification of the seven-armed candlestick is apparent from its purpose, viz., to carry seven lamps, which were trimmed and filled with oil every morning, and lighted every evening, and were to burn throughout the night (Exo 27:20-21; Exo 30:7-8; Lev 24:3-4). As the Israelites were to prepare spiritual food in the shew-bread in the presence of Jehovah, and to offer continually the fruit of their labour in the field of the kingdom of God, as a spiritual offering to the Lord; so also were they to present themselves continually to Jehovah in the burning lamps, as the vehicles and media of light, as a nation letting its light shine in the darkness of this world (cf. Mat 5:14, Mat 5:16; Luk 12:35; Phi 2:15). The oil, through which the lamps burned and shone, was, according to its peculiar virtue in imparting strength to the body and restoring vital power, a representation of the Godlike spirit, the source of all the vital power of man; whilst the oil, as offered by the congregation of Israel, and devoted to sacred purposes according to the command of God, is throughout the Scriptures a symbol of the Spirit of God, by which the congregation of God was tilled with higher light and life. By the power of this Spirit, Israel, in covenant with the Lord, was to let its light shine, the light of its knowledge of God and spiritual illumination, before all the nations of the earth. In its seven arms the stamp of the covenant relationship was impressed upon the candlestick; and the almond-blossom with which it was ornamented represented the seasonable offering of the flowers and fruits of the Spirit, the almond-tree deriving its name שׁקד from the fact that it is the earliest of all the trees in both its blossom and its fruit (cf. Jer 1:11-12). The symbolical character of the candlestick is clearly indicated in the Scriptures. The prophet Zechariah (Zac 4:1-14) sees a golden candlestick with seven lamps and two olive-trees, one on either side, from which the oil-vessel is supplied; and the angel who is talking with him informs him that the olive-trees are the two sons of oil, that is to say, the representatives of the kingdom and priesthood, the divinely appointed organs through which the Spirit of God was communicated to the covenant nation. And in Rev 1:20, the seven churches, which represent the new people of God, i.e., the Christian Church, are shown to the holy seer in the form of seven candlesticks standing before the throne of God. - On Exo 25:40, see at Exo 25:9.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

(cf. Exo 37:17-24). The Candlestick was to be made of pure gold, "beaten work." מקשׁה: see Exo 25:18. For the form תּיעשׂה instead of תּעשׂה (which is probably the work of a copyist, who thought the reading should be תּעשׂה in the Niphal, as the י is wanting in many MSS), see Gesenius, Lehrgeb. p. 52, and Ewald, 83b. "Of it shall be (i.e., there shall issue from it so as to form one complete whole) its ירך" (lit., the loins, the upper part of the thigh, which is attached to the body, and from which the feet proceed, - in this case the base or pedestal, upon which the candelabrum stood); its קנה, or reed, i.e., the hollow stem of the candelabrum rising up from the pedestal; - "its גּבעים," cups, resembling the calix of a flower; - כּפתּרים, knobs, in a spherical shape (cf. Amo 9:1; Zep 2:14); - "and פּרחים," flowers, ornaments in the form of buds just bursting.

Exo 25:32

From the sides of the candlestick, i.e., of the upright stem in the middle, there were to be six branches, three on either side.

Exo 25:33-34

On each of these branches (the repetition of the same words expresses the distributive sense) there were to be "three cups in the form of an almond-flower, (with) knob and flower," and on the shaft of the candlestick, or central stem, "four cups in the form of almond-flowers, its knobs and its flowers." As both ופרח כּפתּר (Exo 25:33) and וּפרחיה כּפתּריה (Exo 25:34) are connected with the previous words without a copula, Knobel and Thenius regard these words as standing in explanatory apposition to the preceding ones, and suppose the meaning to be that the flower-cups were to consist of knobs with flowers issuing from them. But apart from the singular idea of calling a knob or bulb with a flower bursting from it a flower-cup, Exo 25:31 decidedly precludes any such explanation; for cups, knobs, and flowers are mentioned there in connection with the base and stem, as three separate things which were quite as distinct the one from the other as the base and the stem. The words in question are appended in both verses to משׁקּדים גּבעים in the sense of subordination; ו is generally used in such cases, but it is omitted here before כפתר, probably to avoid ambiguity, as the two words to be subordinated are brought into closer association as one idea by the use of this copula. And if כפתר and פרח are to be distinguished from נביע, the objection made by Thenius to our rendering משׁקּד "almond-blossom-shaped," namely, that neither the almond nor the almond-blossom has at all the shape of a basin, falls entirely to the ground; and there is all the less reason to question this rendering, on account of the unanimity with which it has been adopted in the ancient versions, whereas the rendering proposed by Thenius, "wakened up, i.e., a burst or opened calix," has neither foundation nor probability.

Exo 25:35

"and every pipe under the two branches shall be out from them (be connected with them) for the six (side) pipes going out from the candlestick;" i.e., at the point where the three pairs of the six side pipes or arms branched off from the main pipe or stem of the candlestick, a knob should be so placed that the arms should proceed from the knob, or from the main stem immediately above the knob.

Exo 25:36-37

"Their knobs and their pipes (i.e., the knobs and pipes of the three pairs of arms) shall be of it (the candlestick, i.e., combined with it so as to form one whole), all one (one kind of) beaten work, pure gold." From all this we get the following idea of the candlestick: Upon the vase there rose an upright central pipe, from which three side pies branched out one above another on either side, and curved upwards in the form of a quadrant to the level of the central stem. On this stem a calix and a knob and blossom were introduced four separate times, and in such a manner that there was a knob wherever the side pipes branched off from the main stem, evidently immediately below the branches; and the fourth knob, we may suppose, was higher up between the top branches and the end of the stem. As there were thus four calices with a knob and blossom in the main stem, so again there were three in each of the branches, which were no doubt placed at equal distances from one another. With regard to the relative position of the calix, the knob, and the blossom, we may suppose that the spherical knob was underneath the calix, and that the blossom sprang from the upper edge of the latter, as if bursting out of it. The candlestick had thus seven arms, and seven lights or lamps were to be made and placed upon them (העלה). "And they (all the lamps) are to give light upon the opposite side of its front" (Exo 25:37): i.e., the lamp was to throw its light upon the side that was opposite to the front of the candlestick. The פּנים of the candlestick (Exo 25:37 and Num 8:2) was the front shown by the seven arms, as they formed a straight line with their seven points; and עבר does not mean the side, but the opposite side, as is evident from Num 8:2, where we find מוּל אל instead. As the place assigned to the candlestick was on the south side of the dwelling-place, we are to understand by this opposite side the north, and imagine the lamp to be so placed that the line of lamps formed by the seven arms ran from front to back, by which arrangement the holy place would be better lighted, than if the candlestick had stood with the line of lamps from south to north, and so had turned all its seven lamps towards the person entering the holy place. The lamps were the receptacles for the wick and oil, which were placed on the top of the arms, and could be taken down to be cleaned. The hole from which the wick projected was not made in the middle, but at the edge, so that the light was thrown upon one side.

Exo 25:38

The other things belonging to the candlestick were מלקחים tongs (Isa 6:6), i.e., snuffers, and מחמּות snuff-dishes, i.e., dishes to receive the snuff when taken from the wicks; elsewhere the word signifies an ash-pan, or vessel used for taking away the coal from the fire (Exo 27:3; Lev 16:12; Num 17:3.).

Exo 25:39-40

"Of a talent of pure gold (i.e., 822,000 Parisian grains) shall he make it (the candlestick) and all these vessels," i.e., according to Exo 37:24, all the vessels belonging to the candlestick. From this quantity of gold it was possible to make a candlestick of very considerable size. The size is not given anywhere in the Old Testament, but, according to Bhr's conjecture, it corresponded to the height of the table of shew-bread, namely, a cubit and a half in height and the same in breadth, or a cubit and a half between the two outside lamps.

The signification of the seven-armed candlestick is apparent from its purpose, viz., to carry seven lamps, which were trimmed and filled with oil every morning, and lighted every evening, and were to burn throughout the night (Exo 27:20-21; Exo 30:7-8; Lev 24:3-4). As the Israelites were to prepare spiritual food in the shew-bread in the presence of Jehovah, and to offer continually the fruit of their labour in the field of the kingdom of God, as a spiritual offering to the Lord; so also were they to present themselves continually to Jehovah in the burning lamps, as the vehicles and media of light, as a nation letting its light shine in the darkness of this world (cf. Mat 5:14, Mat 5:16; Luk 12:35; Phi 2:15). The oil, through which the lamps burned and shone, was, according to its peculiar virtue in imparting strength to the body and restoring vital power, a representation of the Godlike spirit, the source of all the vital power of man; whilst the oil, as offered by the congregation of Israel, and devoted to sacred purposes according to the command of God, is throughout the Scriptures a symbol of the Spirit of God, by which the congregation of God was tilled with higher light and life. By the power of this Spirit, Israel, in covenant with the Lord, was to let its light shine, the light of its knowledge of God and spiritual illumination, before all the nations of the earth. In its seven arms the stamp of the covenant relationship was impressed upon the candlestick; and the almond-blossom with which it was ornamented represented the seasonable offering of the flowers and fruits of the Spirit, the almond-tree deriving its name שׁקד from the fact that it is the earliest of all the trees in both its blossom and its fruit (cf. Jer 1:11-12). The symbolical character of the candlestick is clearly indicated in the Scriptures. The prophet Zechariah (Zac 4:1-14) sees a golden candlestick with seven lamps and two olive-trees, one on either side, from which the oil-vessel is supplied; and the angel who is talking with him informs him that the olive-trees are the two sons of oil, that is to say, the representatives of the kingdom and priesthood, the divinely appointed organs through which the Spirit of God was communicated to the covenant nation. And in Rev 1:20, the seven churches, which represent the new people of God, i.e., the Christian Church, are shown to the holy seer in the form of seven candlesticks standing before the throne of God. - On Exo 25:40, see at Exo 25:9.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
This candlestick had many branches drawn from the main shaft, which had not only bowls to put the oil and the kindled wick in for necessity, but knops made in the form of a pomegranate and flowers for ornament. The tabernacle had no windows, all its light was candle - light, which notes the comparative darkness of that dispensation, while the sun of righteousness was not as yet risen, nor had the day - star from on high visited his church. Yet God left not himself without witness, nor them without instruction; the commandment was a lamp, and the law a light, and the prophets were branches from that lamp, which gave light in their several ages. The church is still dark, as the tabernacle was, in comparison with what it will be in heaven: but the word of God is the candlestick, a light burning in a dark place.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
A candlestick of pure gold - This candlestick or chandelier is generally described as having one shaft or stock, with six branches proceeding from it, adorned at equal distances with six flowers like lilies, with as many bowls and knops placed alternately. On each of the branches there was a lamp, and one on the top of the shaft which occupied the center; thus there were seven lamps in all, Exo 25:37. These seven lamps were lighted every evening and extinguished every morning. We are not so certain of the precise form of any instrument or utensil of the tabernacle or temple, as we are of this, the golden table, and the two silver trumpets. Titus, after the overthrow of Jerusalem, a.d. 70, had the golden candlestick and the golden table of the shew-bread, the silver trumpets, and the book of the law, taken out of the temple and carried in triumph to Rome; and Vespasian lodged them in the temple which he had consecrated to the goddess of Peace. Some plants also of the balm of Jericho are said to have been carried in the procession. At the foot of Mount Palatine there are the ruins of an arch, on which the triumph of Titus for his conquest of the Jews is represented, and on which the several monuments which were carried in the procession are sculptured, and particularly the golden candlestick, the table of the shew-bread and the two silver trumpets. A correct Model of this arch, taken on the spot, now stands before me; and the spoils of the temple, the candlestick, the golden table, and the two trumpets, are represented on the panel on the left hand, in the inside of the arch, in basso-relievo. The candlestick is not so ornamented as it appears in many prints; at the same time it looks much better than it does in the engraving of this arch given by Montfaucon, Antiq. Expliq., vol. iv., pl. 32. It is likely that on the real arch this candlestick is less in size than the original, as it scarcely measures three feet in height. See the Diarium Italicum, p. 129. To see these sacred articles given up by that God who ordered them to be made according to a pattern exhibited by himself, gracing the triumph of a heathen emperor, and at last consecrated to an idol, affords melancholy reflections to a pious mind. But these things had accomplished the end for which they were instituted, and were now of no farther use. The glorious personage typified by all this ancient apparatus, had about seventy years before this made his appearance. The true light was come, and the Holy Spirit poured out from on high; and therefore the golden candlestick, by which they were typified, was given up. The ever-during bread had been sent from heaven; and therefore the golden table, which bore its representative, the shew-bread, was now no longer needful. The joyful sound of the everlasting Gospel was then published in the world; and therefore the silver trumpets that typified this were carried into captivity, and their sound was no more to be heard. Strange providence but unutterable mercy of God! The Jews lost both the sign and the thing signified; and that very people, who destroyed the holy city, carried away the spoils of the temple, and dedicated them to the objects of their idolatry, were the first in the universe to receive the preaching of the Gospel, the light of salvation, and the bread of life! There is a sort of coincidence or association here, which is worthy of the most serious observation. The Jews had these significant emblems to lead them to, and prepare them for, the things signified. They trusted in the former, and rejected the latter! God therefore deprived them of both, and gave up their temple to the spoilers, their land to desolation, and themselves to captivity and to the sword. The heathens then carried away the emblems of their salvation, and God shortly gave unto those heathens that very salvation of which these things were the emblems! Thus because of their unbelief and rebellion, the kingdom of heaven, according to the prediction of our blessed Lord, was taken from the Jews, and given to a nation (the Gentiles) that brought forth the fruits thereof; Mat 21:43. Behold the Goodness and Severity of God!

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826

A candlestick of pure gold - This candlestick or chandelier is generally described as having one shaft or stock, with six branches proceeding from it, adorned at equal distances with six flowers like lilies, with as many bowls and knops placed alternately. On each of the branches there was a lamp, and one on the top of the shaft which occupied the center; thus there were seven lamps in all, Exo 25:37. These seven lamps were lighted every evening and extinguished every morning.

We are not so certain of the precise form of any instrument or utensil of the tabernacle or temple, as we are of this, the golden table, and the two silver trumpets.

Titus, after the overthrow of Jerusalem, a.d. 70, had the golden candlestick and the golden table of the shew-bread, the silver trumpets, and the book of the law, taken out of the temple and carried in triumph to Rome; and Vespasian lodged them in the temple which he had consecrated to the goddess of Peace. Some plants also of the balm of Jericho are said to have been carried in the procession. At the foot of Mount Palatine there are the ruins of an arch, on which the triumph of Titus for his conquest of the Jews is represented, and on which the several monuments which were carried in the procession are sculptured, and particularly the golden candlestick, the table of the shew-bread and the two silver trumpets. A correct Model of this arch, taken on the spot, now stands before me; and the spoils of the temple, the candlestick, the golden table, and the two trumpets, are represented on the panel on the left hand, in the inside of the arch, in basso-relievo. The candlestick is not so ornamented as it appears in many prints; at the same time it looks much better than it does in the engraving of this arch given by Montfaucon, Antiq. Expliq., vol. iv., pl. 32. It is likely that on the real arch this candlestick is less in size than the original, as it scarcely measures three feet in height. See the Diarium Italicum, p. 129. To see these sacred articles given up by that God who ordered them to be made according to a pattern exhibited by himself, gracing the triumph of a heathen emperor, and at last consecrated to an idol, affords melancholy reflections to a pious mind. But these things had accomplished the end for which they were instituted, and were now of no farther use. The glorious personage typified by all this ancient apparatus, had about seventy years before this made his appearance. The true light was come, and the Holy Spirit poured out from on high; and therefore the golden candlestick, by which they were typified, was given up. The ever-during bread had been sent from heaven; and therefore the golden table, which bore its representative, the shew-bread, was now no longer needful. The joyful sound of the everlasting Gospel was then published in the world; and therefore the silver trumpets that typified this were carried into captivity, and their sound was no more to be heard. Strange providence but unutterable mercy of God! The Jews lost both the sign and the thing signified; and that very people, who destroyed the holy city, carried away the spoils of the temple, and dedicated them to the objects of their idolatry, were the first in the universe to receive the preaching of the Gospel, the light of salvation, and the bread of life! There is a sort of coincidence or association here, which is worthy of the most serious observation. The Jews had these significant emblems to lead them to, and prepare them for, the things signified. They trusted in the former, and rejected the latter! God therefore deprived them of both, and gave up their temple to the spoilers, their land to desolation, and themselves to captivity and to the sword. The heathens then carried away the emblems of their salvation, and God shortly gave unto those heathens that very salvation of which these things were the emblems! Thus because of their unbelief and rebellion, the kingdom of heaven, according to the prediction of our blessed Lord, was taken from the Jews, and given to a nation (the Gentiles) that brought forth the fruits thereof; Mat 21:43. Behold the Goodness and Severity of God!

Top

³² And six [08337] branches [07070] shall come [03318] out of the sides [06654] of it; three [07969] branches [07070] of the candlestick [04501] out of the one [0259] side [06654], and three [07969] branches [07070] of the candlestick [04501] out of the other [08145] side [06654]:
³³ Three [07969] bowls [01375] made like unto almonds [08246], with a knop [03730] and a flower [06525] in one [0259] branch [07070]; and three [07969] bowls [01375] made like almonds [08246] in the other [0259] branch [07070], with a knop [03730] and a flower [06525]: so in the six [08337] branches [07070] that come [03318] out of the candlestick [04501].
³⁴ And in the candlestick [04501] shall be four [0702] bowls [01375] made like unto almonds [08246], with their knops [03730] and their flowers [06525].
³⁵ And there shall be a knop [03730] under two [08147] branches [07070] of the same, and a knop [03730] under two [08147] branches [07070] of the same, and a knop [03730] under two [08147] branches [07070] of the same, according to the six [08337] branches [07070] that proceed [03318] out of the candlestick [04501].
³⁶ Their knops [03730] and their branches [07070] shall be of the same: all it shall be one [0259] beaten work [04749] of pure [02889] gold [02091].

³⁹ Of a talent [03603] of pure [02889] gold [02091] shall he make [06213] it, with all these vessels [03627].

⁶ This do [06213]; Take [03947] you censers [04289], Korah [07141], and all his company [05712];

¹⁴ And they shall put [05414] upon it all the vessels [03627] thereof, wherewith they minister [08334] about it, even the censers [04289], the fleshhooks [04207], and the shovels [03257], and the basons [04219], all the vessels [03627] of the altar [04196]; and they shall spread [06566] upon it a covering [03681] of badgers [08476]' skins [05785], and put [07760] to the staves [0905] of it.

³ And he made [06213] all the vessels [03627] of the altar [04196], the pots [05518], and the shovels [03257], and the basons [04219], and the fleshhooks [04207], and the firepans [04289]: all the vessels [03627] thereof made [06213] he of brass [05178].

³ And thou shalt make [06213] his pans [05518] to receive his ashes [01878], and his shovels [03257], and his basons [04219], and his fleshhooks [04207], and his firepans [04289]: all the vessels [03627] thereof thou shalt make [06213] of brass [05178].

⁶ Then flew [05774] one [0259] of the seraphims [08314] unto me, having a live coal [07531] in his hand [03027], which he had taken [03947] with the tongs [04457] from off the altar [04196]:

³⁸ And the tongs [04457] thereof, and the snuffdishes [04289] thereof, shall be of pure [02889] gold [02091].

⁹ But his inwards [07130] and his legs [03767] shall he wash [07364] in water [04325]: and the priest [03548] shall burn [06999] all on the altar [04196], to be a burnt sacrifice [05930], an offering made by fire [0801], of a sweet [05207] savour [07381] unto the LORD [03068].

² Speak [01696] unto Aaron [0175], and say [0559] unto him, When thou lightest [05927] the lamps [05216], the seven [07651] lamps [05216] shall give light [0215] over against [06440] [04136] the candlestick [04501].

³⁵ And thou shalt set [07760] the table [07979] without [02351] the vail [06532], and the candlestick [04501] over against [05227] the table [07979] on the side [06763] of the tabernacle [04908] toward the south [08486]: and thou shalt put [05414] the table [07979] on the north [06828] side [06763].

³⁷ And thou shalt make [06213] the seven [07651] lamps [05216] thereof: and they shall light [05927] the lamps [05216] thereof, that they may give light [0215] over against [05676] it [06440].

³³ Three [07969] bowls [01375] made like unto almonds [08246], with a knop [03730] and a flower [06525] in one [0259] branch [07070]; and three [07969] bowls [01375] made like almonds [08246] in the other [0259] branch [07070], with a knop [03730] and a flower [06525]: so in the six [08337] branches [07070] that come [03318] out of the candlestick [04501].
³⁴ And in the candlestick [04501] shall be four [0702] bowls [01375] made like unto almonds [08246], with their knops [03730] and their flowers [06525].
³⁵ And there shall be a knop [03730] under two [08147] branches [07070] of the same, and a knop [03730] under two [08147] branches [07070] of the same, and a knop [03730] under two [08147] branches [07070] of the same, according to the six [08337] branches [07070] that proceed [03318] out of the candlestick [04501].

¹⁷ And he made [06213] the candlestick [04501] of pure [02889] gold [02091]: of beaten work [04749] made [06213] he the candlestick [04501]; his shaft [03409], and his branch [07070], his bowls [01375], his knops [03730], and his flowers [06525], were of the same:
¹⁸ And six [08337] branches [07070] going out [03318] of the sides [06654] thereof; three [07969] branches [07070] of the candlestick [04501] out of the one [0259] side [06654] thereof, and three [07969] branches [07070] of the candlestick [04501] out of the other [08145] side [06654] thereof:
¹⁹ Three [07969] bowls [01375] made after the fashion of almonds [08246] in one [0259] branch [07070], a knop [03730] and a flower [06525]; and three [07969] bowls [01375] made like almonds [08246] in another [0259] branch [07070], a knop [03730] and a flower [06525]: so throughout the six [08337] branches [07070] going out [03318] of the candlestick [04501].
²⁰ And in the candlestick [04501] were four [0702] bowls [01375] made like almonds [08246], his knops [03730], and his flowers [06525]:
²¹ And a knop [03730] under two [08147] branches [07070] of the same, and a knop [03730] under two [08147] branches [07070] of the same, and a knop [03730] under two [08147] branches [07070] of the same, according to the six [08337] branches [07070] going out [03318] of it.
²² Their knops [03730] and their branches [07070] were of the same: all of it was one [0259] beaten work [04749] of pure [02889] gold [02091].
²³ And he made [06213] his seven [07651] lamps [05216], and his snuffers [04457], and his snuffdishes [04289], of pure [02889] gold [02091].
²⁴ Of a talent [03603] of pure [02889] gold [02091] made [06213] he it, and all the vessels [03627] thereof.

³¹ And thou shalt make [06213] a candlestick [04501] of pure [02889] gold [02091]: of beaten work [04749] shall the candlestick [04501] be made [06213]: his shaft [03409], and his branches [07070], his bowls [01375], his knops [03730], and his flowers [06525], shall be of the same.

⁴ In [1722] him [846] was [2258] life [2222]; and [2532] the life [2222] was [2258] the light [5457] of men [444].

¹⁶ And God [0430] made [06213] two [08147] great [01419] lights [03974]; the greater [01419] light [03974] to rule [04475] the day [03117], and the lesser [06996] light [03974] to rule [04475] the night [03915]: he made the stars [03556] also.

¹⁵ But [1161] he that is spiritual [4152] judgeth [350] [3303] all things [3956], yet [1161] he himself [846] is judged [350] of [5259] no man [3762].

¹⁴ But [1161] the natural [5591] man [444] receiveth [1209] not [3756] the things [3588] of the Spirit [4151] of God [2316]: for [1063] they are [2076] foolishness [3472] unto him [846]: neither [2532] [3756] can [1410] he know [1097] them, because [3754] they are spiritually [4153] discerned [350].

⁴ John [2491] to the seven [2033] churches [1577] which [3588] are in [1722] Asia [773]: Grace [5485] be unto you [5213], and [2532] peace [1515], from [575] him which [3588] is [5607] [3801], and [2532] which [3588] was [2258] [3801], and [2532] which [3588] is to come [2064] [3801]; and [2532] from [575] the seven [2033] Spirits [4151] which [3739] are [2076] before [1799] his [846] throne [2362];

⁹ Thou hast loved [25] righteousness [1343], and [2532] hated [3404] iniquity [458]; therefore [1223] [5124] God [2316], even thy [4675] God [2316], hath anointed [5548] thee [4571] with the oil [1637] of gladness [20] above [3844] thy [4675] fellows [3353].

² And the spirit [07307] of the LORD [03068] shall rest [05117] upon him, the spirit [07307] of wisdom [02451] and understanding [0998], the spirit [07307] of counsel [06098] and might [01369], the spirit [07307] of knowledge [01847] and of the fear [03374] of the LORD [03068];

⁹ According to all that I shew [07200] thee, after the pattern [08403] of the tabernacle [04908], and the pattern [08403] of all the instruments [03627] thereof, even so shall ye make [06213] it.

⁴⁰ And look [07200] that thou make [06213] them after their pattern [08403], which was shewed [07200] thee in the mount [02022].

²⁰ The mystery [3466] of the seven [2033] stars [792] which [3739] thou sawest [1492] in [1909] my [3450] right hand [1188], and [2532] the seven [2033] golden [5552] candlesticks [3087]. The seven [2033] stars [792] are [1526] the angels [32] of the seven [2033] churches [1577]: and [2532] the seven [2033] candlesticks [3087] which [3739] thou sawest [1492] are [1526] the seven [2033] churches [1577].

¹ And the angel [04397] that talked [01696] with me came again [07725], and waked [05782] me, as a man [0376] that is wakened [05782] out of his sleep [08142],
² And said [0559] unto me, What seest [07200] thou? And I said [0559], I have looked [07200], and behold a candlestick [04501] all of gold [02091], with a bowl [01531] upon the top [07218] of it, and his seven [07651] lamps [05216] thereon, and seven [07651] pipes [04166] to the seven [07651] lamps [05216], which are upon the top [07218] thereof:
³ And two [08147] olive trees [02132] by it, one [0259] upon the right [03225] side of the bowl [01543], and the other [0259] upon the left [08040] side thereof.
⁴ So I answered [06030] and spake [0559] to the angel [04397] that talked [01696] with me, saying [0559], What are these, my lord [0113]?
⁵ Then the angel [04397] that talked [01696] with me answered [06030] and said [0559] unto me, Knowest [03045] thou not what these be? And I said [0559], No, my lord [0113].
⁶ Then he answered [06030] and spake [0559] unto me, saying [0559], This is the word [01697] of the LORD [03068] unto Zerubbabel [02216], saying [0559], Not by might [02428], nor by power [03581], but by my spirit [07307], saith [0559] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635].
⁷ Who art thou, O great [01419] mountain [02022]? before [06440] Zerubbabel [02216] thou shalt become a plain [04334]: and he shall bring forth [03318] the headstone [068] [07222] thereof with shoutings [08663], crying, Grace [02580], grace [02580] unto it.
⁸ Moreover the word [01697] of the LORD [03068] came unto me, saying [0559],
⁹ The hands [03027] of Zerubbabel [02216] have laid the foundation [03245] of this house [01004]; his hands [03027] shall also finish [01214] it; and thou shalt know [03045] that the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635] hath sent [07971] me unto you.
¹⁰ For who hath despised [0936] the day [03117] of small things [06996]? for they shall rejoice [08055], and shall see [07200] the plummet [068] [0913] in the hand [03027] of Zerubbabel [02216] with those seven [07651]; they are the eyes [05869] of the LORD [03068], which run to and fro [07751] through the whole earth [0776].
¹¹ Then answered [06030] I, and said [0559] unto him, What are these two [08147] olive trees [02132] upon the right [03225] side of the candlestick [04501] and upon the left [08040] side thereof?
¹² And I answered [06030] again [08145], and said [0559] unto him, What be these two [08147] olive [02132] branches [07641] which through [03027] the two [08147] golden [02091] pipes [06804] empty [07324] the golden [02091] oil out of themselves?
¹³ And he answered [0559] me and said [0559], Knowest [03045] thou not what these be? And I said [0559], No, my lord [0113].
¹⁴ Then said [0559] he, These are the two [08147] anointed [03323] ones [01121], that stand [05975] by the Lord [0113] of the whole earth [0776].

¹¹ Moreover the word [01697] of the LORD [03068] came unto me, saying [0559], Jeremiah [03414], what seest [07200] thou? And I said [0559], I see [07200] a rod [04731] of an almond tree [08247].
¹² Then said [0559] the LORD [03068] unto me, Thou hast well [03190] seen [07200]: for I will hasten [08245] my word [01697] to perform [06213] it.

¹⁵ That [2443] ye may be [1096] blameless [273] and [2532] harmless [185], the sons [5043] of God [2316], without rebuke [298], in [1722] the midst [3319] of a crooked [4646] and [2532] perverse [1294] nation [1074], among [1722] whom [3739] ye shine [5316] as [5613] lights [5458] in [1722] the world [2889];

³⁵ Let [2077] your [5216] loins [3751] be [2077] girded about [4024], and [2532] your lights [3088] burning [2545];

¹⁶ Let your [5216] light [5457] so [3779] shine [2989] before [1715] men [444], that [3704] they may see [1492] your [5216] good [2570] works [2041], and [2532] glorify [1392] your [5216] Father [3962] which [3588] is in [1722] heaven [3772].

¹⁴ Ye [5210] are [2075] the light [5457] of the world [2889]. A city [4172] that is set [2749] on [1883] an hill [3735] cannot [3756] [1410] be hid [2928].

³ Without [02351] the vail [06532] of the testimony [05715], in the tabernacle [0168] of the congregation [04150], shall Aaron [0175] order [06186] it from the evening [06153] unto the morning [01242] before [06440] the LORD [03068] continually [08548]: it shall be a statute [02708] for ever [05769] in your generations [01755].
⁴ He shall order [06186] the lamps [05216] upon the pure [02889] candlestick [04501] before [06440] the LORD [03068] continually [08548].

⁷ And Aaron [0175] shall burn [06999] thereon sweet [05561] incense [07004] every morning [01242]: when he dresseth [03190] the lamps [05216], he shall burn incense [06999] upon it.
⁸ And when Aaron [0175] lighteth [05927] the lamps [05216] at even [06153], he shall burn incense [06999] upon it, a perpetual [08548] incense [07004] before [06440] the LORD [03068] throughout your generations [01755].

²⁰ And thou shalt command [06680] the children [01121] of Israel [03478], that they bring [03947] thee pure [02134] oil [08081] olive [02132] beaten [03795] for the light [03974], to cause the lamp [05216] to burn [05927] always [08548].
²¹ In the tabernacle [0168] of the congregation [04150] without [02351] the vail [06532], which is before the testimony [05715], Aaron [0175] and his sons [01121] shall order [06186] it from evening [06153] to morning [01242] before [06440] the LORD [03068]: it shall be a statute [02708] for ever [05769] unto their generations [01755] on the behalf of the children [01121] of Israel [03478].

²⁴ Of a talent [03603] of pure [02889] gold [02091] made [06213] he it, and all the vessels [03627] thereof.

³⁹ Of a talent [03603] of pure [02889] gold [02091] shall he make [06213] it, with all these vessels [03627].
⁴⁰ And look [07200] that thou make [06213] them after their pattern [08403], which was shewed [07200] thee in the mount [02022].

³ And thou shalt write [03789] Aaron's [0175] name [08034] upon the rod [04294] of Levi [03878]: for one [0259] rod [04294] shall be for the head [07218] of the house [01004] of their fathers [01].

¹² And he shall take [03947] a censer [04289] full [04393] of burning [0784] coals [01513] of fire [0784] from off the altar [04196] before [06440] the LORD [03068], and his hands [02651] full [04393] of sweet [05561] incense [07004] beaten small [01851], and bring [0935] it within [01004] the vail [06532]:

⁶ Then flew [05774] one [0259] of the seraphims [08314] unto me, having a live coal [07531] in his hand [03027], which he had taken [03947] with the tongs [04457] from off the altar [04196]:

³⁸ And the tongs [04457] thereof, and the snuffdishes [04289] thereof, shall be of pure [02889] gold [02091].

³⁷ And thou shalt make [06213] the seven [07651] lamps [05216] thereof: and they shall light [05927] the lamps [05216] thereof, that they may give light [0215] over against [05676] it [06440].

³⁶ Their knops [03730] and their branches [07070] shall be of the same: all it shall be one [0259] beaten work [04749] of pure [02889] gold [02091].
³⁷ And thou shalt make [06213] the seven [07651] lamps [05216] thereof: and they shall light [05927] the lamps [05216] thereof, that they may give light [0215] over against [05676] it [06440].

³⁵ And there shall be a knop [03730] under two [08147] branches [07070] of the same, and a knop [03730] under two [08147] branches [07070] of the same, and a knop [03730] under two [08147] branches [07070] of the same, according to the six [08337] branches [07070] that proceed [03318] out of the candlestick [04501].

³⁴ And in the candlestick [04501] shall be four [0702] bowls [01375] made like unto almonds [08246], with their knops [03730] and their flowers [06525].

¹⁴ And flocks [05739] shall lie down [07257] in the midst [08432] of her, all the beasts [02416] of the nations [01471]: both the cormorant [06893] and the bittern [07090] shall lodge [03885] in the upper lintels [03730] of it; their voice [06963] shall sing [07891] in the windows [02474]; desolation [02721] shall be in the thresholds [05592]: for he shall uncover [06168] the cedar work [0731].

¹ I saw [07200] the Lord [0136] standing [05324] upon the altar [04196]: and he said [0559], Smite [05221] the lintel of the door [03730], that the posts [05592] may shake [07493]: and cut [01214] them in the head [07218], all of them; and I will slay [02026] the last [0319] of them with the sword [02719]: he that fleeth [05127] of them shall not flee away [05127], and he that escapeth [06412] of them shall not be delivered [04422].

¹⁸ And thou shalt make [06213] two [08147] cherubims [03742] of gold [02091], of beaten work [04749] shalt thou make [06213] them, in the two [08147] ends [07098] of the mercy seat [03727].

⁴³ Therefore [1223] [5124] say I [3004] unto you [5213], [3754] The kingdom [932] of God [2316] shall be taken [142] from [575] you [5216], and [2532] given [1325] to a nation [1484] bringing forth [4160] the fruits [2590] thereof [846].

³⁷ And thou shalt make [06213] the seven [07651] lamps [05216] thereof: and they shall light [05927] the lamps [05216] thereof, that they may give light [0215] over against [05676] it [06440].