And the Lord spake unto Moses ,.... After he had delivered to him the laws concerning the purity of the priests, and the perfection of the sacrifices they were to offer, and concerning the feasts the people were to keep, he spoke to Moses of some other things which concerned both people and priests: saying ; as follows. read more
The ordinance on the lamps contained in the first three verses is repeated from Exodus 27:20 . The oil to be used for the lamps was to be pure oil olive , that is, oil made of picked berries, without any intermixture of dust or twigs; and it was to be beaten instead of "pressed," because when the berries were crushed in the olive-press, small portions of them became mixed with and discoloured the oil, which was, therefore, less pure than when the fruit was simply beaten and then left... read more
Everlasting light. cf. Revelation 1:12-20 ; also Psalms 43:3 . The holy place, like the most holy, had no windows, and consequently required illumination. This was secured by the golden candlestick, with its seven lamps. These were to be always emitting some light. If all the seven lamps were not lit during the daytime, one or two of them were. The idea carried out was that there should be in God's sanctuary everlasting light. That the candlestick was taken as the symbol of God's ... read more
The lighting of the sanctuary. The face of Moses is glorious in the light of the gospel. I. THE CANDLESTICK WAS AN EMBLEM OF THE CHURCH OF GOD . (See Revelation 1:20 .) 1 . The candlestick in the holy place was one. 2 . It carried seven lamps. 3 . The candlestick was of pure gold. This was to express the preciousness of the saints. II. THE LIGHT IN THE CHURCHES IS THE WORD OF GOD . This may be taken in kindred senses. ... read more
Ourselves as lights. There can be no doubt that the seven-branched candlestick in the holy place was typical of the Hebrew Church as the source of heavenly light. We therefore reach the subject of— I. LIGHT DIVINELY KINDLED . All light must be of God, who himself is light ( 1 John 1:5 ). He has sought to illumine the human world in more ways than one. 1 . He has given us the light of our spiritual nature—our reason, our conscience; "the spirit of man is the candle (lamp) of... read more
The lights in the sanctuary. Pure oil furnished by the people. The high priest responsible for the maintenance of the lamps. Pure oil, pure lamps, pure candlestick, before the Lord continually. The main lessons are these— I. PROGRESSIVE , CONTINUAL SANCTIFICATION of God's people provided for by his grace. 1 . By the supply of the Spirit, the pure oil. 2 . In and through the lamps that is, the individual and positive manifestation of the spiritual life. 3 . In... read more
The lamps of the seven-branched candlestick burnt throughout the whole night in the tabernacle; and the shewbread was constantly set forth upon the golden table. They may be taken to symbolize: 1 . The constant illumination vouchsafed by God to his Church through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. 2 . The spiritual food constantly supplied by him in his Church to those who come in faith to have their wants supplied. 1 . I. ILLUMINATION BY THE SPIRIT WAS PROMISED BY ... read more
The oil for the lamps of the tabernacle and the meal for the showbread were to be offerings from the Congregation, like the meal for the Pentecostal loaves, Leviticus 23:17. It appears that the responsibility of keeping up the lights rested on the high priest, but the actual service might be performed, on ordinary occasions, by the common priests. Compare margin reference.Leviticus 24:5Each cake or loaf of unleavened bread Leviticus 2:11 was to contain about six pounds and a quarter (see Exodus... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 24:1-9
Care is here taken, and orders are given, for the decent furnishing of the candlestick and table in God's house. I. The lamps must always be kept burning. The law for this we had before, Exod. 27:20, 21. It is here repeated, probably because it now began to be put in execution, when other things were settled. 1. The people were to provide oil (Lev. 24:2), and this, as every thing else that was to be used in God's service, must be of the best, pure olive-oil, beaten, probably it was... read more