Numbers 8:1

This chapter devotes a short paragraph (Numbers 8:1-4) to the lighting of the sacred candlestick, and the balance of the chapter (Numbers 8:5-26) regards the cleansing or purifying of the Levites for their service in the tabernacle. The information here is supplementary to that given in previous chapters of the Pentateuch. Much of the Pentateuch appears somewhat in the form of a Mosaic diary, but without any strict attention to the chronological fixation regarding the subjects treated. This structure does not indicate the blending of variant sources, nor contradictory accounts, but happens to be the manner in which Moses produced the book. Many of the critical community think they could have done a much better job, but unfortunately, none of them were ever entrusted with the responsibility for such a narrative as this!

"And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the candlestick. And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof so as to give light in front of the candlestick, as Jehovah commanded Moses. And this was the work of the candlestick, beaten work of gold; unto the base thereof, and unto the flowers thereof, it was beaten work: according unto the pattern which Jehovah had showed Moses, so he made the candlestick."

The special consideration here is the actual lighting of the candlestick. One of the major characteristics of the sacred narrative is that of returning over and over again to the same subject, with additional details or instructions added in each reference. The same sacred pattern is here:

The details of the lampstand are given elsewhere: (1) in Exodus 25:31-40, where it is planned; (2) in Exodus 37:17-34, where it is made; (3) in Exodus 40:24,25, where it is actually set up; (4) in Leviticus 24:2, where details for the sacred oil is given; and (5) here we find the actual lighting of it in a particular manner.[1]

"In front of the candlestick ..." (Numbers 8:2). This was necessary because the candlestick was the only source of light within the sanctuary, and the purpose here was evidently that of causing light to illuminate the whole area as much as possible. Efforts of some critics to deny the early existence of this seven-branched candlestick have been totally frustrated. "Excavations at Dothan by Joseph P. Free have found a seven-lipped ceramic lamp from early strata."[2] "These directions are not a mere repetition, but a more precise definition of how the lights were to be lighted."[3]

The symbolism of the sacred candlestick was presented at length in my Commentary on Exodus. The true symbolism is the representation therein of Christ, the Word of God (Christ is the Word), and the Church (the Church is Christ in the sense of being his spiritual body). Among the many foolish notions about what the candlestick symbolized are: (1) the seven openings in the human head; (2) "They represent the seven sources of earthly light, the sun, moon, and the five planets."[4] Such errors come from reading ancient mythology and not from the Bible.

"Speak unto Aaron ..." (Numbers 8:2). Aaron actually lighted the lamp.

The course he was ordered to follow was first to light the middle lamp from the altar-fire, and then the other lamps from each other: symbolical that all the light of heavenly truth is derived from Christ, and diffused by his ministers throughout the world.[5] (Unger adds this on the symbolism): The true Aaron lighted the lamps when he ascended on high and sent the Holy Spirit (the oil in the lamps) to bear witness of Himself.[6]

"Beaten work of gold ..." (Numbers 8:4). This repetition of the material of which the candlestick was made according to the pattern God had shown Moses in the mount (Exodus 25:31ff) is exactly "in keeping with the antiquated style of narrative adopted in these books."[7]