The Candlestick

2023-02-26

The candlestick is a solid gold sevenfold lampstand that was in the tabernacle before the veil of the holiest place. It was made of a talent of gold, which is a substantial weight (some say about 75 pounds).

The candlestick in the tabernacle has these elements: a shaft, branches, bowls, knops, and flowers. The bowls are like almonds. A knop is like a capital, or possibly like a wreath. When you consider these items, this candlestick was forged to resemble an almond tree.

There are seven lights on this tree. Presumably, there are six on each of the branches and one on the central shaft, resembling the menorahs for Channukah (the Hebrew word for candlestick is menorah). “And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it” (Exodus 25:37). What is “over against it”? The table and the shewbread. “And thou shalt set the table without the vail, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side” (Exodus 26:35; cf. Exodus 40:24). The candlestick light is to give light to the table and shewbread.

It was the responsibility of everyone to provide the oil to keep the lamps burning. It was Aaron’s job to ensure that these lights burn continually. “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually. Without the vail of the testimony, in the tabernacle of the congregation, shall Aaron order it from the evening unto the morning before the LORD continually: it shall be a statute for ever in your generations. He shall order the lamps upon the pure candlestick before the LORD continually” (Leviticus 24:1-4).

The families of the sons of Kohath the son of Levi were in charge of the lampstand (Numbers 3:31). It was to be covered with a blue cloth and badgers’ skins while in transport (Numbers 4:9). “And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light, and his lamps, and his tongs, and his snuffdishes, and all the oil vessels thereof, wherewith they minister unto it: And they shall put it and all the vessels thereof within a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put it upon a bar” (Numbers 4:9-10).

There were ten candlesticks made for the temple. “And he made ten candlesticks of gold according to their form, and set them in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left” (2 Chronicles 4:7). Nebuzaradan carried them off when he destroyed Jerusalem (Jeremiah 52:19).

The apostle John saw seven candlesticks when the Lord Jesus appeared to Him on Patmos. “And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle” (Revelation 1:12-13).

We are told what the seven candlesticks are: “The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches” (Revelation 1:20). They represent seven churches of Asia. There is no depiction of the shewbread other than Jesus Christ. The light of the church “lampstands” is to bear light to Jesus Christ, the bread of life, just as the light of the menorah in the Tabernacle shed light on the shewbread. The word for candlestick in Revelation matches the word used in the Septuagint in the relevant passages.

A church that does not bear light to the Lord is removed from His presence: “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent” (Revelation 2:5).

Jesus Christ is also the light of the world. His light extends to the world through His people, the church at large, so there is likely a corresponding element here as well.