Exodus 25:35, commentary and pictures

This detail was among the specifications Christ gave Moses for building the tabernacle. With the rest of Exodus 24-27 it was repeated by Paul to his fellow workers while working quickly and skillfully with his hands at tentmaking, for his own benefit and theirs. It describes the golden lampstand as having six branches, with a knop under each pair of branches, making three knops for the six branches of the seven-branched stand. The same arrangement is three knops beneath the branch-pairs on the six side branches.

The whole lampstand was beaten from one solid piece of gold. Its branches were ornamented with flowers resembling lilies. It holds seven lamps. In the earthly tabernacle it stood on the south side of the holy place, the first apartment. That earthly tabernacle was built by Moses at the command of God as the dwelling-place of the Most High, constructed to be moved from place to place in the wilderness. The same pattern with the same proportions and furnishings was continued on a larger, permanent scale in the temple of Solomon.

The same candlestick belongs to the holy place, the first apartment of the heavenly temple and sanctuary. Its seven lamps burned continually, giving light to the sanctuary both by day and by night and lighting both apartments. Their light reflected from the gold-covered boards and gold-plated walls, the sacred furniture, and the richly colored curtains, illuminating the embroidered cherubim, the table of showbread, and the altar of incense and making the apartments radiant and beautiful. With its companion furniture the candlestick appears as purest gold and reflects the image of the one who enters that place. It looks rich and glorious. The detail teaches that supreme honor is to be given to God, and that the skill, genius, and wisdom brought into the tabernacle work were given by God to be used for His glory. It gives an example in diligence and thoroughness and in preaching the gospel by intelligent labor as well as by voice.