Exodus 37:19
Three bowls made after the fashion of almonds in one branch, a knop and a flower; and three bowls made like almonds in another branch, a knop and a flower: so throughout the six branches going out of the candlestick. Three bowls made after the fashion of almonds in one branch, a knop and a flower; and three bowls made like almonds in another branch, a knop and a flower: so throughout the six branches going out of the candlestick.
Exodus 37:19 describes the six branches of the golden candlestick in the holy place of the earthly sanctuary, each branch bearing three almond-shaped bowls with a knop and a flower, wrought as one solid work of beaten gold weighing about a talent after the express pattern shown to Moses. It belongs to the record of preparing, building, and fitting out the tabernacle according to the directions given in the mount in Exodus 25-31 and 35-40 and summarized in Hebrews 9:1-5, which was set up on the first day of the first month of the second year after the Exodus so that God might dwell among His people. That sanctuary was a marvelously beautiful structure built from free-will offerings as a great object-lesson comprehending the plan of salvation to teach His salvation and the character He requires. Its design, service, and furnishings were an earthly figure of the heavenly sanctuary, with its details about offerings, sacrifices, and types foreshadowing Christ and His priestly work in the new dispensation. Its seven burning lamps represent the Holy Spirit in all its operations, called the seven Spirits of God, and their constant light called minds to Christ, the true Light who lights every person.
Tabernacle Setting and Construction
Exodus 37:19 belongs to the record of preparing, building, and fitting out the tabernacle and its furnishings in carrying out God's directions and pattern given to Moses in the mount. That full description is given in Exodus 25-31 and 35-40 and is summarized as the worldly sanctuary in Hebrews 9:1-5. The tabernacle so prepared was set up on the first day of the first month of the second year after the Exodus.
God commanded Israel to make the sanctuary so that He might dwell among them. It continued through the wilderness and the time of the judges, Samuel, Saul, and David until Solomon built the temple after the same pattern. It was a marvelously beautiful structure made from free-will offerings by specially endowed workmen. It was given as a great multiple object-lesson comprehending the plan of salvation, to teach His salvation and required character after slavery had unfitted Israel to understand it. Its inauguration with the manifestation of God's glory showed He accepted the people's repentance.
The verse describes the golden candlestick's six branches, each bearing three almond-shaped bowls with a knop and a flower, showing its construction followed the instructions given for each part. The candlestick with its seven lamps stood in the holy place or first apartment of the earthly sanctuary. It was one solid work of beaten gold weighing about a talent, and was made after the express pattern shown to Moses.
Typical and Spiritual Meaning
Exodus 37:19 stands among the laws and instructions given through Moses, whose detailed regulations concerning offerings, sacrifices, and types foreshadowed the realities belonging to the new dispensation. It belongs to the record of making the sanctuary and its furnishings, and that sanctuary was an earthly pattern whose service taught about God's way and Christ's priestly work in heaven. It describes the lampstand's six branches, each branch bearing three almond-shaped bowls with a knop and a flower, and the lampstand with its furnishings belonged to the earthly sanctuary whose design and service were a divinely given figure of the heavenly sanctuary pointing to Christ and His work.
The verse describes part of the candlestick with its seven burning lamps that stood in the first apartment of the earthly sanctuary. The seven lamps of fire burning before the throne of God are the candlestick in the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary in both dispensations. The burning lamps in the earthly and in the heavenly sanctuaries represent the Holy Spirit in all its operations, called the seven Spirits of God.
The almond-shaped bowls with knop and flower were repeated along the branches of the sanctuary's golden candlestick. Its constant light called minds to Christ, the true Light who lights every person.