Numbers 8:3

_AND AARON DID SO; HE LIGHTED THE LAMPS THEREOF OVER AGAINST THE CANDLESTICK, AS THE LORD COMMANDED MOSES._ No JFB commentary on these verses....

1-4 Aaron himself lighted the lamps, thus representing his Divine Master. The Scripture is a light shining in a dark place, 2 Peter 1:19. A dark place even the church would be without it; as the tabernacle, which had no window, would have been without the lamps. The work of ministers is to light these lamps, by expounding and applying the word of God. Jesus Christ is the only Light of our dark, sinful world; and by his atonement, by his word and the Holy Spirit, he diffuses light around....

The actual lighting of the lamps (compare the marginal references) was to be done to set forth symbolically the special presence which God had now Numbers 7:89 actually established among His people....

EXPOSITION THE LIGHTING OF THE LAMPS (Numbers 8:1). NUMBERS 8:1 THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES. It does not appear when. The attempt of modern commentators to find a real connection between this section and the offering of the princes or the consecration of the Levites is simply futile. Such connection may be imagined, but the same ingenuity would obviously be equally successful if this section had been inserted in any other place from Exodus 37:1, to the end of this book. The more probable explanation will be given below....

AND AARON DID SO, HE LIGHTED THE LAMPS THEREOF OVER AGAINST THE CANDLESTICK,.... As God had taken up his residence in the most holy place, as appears by the voice speaking from off the mercy seat, Numbers 7:89; and sacrifices were begun to be offered in the outward court on the altar of burnt offering, it was proper that the service of God in the holy place should also be set on foot; as placing of the shewbread on the shewbread table, and burning incense on the golden altar of incense; which could not well be done until the lamps were lighted, and therefore orders were given for the lighting them, which was accordingly done by Aaron: AS THE LORD COMMANDED MOSES; Exodus 25:37....

6. THE CONSECRATION OF THE LEVITES CHAPTER 8 _ 1. The lighting of the candlestick (Numbers 8:1)_ 2. The consecration of the Levites (Numbers 8:5) 3. The charge to the Levites repeated (Numbers 8:23) The candlestick is the type of Christ as in the sanctuary, that is, Christ in glory. The lighting of the seven lamps introduced in the beginning of the wilderness book is of blessed meaning. The seven lamps were to illuminate the candlestick of beaten gold, throw their light upon the candlestick so that the gold and beautiful workmanship might be seen. The oil in the seven lamps represents the Holy Spirit. Spiritually applied we have the picture here of the Spirit of God shedding light upon Chri

DIRECTIONS RELATING TO THE CANDLESTICK. An account of the candlestick (really a lampstand) is contained in Exodus 25:31 *. NUMBERS 8:2. LIGHTEST: render as in _mg._ (and so in Numbers 8:3). GIVE LIGHT. CANDLESTICK: _ i.e._ illuminate the opposite (N.) wall of the Holy Place, the candlestick being on the S. side. FLOWERS: flower-like ornaments....

AS. according as....

_The Lampstand_ The golden lampstand (not -candlestick" E.VV. [Note:.VV. The English Versions, i.e. Authorised and Revised.]) stood in the Holy Place, on the south side, i.e. on the left of one entering from the court. It was the only source of light in the Tabernacle, the Holy of Holies being in darkness. The religious conceptions attaching to it in the time of the writer may be seen from Zechariah 4:1-6 a, Zechariah 4:10 b Zechariah 4:14. The full description of the lampstand is given in Exodus 25:31-40....

IX. ASSORTED LAWS AND INSTRUCTIONS (NUMBERS 8; NUMBERS 9; NUMBERS 10:1-10) A. ON LIGHTING THE LAMPS IN THE TABERNACLE vv. 1-4 TEXT Numbers 8:1-4. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2. Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick. 3. And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as the Lord commanded Moses. 4, And this work of the candlestick was of beaten gold; unto the shaft thereof, unto the flowers thereof, was beaten work: according unto the pattern which the Lord had showed Moses, so he made the candlestick....