THE SEVEN BRANCHED GOLDEN CANDLESTICK

THE SEVEN BRANCHED GOLDEN CANDLESTICK This splendid lamp-bearer standing on the left hand, or south side of the holy place (Exodus 40:24), was made entirely of pure gold, and of beaten work, that is it was not cast in a mold, but formed by the hand (Exodus 25:31). It and its utensils were made of a talent of pure gold (v. 39) equal to 1500 ounces, worth about £60000 at the present day, and probably of greater value in the days of Moses. A talent of gold, however, forms but a very small block, and the probability is that the lamp-bearer was hollow; and about 21/3 cubits (3 feet 6 inches) high. It could hardly have been higher, for the golden altar was 2 cubits (3 feet) high, and the lamps would require to burn at an elevation a little higher than this in order to afford sufficient light to the priests who ministered at the altar. The candlestick got by Titus from the temple, if not that of the tabernacle, was evidently one after the same Divine pattern and of the same size. By comparing the representation of it (p. 68) taken from the Triumphal Arch with its bearers, averaging their height at 5 feet 10 inches, we find the candlestick to have been 3 feet high. But by comparing the candlestick with its bearers in a photograph we got recently from Rome for the purpose (see p. 69) we find the candlestick according to it, to be 2 1/3 cubits (3 feet 6 inches) high which agrees with the height we suppose it to have been. The circumstance that heathen devices appear on the base of the candlestick, has led some to assert that the Romans provided the base. This, however, is by no means certain, for the original must have had a base, and on it the devices may have been wrought. See “The Peregrinations of the Golden Candlestick” appendix, chapter 30.

Bas-Relief from the Arch of Titus, showing the Golden Candlestick, and Table of Shewbread.

Members of the Golden Candlestick From the under part or base the chief or upright branch, sprang not “branches” as in Exodus 25:31, but “branch” as correctly rendered in the corresponding passage (Exodus 37:17). See also Revised Version. The base and this upright branch or stem constituted the candlestick proper (Exodus 25:31-38), out of which came six branches like arms, three out of the one side, and three out of the other (v. 32). Both threes were parallel to each other, and they all curved upwards to an equal level. The main or upright branch probably rose to a height a little higher than the others. THE ORNAMENTATION consisted of bowls, knops and flowers. The bowls were almond shaped (Exodus 25:33), of which there were three (v. 33) on each of the arms, and four (v. 34) on the shaft. The knops, it is supposed, were roundish in shape, like an orange or pomegranate. The knops probably occupied the corresponding position in the candlestick that capitals do in pillars, and as there was only one knop to a branch, it would constitute the head of the branch, and so shaped as to suit it to hold, or fix a lamp to. There were, however, four (v. 34) knops mentioned in connection with the shaft, three of which occupy positions different from what could be found on the branches, showing that there was only one knop to each of the six branches. The position on the shaft for three of its four knops, is below the places where each pair of branches emerge, and the purpose the knops there seem to serve is to bear them up. The first or undermost knop would thus be the capital of the first division of the shaft or pillar bearing up the first or undermost pair of branches; the second knop would be the capital of the second division bearing up the second pair of branches; the third knop would be the capital of the third division bearing up the third pair of branches; and the fourth knop would be the capital at the top of the shaft, and like those at the end of each branch, so formed, as already mentioned, to suit it to hold a lamp—the shaft or stem being thus a kind of compound pillar (p. 66).

From a photograph of the Arch of Titus, referred to at p. 68

Some, however, mention that each of the six branches had three knops, and in favor of this view, quote Exodus 25:34 : “And in the candlestick (shaft) shall be four bowls, made like unto almonds with their knops and their flowers.” From this text they seek to show that though one knop only is mentioned in connection with the branches, it is to be understood that all the bowls had knops and flowers. But the two “theirs” should be “its”—the pronoun being singular in the Hebrew. In the corresponding text (Exodus 37:20) the pronoun, as it ought to be, is in the singular, so that “its knops and its flowers” refer to the shaft or central branch, and not to the bowls; and consequently the above passages, while they show that the shaft had more knops than one, by no means prove that the six branches had more than one each.

We cannot gather from the text what the bowls, knops, and flowers, were intended to represent. They may, as some think, have consisted of buds, blossoms, and fruit, but whatever they may have stood for, they were exquisitely graceful and lovely figures, and were with the rest of the magnificent lamp-bearer skillfully formed by the hands of inspired artificers with the finest and most delicate tools imaginable. It is specially mentioned that the candlestick was fashioned “according unto the pattern the Lord had showed to Moses” (Numbers 8:4). THE GEM OF THE GOLDEN VESSELS For gracefulness of form, and the loveliness and elaborateness of its chaste and refined ornamentation, it surpassed all the other vessels of the Sanctuary. The surpassing beauty and resplendent brightness of the golden candlestick, shining clear as a mirror with its seven soft clear brilliant lights, rendered it a most striking and imposing object. THE OIL

Supplying the lamps was pure olive oil, obtained from olives, not ground in a mill, but beaten (Exodus 27:20) in a mortar, to render the oil finer than by grinding. THE LAMPS BURNED ALWAYS

It is difficult to understand from the various passages bearing on the subject, whether the lamps burned both day and night, or only during the night—some passages apparently favoring the one view, and some the other. Thus, “To cause the lamp to burn always” (Exodus 27:20); and “Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure olive oil, beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually” (Leviticus 24:2).

These passages seem to teach that the lamps burned both day and night. If they do not teach that, the meaning must be, that “continual” and “always” signify at regular intervals, as in the case of some ordinances and offerings which are called perpetual, though occurring only at intervals. The other view, that they burned only during the night, seems to be supported by “Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning” (Exodus 27:21): “And Aaron shall burn thereon (the golden altar) sweet incense every morning, when he dresseth the lamps” (Exodus 30:7-8). From these texts it would appear that the lamps burned only during the night. If they were not intended to teach that, the meaning must be that the lamps were dressed in the morning, probably, one after another, not necessitating more than one being extinguished at a time, and after being lighted, burned during the day, the lamps receiving such further attention in the evening as admitted of their burning till the morning. As there were no windows in the tabernacle, and the priests had duties to perform during the day in the holy place, it is almost certain the lamps burned both night and day. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CANDLESTICK AND ITS LAMPS With oil, a symbol of the Holy Spirit, priests and kings were anointed, but all true believers have the Holy Spirit Himself poured out upon them. Their bodies are His temple: He is within every believer, as the candlestick was within the sanctuary, a source of light and life and comfort. He is also in the church; all its true light is from Him, and the light emanating from Him, as the number seven indicates, is sufficient, perfect, complete; nothing more is needed in order to ensure the purity, righteousness, and glory of the church. The very number is expressly applied to the Spirit, and one cannot help thinking that the reference is to the seven lamps of the golden candlestick: “Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before the throne” (Revelation 1:4). As the first apartment in the tabernacle was illuminated by the sevenfold light of the candlestick, and as the church composed of all genuine believers on earth in every age, is enlightened by the Holy Spirit, so will the church triumphant in heaven, that great temple, not made with hands, be a place of glorious light; and the light will never go out, it will burn always; so that there will be no night there; nor sun, nor moon, nor stars will shine in that happy place—”For the glory of God did lighten it, and the lamp thereof is the Lamb” (Revelation 21:23, RV).

Titus evidently thought that he had secured a rich and rare prize in the golden candlestick, seeing he caused it to be highly and conspicuously exalted in the triumphal procession to Rome (woodcut, p. 68). See “The Peregrinations of the Golden Candlestick,’ appendix, chapter 30.