Numbers 8:1-4 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,… — Who must light the lamps? Aaron himself (ver. 3). As the people's representative to God, he thus did the office of a servant in God's house, lighting his Master's candle. As the representative of God to the people, he thus gave them the significations of God's will and favour, which is thus expressed (Psalm 18:28). And thus Aaron himself was now lately directed to bless the people, "The Lord make His face to shine upon thee" (Numbers 6:25). The commandment is a lamp (Proverbs 6:23). The Scripture is a light shining in a dark place (2 Peter 1:19). And a dark place indeed even the Church would be without it, as the tabernacle without the lamps, for it had no window in it. Now the work of ministers is to light these lamps, by expounding and applying the Word of God. The priest lighted the middle lamp from the fire of the altar; and the rest of the lamps he lighted one from another : which signifieth that the fountain of all light and knowledge cometh from Christ, who has the seven spirits of God, figured by the seven lamps of fire (Revelation 4:5); but that in expounding of Scripture, one passage must borrow light from another. He also supposeth, that seven being a number of perfection, by the seven branches of the candlestick is showed the full perfection of the Scriptures, which are able to make us wise to salvation. 2. To what end the lamps were lighted; that they might give light over against the candlestick, i.e., to the part of the tabernacle where the table stood, with the shewbread upon it, over against the candlestick. They were not lighted like tapers in an urn, to burn to themselves, but to give light to the other side of the tabernacle, for therefore candles are lighted (Matthew 5:15). The lights of the world, the lights of the Church, must shine as lights. Therefore we have light, that we may give light. ( Matthew Henry, D. D..) Parallel Verses KJV: And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, |
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