The Golden Lampstand

And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold...

Exodus 25:31

The Holy Place was illuminated by a golden lampstand which bore seven lamps. The lampstand thus had two functions: to contribute to the splendour of the Holy Place (since it was made of gold) and to give light so that the priests could minister there. The Most Holy Place had no need of light, since the presence-cloud illuminated it constantly.

The Lampstand and the Other Vessels

The Lampstand bore a relation to the other vessels of the sanctuary. The golden appearance was one point of resemblance. There was also the fact that like the Ark and the Table, the purpose of the lampstand was to bear or carry certain items: the Ark bore the mercy-seat, the table the bread, and the lampstand the lamps which illuminated the Holy Place. There was a clear connection between the lampstand and the Most Holy Place in that the appearance of the lampstand resembled the rod of Aaron which budded (see Numbers 17 and discussion below) within the veil. But the prominent connection was with the Table of Shewbread, because the Lampstand was particularly designed to illuminate the Table. Verse 37 says that the lamps were to give light "over against it" (KJV) or "in the space in front of it" (NIV). There was nothing to illuminate the ornate lampstand; the lampstand was designed to illuminate what was before it; and immediately opposite it was the Table of Shewbread.

In relation to the other vessels of the sanctuary we should also note that no dimensions were given for the lampstand. That may appear surprising, given the detail which attends the construction of every other item. The only other item of which this was true was the laver of brass on the approach to the Holy Place. There are some things that cannot be measured. We cannot read too much into the silence of Scripture; perhaps the significance of the silence is that the light borne on the lampstand and the water carried in the laver were of far greater importance and of far richer symbolism than the vessels themselves.

Description of the Lampstand

The lampstand was to be constructed of pure gold, not an overlay as with the Ark and the Table, but a beaten work of pure gold. Along with the lampstand, there were to be wick-trimmers, trays and lamps. These were all made from the one piece of gold, weighing a talent (75 pounds or 34 kilogrammes).

The lampstand, however, was to be a highly decorated and ornate item. It had one central stem rising from a base, out of which there were three pairs of branches, or arms. These are represented pictorially in different ways. 27:35 talks about buds being on the stem under the point where the branches meet; the three pairs of branches are described similarly. Some take this to mean that the six branches were all the same length. If the branches were all the same length, then the lamps were at different heights. It is preferable however (and there seems to be later archaeological evidence for this) to imagine that the three pairs of branches were of different lengths, reaching up to the same height as the central stem, and resulting in all seven lamps being at the same height and casting light onto the table. This is how I envisage the lampstand.

The stem and the branches were then rich in ornamentation. Three different types of decoration are described. First there were buds, translated as 'knobs' in the AV, from the older English 'knop' meaning a bud. The Hebrew word is used in Amos 9:1 to describe a lintel on the top of a pillar, and seems to refer to the ornate pillars of classical Greece (the Hebrew word 'caphtor' is the Hebrew name for Crete from which this style of ornamentation seems to have come). Here, in conjunction with the other decorative pieces, it seems to refer to a bud. Second, there were blossoms, representing the shoot or sprout from the bud. The flowering bud seems to have been in one piece, and this decoration appeared on the central stem of the lampstand, underneath the point where each pair of branches met. Thirdly, there were bowls or cups like almonds (verse 33) on both the stem and on each of the branches.

It is extremely difficult to visualise the exact appearance of the lampstand. When one considers the intricate and detailed nature of the item, one appreciates what is said of Bezaleel of Judah, the principal craftsman for the tabernacle, who was "filled with the spirit of God ... in all manner of worskmanship ... to work in gold and in silver and in brass" (31:3-4). But it is also clear that the appearance of the lampstand was of a golden tree, showing three stages of growth: the bud, the blossom and the almond flower. This is further indication of the way in which the Tabernacle reflected the creation, bringing us back to Eden's glory and representing the new creation through Christ's redemption. Just as there was a tree in the centre of the ancient Paradise, there is a tree in the Holy Place, and there will be a tree of life in the Paradise of God.

The function of this golden tree was to carry the lamps. The material for the lamps is not specified (v37). Perhaps they were clay lamps; at any rate they were to be filled with oil morning and evening, and their wicks trimmed each day to ensure light in the Holy Place continually. But the type of oil was specifically prescribed: it was to be pure olive oil, beaten for this purpose (Leviticus 24:2) so that the lamps would never go out (Exodus 27:20. The reference to refined olive oil (by which is meant olives crushed in a press, with weights placed on the press and then beaten to ensure that the purest oil was produced) is a sign that God wished for pure light to shine. The purer the oil, the less likelihood there would be of smoke coming from the lamps. Aaron and his sons were to keep the lamps burning from evening until morning (that is, each day).

Symbolism of the Lampstand

The symbolism of the lampstand extends in two directions. There is symbolism both in what the lampstand is like and in what the lampstand is for. It is important to distinguish between these two issues.

(1) What the lampstand was like

The appearance of the Lampstand as a tree has an obvious reference to the Garden of Eden. There, the tree of life was given to man, a symbol of the continued perfection which he would enjoy through obedience. When Adam and Eve stole access to the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and ate the forbidden fruit, they lost access to the tree of life, and could not longer eat its fruit. Angels guarded the way to that tree.

But now there is a lampstand in the sanctuary which resembles the tree of Eden. It is situated in the area where the priests minister. Outside the camp are the people; within the veil is the presence. Over the Ark and upon the curtain there is the representation of the cherubim, the stated guardians of the tree of life. Here, God is at work to restore that which he did not take away. Access to God, over which angels stand guard, is to be opened by priestly work and priestly activity. The angels bear the sword which turns every way and says to man, 'keep out'; but the priests minister within the sanctuary where the golden tree stands as a symbol of salvation by grace. Beyond the tree is the presence of God, and the seat of mercy.

John saw the vision of Jesus Christ on the isle of Patmos, and saw Jesus in the midst of seven golden candlesticks. There is a clear reference to the Tabernacle there. God's redeemed people are in his presence. The effect of the atonement is reconciliation, and through the priestly work of Jesus God has made a church for himself.

An important passage in this connection is Jeremiah 1:11-12. There the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, "Jeremiah, what do you see?" Jeremiah answered "I see the rod (or the branch) of an almond tree." To which the Lord replied, "You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled"; or, as the AV puts it, "I will hasten my word to perform it". The almond tree which Jeremiah saw was a symbol of God's word fulfilling its design and purpose. There is a very clever use of words here; the same Hebrew root (shqd) meaning 'almond tree' is the verb to watch. The association comes because the almond tree blossomed very early in the spring in Israel; so the people watched for the budding of the almonds, and once the almond tree was in bloom, the season of growth and of fruitfulness had begun. So God is saying to Jeremiah that in the same way, he would ensure spiritual growth and fruitfulness. His word would not return to him void, but would accomplish his purpose.

The same lesson was taught to Israel in Numbers 17, where the rod of Aaron budded before the people. Twelve rods were placed in the sanctuary, and "the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms and yielded almonds" (Numbers 17:8). This was the symbol of God's choice of Levi, to stop the murmuring of the Israelites against Moses. The rebellion had occasioned the plague which ravaged the camp. But the priestly work of Aaron and his sons, to whom God gave charge of the sanctuary, gave access to God, who said to Aaron "you shall keep the charge of the sanctuary and the charge of the altar that there be no wrath any more upon the children of Israel" (Numbers 18:5). The budding of the rod with buds, blossoms and almonds was a sign of resurrection life and wrath pacified, of reconciliation on the basis of atonement.

This was represented by the golden tree which the lampstand, and which bore the same ornamentation of buds, blossoms and almonds as a sign of life through atonement and reconciliation. That is the portion of the church, and it is the result of Christ's work. For this reason, God's people can say in the words of Psalm 92:13 that they are "planted in the house of the Lord" and that they "shall flourish in the courts of our God".

(2) What the lampstand was for

The second element of the symbolism lies in what the lampstand was for: it was to bear light. It was to cast its light particularly upon the Table of Shewbread, illuminating what was in front of it rather than anything upon itself. In the same way, those that have been planted in the house of the Lord bring forth fruit and flourish to show that the Lord is upright (Psalm 92:15). Their work is to cast light upon his work. The continuing duty of the church is to illuminate the fulfilled duty of the Saviour. It is as we bear witness to what Jesus Christ is, and has done for us, that we will truly be as a lamp on a lampstand which cannot be hidden, but illuminates all around.

But in order for this to be true, we need oil in our lamps. To this extent, the lampstand bears witness to the priestly function of our Lord, whose task it is to keep the lamps lit with oil, trimming the wick and filling the vessel. Each night, as the sun went down, the priests trimmed the lamp. And our priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, continues to pour his life into our souls, so that there is always light for us in our secret, holy place. Although night shadows circle, bringing the day to a close, there is always light in our souls. God's people could wish for no greater comfort or assurance. It is the great concern and work of Jesus "to cause the lamp to burn always" (Exodus 27:20).