Today, let’s talk a little about the golden lamp stand which was placed on the south side of the Holy Place directly opposite the Table of Showbread.
In Hebrew, this is called the MENORAH and next to the Star of David, it is probably the Jewish people’s most recognized symbol.
It is also probably the oldest symbol of the Jewish people dating back to more than 1000 years BEFORE the Star of David even came into existence.
Understand that the MENORAH only refers to the “lamp stand”.
It is separate from the candles or oil lamps just as the Mercy Seat (lid) is separate from the Ark of Covenant.
At a glance, the MENORAH resembles a well-proportioned tree with its magnificent branches stretching out to the heavens.
Interestingly, some Rabbis have suggested that the MENORAH could possibly be symbolic of the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden.
The original MENORAH weighed in at about 70 pounds and was sculpted by hand from a solid chunk of gold.
Notice I said “sculpted”.
The gold was not melted down and poured into a mold as most precious metal work is done today.
It had a center stem with three branches on each side of it for a total of 7 branches.
The MENORAH was the ONLY source of light for the Holy Place, which was a fairly sizable room.
In terms of measurements, the Holy Place came was about 30 feet long, 15 feet wide and 15 feet tall.
Affixed to the 7 branches of the MENORAH were 7 oil lamps each containing special olive oil to be used as fuel.
It was the priests’ job to ensure that these 7 oil lamps were kept burning 24/7.
Under no circumstances, were they ever to go out.
The surface decoration of the MENORAH were almond leaves blossoming at their various stages of growth.
What symbolic meaning does this hold?
While we haven’t come to this incident yet, later we will witness a scene where Aaron’s staff not only budded with almond blossoms but also ended up producing almonds.
The Jewish sages have noted that the almond tree was actually the first fruit to blossom once spring came around.
Others have said that Aaron’s dead stick which the Lord caused to come to life and actually produce fruit, which was the almonds, is actually symbolic of resurrection.
I like that.
I couldn’t think of anything more prophetic of Yeshua, for He indeed is the First Fruits of the the resurrection of the dead.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“But the fact is that the Messiah
has been raised from the dead,
the firstfruits of those who have died.“
-1 Corinthians 15:20
I’ve heard it suggested that the oil was almond oil. We know that Yah doesn’t like mixing, no mixing seed in the field, no mixing wool & linen, no mixing seed in a woman… So almond oil in almond lamps makes sense to me.
Hi Boyd, Interesting. Do you have a reference for this?
Not only was the oil in the menorah Olive oil, but there are reams and reams of commentary in Jewish writings as to how it was produced and what it is a picture of. The Holy Spirit (7 spirits of God Isa. 11) are pictured by the 7 lamps with Olive Oil; the Messiah is anointed with it; the Word of the Lord is pictured by it also (Zech. 4) and the oil came from the berries from the top of the Olive tree. Strange that the Sprit and Word of the Lord are 2 trees in one: almond and Olive! And the Holy Spirit is found in the Olive tree; as Rom. 11 says—the Olive tree is Israel!
@ Boyd Daniels: I’d rather say that the oil was olive oil and that the Bible would mention it somewhere (can’t look it up now, though for lack of time). Anyway, the Hanukka story and tradition has it that one sealed jar, 1 days portion of sanctified olive oil had been overlooked by the Greeks. When the Temple was re-dedicated and re-sanctified, the Maccabeans found that one and experienced the 8-day miracle of 8 days burning until new sanctified oil could be reproduced. Yeshua celebrated this feast too, see John 10:22. Olive oil is crushed and thus undergoes a purifying procedure all born-again belivers should too, dying to their own selfish nature in the flesh to become a new creation in the Messiah producing the fruit of the Spirit, the Ruach ha Kodesh.
PS: the picture above should have the 7 lights on the same level, not stepped.
Thanks for sharing Paula! Didn’t know that the 7 lamps should be on the same level. I was actually struggling deciding which Google image to use. Visually, I kind of like the “stepped” version because it resembles more of a magnificent tree. Shalom!
Many are way off the mark with this, good bible knowledge will show the menorah burns pure olive oil.
The light represents the spirit or energy of the divine creator.
All representations of the menorah even the Jewish ones are wrong as there are NO almond blossoms on the branches, of which God instructed there should be, and so the teaching of the branch out of the stem of Jesse is lost from the menorah as also the following of the related studies leading to the Messiahs return in the continuation of the almond blossoms.
Andy.
Very interesting!!! Thanks for sharing Andy.
On the Isle of Man in the cathedral we have a 6 foot menorah covered in almond blossom and all the candles are level.It was made in southern Israel from melted down rockets that had been sent over from Gaza. On the base is the inscription about turning swords into ploughshares etc Isaiah 2verse 4
Thanks for that, Lucy! I was able to find the menorah online by going on a virtual tour of the cathedral.