Exodus 40:25
and set up the lamps before the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded him.
and set up the lamps before the LORD,

Moses arranged the seven lamps of the golden lampstand in the Holy Place, where their light shone before the veil of God’s dwelling. The lampstand, formed from pure gold according to God’s design, testified to His holiness, beauty, and perfect provision. Priests supplied it with pure olive oil and tended its lamps regularly, preserving light in the sanctuary. God’s light guided Israel’s worship and pointed beyond the Tabernacle to His saving revelation. Psalm 119:105 celebrates God’s Word as a lamp for His people, and Jesus declared Himself to be the Light of the world, the One who brings sinners out of darkness into the light of life (John 8:12).

Lev 24:2-4 Command the Israelites to bring you pure oil for the light,…
Exo 27:20-21 And you are to command the Israelites to bring you pure oil…
Num 8:2-3 Speak to Aaron and tell him: ‘When you set up the lamps…

just as the LORD had commanded him.

Moses carried out every detail of the Tabernacle’s furnishing according to the pattern God had revealed on Sinai. His obedience showed reverence for God’s holiness and faithfulness within the covenant God had made with Israel. Israel’s life and worship were not shaped by human preference but by the Lord’s command. Such obedience remained central to covenant blessing and fellowship with God, as later set forth in Deuteronomy 28. Jesus likewise taught that love for Him is demonstrated through keeping His commandments (John 14:15).

Exo 39:42-43 The Israelites had done all the work just as the LORD…
Num 9:5 and they did so in the Wilderness of Sinai,…
Exo 12:28 And the Israelites went and did just what the LORD commanded…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to lead His people out of Egypt and through the wilderness. In this passage, Moses is responsible for setting up the Tabernacle and ensuring everything is done according to God's instructions.

2. The Tabernacle
The portable dwelling place for the presence of God among the Israelites. It was meticulously constructed according to divine specifications given to Moses on Mount Sinai.

3. The Lamps
Part of the golden lampstand (Menorah) within the Tabernacle, which Moses lit as part of the consecration process. The lighting of the lamps symbolizes God's presence and guidance.

4. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant name of God, who commanded Moses to set up the Tabernacle and perform the rituals as a sign of His dwelling among His people.

5. The Israelites
The chosen people of God, who were to worship Him and follow His commandments as they journeyed to the Promised Land.
Teaching Points
Obedience to God's Commands
Moses' actions in lighting the lamps "just as the LORD had commanded him" demonstrate the importance of obedience to God's instructions. In our lives, we are called to follow God's Word with precision and faithfulness.

Symbolism of Light
The lighting of the lamps symbolizes God's presence and guidance. As believers, we are called to be lights in the world, reflecting God's presence and truth to those around us.

God's Dwelling Among His People
The Tabernacle was a physical representation of God's desire to dwell among His people. Today, through the Holy Spirit, God dwells within us, making our lives a living Tabernacle.

Continual Worship and Devotion
The continual burning of the lamps signifies ongoing worship and devotion. We are encouraged to maintain a constant relationship with God through prayer, worship, and the study of His Word.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Moses' obedience in lighting the lamps challenge us in our daily walk with God?

2. In what ways can we be a light to those around us, reflecting the presence of God in our lives?

3. How does the concept of God dwelling among His people in the Tabernacle relate to the New Testament understanding of the Holy Spirit dwelling within believers?

4. What practical steps can we take to ensure that our worship and devotion to God are continual and not just occasional?

5. How do the instructions for the Tabernacle and its elements, like the lamps, enhance our understanding of God's holiness and our approach to worship?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Leviticus 24:1-4
This passage provides further instructions on the care and maintenance of the lamps, emphasizing the importance of keeping them burning continually before the LORD.

John 8:12
Jesus refers to Himself as the "light of the world," drawing a parallel to the light of the lamps in the Tabernacle, symbolizing God's presence and guidance.

Psalm 119:105
The psalmist describes God's word as a lamp to our feet, highlighting the guiding and illuminating role of God's presence and commandments in our lives.
The Erection of the TabernacleJ. Urquhart Exodus 40:1-33
The Tabernacle Set UpJ. Orr Exodus 40:1-33
Tabernacle ForeshadowingsW. M. Taylor, D. D.Exodus 40:1-38
The Primary and Universal Obligation to the Worship of JehovahJ. Allport.Exodus 40:1-38
The Setting Up of the Tabernacle on New Year's DayC. P. Eyre, M. A.Exodus 40:1-38
People
Aaron, Israelites, Moses
Places
Sinai
Topics
Causeth, Commanded, Lamps, Lighted, Lighting, Lights, Lit, Orders
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Exodus 40:24-25

     5373   lamp and lampstand

Library
July 7. "And the Glory of the Lord Filled the Tabernacle" (Ex. Xl. 35).
"And the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle" (Ex. xl. 35). In the last chapter of Exodus we read all the Lord commanded Moses to do, and that as he fulfilled these commands the glory of the Lord descended and filled the tabernacle till there was no room for Moses, and from that time the pillar of cloud overshadowed them, their guide, their protection. And so we have been building as the Lord Himself commanded, and now the temple is to be handed over to Him to be possessed and filled. He will
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

The Copies of Things in the Heavens
'And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2. On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. 3. And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail. 4. And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof. 5. And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Appendix viii. Rabbinic Traditions About Elijah, the Forerunner of the Messiah
To complete the evidence, presented in the text, as to the essential difference between the teaching of the ancient Synagogue about the Forerunner of the Messiah' and the history and mission of John the Baptist, as described in the New Testaments, we subjoin a full, though condensed, account of the earlier Rabbinic traditions about Elijah. Opinions differ as to the descent and birthplace of Elijah. According to some, he was from the land of Gilead (Bemid. R. 14), and of the tribe of Gad (Tanch. on
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Exodus
The book of Exodus--so named in the Greek version from the march of Israel out of Egypt--opens upon a scene of oppression very different from the prosperity and triumph in which Genesis had closed. Israel is being cruelly crushed by the new dynasty which has arisen in Egypt (i.) and the story of the book is the story of her redemption. Ultimately it is Israel's God that is her redeemer, but He operates largely by human means; and the first step is the preparation of a deliverer, Moses, whose parentage,
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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