The instrument so rendered by our translators was more
properly a stand for lamps. One of beaten gold was made by Moses, Exod.
xxv, 31, 32, and put into the tabernacle in the holy place, over against
the table of shew bread. The basis of this candlestick was also of pure
gold; it had seven branches, three on each side, and one in the middle.
When Solomon had built the temple, he was not satisfied with placing one
golden candlestick there, but had ten put up, of the same form and metal
with that described by Moses, five on the north, and five on the south
side of the holy place, 1 Kings vii, 49. After the Jews returned from
their captivity, the golden candlestick was again placed in the temple,
as it had been before in the tabernacle by Moses. The lamps were kept
burning perpetually; and were supplied morning and evening with pure
olive oil. Josephus says, that after the Romans had destroyed the
temple, the several things which were found within it, were carried in
triumph to Rome, namely, the golden table, and the golden candlestick
with seven branches. These were lodged in the temple built by Vespasian,
and consecrated to Peace; and at the foot of Mount Palatine, there is a
triumphal arch still visible, upon which Vespasian’s triumph is
represented, and the several monuments which were carried publicly in
the procession are engraved, and among the rest the candlestick with the
seven branches, which are still discernible upon it. In Rev. i, 12, 20,
mention is made of seven golden candlesticks, which are said to be
emblems of the seven Christian churches.
properly a stand for lamps. One of beaten gold was made by Moses, Exod.
xxv, 31, 32, and put into the tabernacle in the holy place, over against
the table of shew bread. The basis of this candlestick was also of pure
gold; it had seven branches, three on each side, and one in the middle.
When Solomon had built the temple, he was not satisfied with placing one
golden candlestick there, but had ten put up, of the same form and metal
with that described by Moses, five on the north, and five on the south
side of the holy place, 1 Kings vii, 49. After the Jews returned from
their captivity, the golden candlestick was again placed in the temple,
as it had been before in the tabernacle by Moses. The lamps were kept
burning perpetually; and were supplied morning and evening with pure
olive oil. Josephus says, that after the Romans had destroyed the
temple, the several things which were found within it, were carried in
triumph to Rome, namely, the golden table, and the golden candlestick
with seven branches. These were lodged in the temple built by Vespasian,
and consecrated to Peace; and at the foot of Mount Palatine, there is a
triumphal arch still visible, upon which Vespasian’s triumph is
represented, and the several monuments which were carried publicly in
the procession are engraved, and among the rest the candlestick with the
seven branches, which are still discernible upon it. In Rev. i, 12, 20,
mention is made of seven golden candlesticks, which are said to be
emblems of the seven Christian churches.