Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 37:17

And he made the candlestick [of] pure gold: [of] beaten work made he the candlestick; his shaft, and his branch, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, were of the same:

Verse 17. He made the candlestick] See this described in the note on Ex 25:31. See Clarke on Ex 25:31.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

17-22. he made the candlestick ofpure goldPractical readers will be apt to say, “Why dosuch works with the hammer, when they could have been cast so mucheasiera process they were well acquainted with?” The onlyanswer that can be given is, that it was done according to order. Wehave no doubt but there were reasons for so distinctive an order,something significant, which has not been revealed to us [NAPIER].The whole of that sacred building was arranged with a view toinculcate through every part of its apparatus the great fundamentalprinciples of revelation. Every object was symbolical of importanttruthevery piece of furniture was made the hieroglyphic of adoctrine or a dutyon the floor and along the sides of that movableedifice was exhibited, by emblematic signs addressed to the eye, thewhole remedial scheme of the gospel. How far this spiritualinstruction was received by every successive generation of theIsraelites, it may not be easy to determine. But the tabernacle, likethe law of which it was a part, was a schoolmaster to Christ [Gal 3:24;Gal 3:25]. Just as the walls ofschools are seen studded with pictorial figures, by which thechildren, in a manner level to their capacities and suited to arresttheir volatile minds, are kept in constant and familiar remembranceof the lessons of piety and virtue, so the tabernacle was intended byits furniture and all its arrangements to serve as a “shadow ofgood things to come” [Heb10:1]. In this view, the minute description given in this chapterrespecting the ark and mercy seat, the table of showbread, thecandlestick, the altar of incense, and the holy oil, were of thegreatest utility and importance; and though there are a few thingsthat are merely ornamental appendages, such as the knops and theflowers, yet, in introducing these into the tabernacle, God displayedthe same wisdom and goodness as He has done by introducing realflowers into the kingdom of nature to engage and gratify the eye ofman.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

[See comments on Ex 37:1].

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

Verses 17-24:

The pattern for the golden “candlestick” or lampstand is found in Ex 25:31-40. The lampstand and its vessels were made from one talent of pure gold. Bezaleel followed this pattern exactly. See the comments on this passage, in chapter 25.

Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

The Making Of The Golden Lampstand ( Exo 37:17-24 ).

Exo 37:17-24

‘And he made the lampstand of pure gold: of beaten work he made the lampstand, even its base, and its shaft; its cups, its knops, and its flowers, were of one piece with it. And there were six branches going out of its sides; three branches of the lampstand out of one of its sides, and three branches of the lampstand out of its other side: three cups made like almond-blossoms in one branch, a knop and a flower, and three cups made like almond-blossoms in the other branch, a knop and a flower: so for the six branches going out of the lampstand. And in the lampstand were four cups made like almond-blossoms, the its knops, and its flowers; and a knop under two branches of one piece with it, and a knop under two branches of one piece with it, and a knop under two branches of one piece with it, for the six branches going out of it. Their knops and their branches were of one piece with it: the whole of it was one beaten work of pure gold. And he made its lamps , seven, and its snuffers, and its snuffdishes, of pure gold. he made it of a talent of pure gold, and all its vessels.’

For the lampstand details see on 25:31-40.

Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett

The Candlestick

v. 17. And he made the candlestick of pure gold; of beaten work made he the candlestick, of chased workmanship; his shaft, the base, and his branch, the heavy upright holder, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, were of the same;

v. 18. and six branches going out of the sides thereof; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side thereof and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side thereof;

v. 19. three bowls made after the fashion of almonds, shaped like the blossoms of the almond-tree, in one branch, a knop and a flower; and three bowls made like almonds in another branch, a knop and a flower; so throughout the six branches going out of the candlestick.

v. 20. And in the candlestick, in the shaft itself, were four bowls made like almonds, his knops, and his flowers;

v. 21. and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches going out of it, the knobs thus serving as ornaments at the branching of the arms.

v. 22. Their knops and their branches were of the same; all of it was one beaten work of pure gold.

v. 23. And he made his seven lamps, which were set into the bowls, and his snuffers and his snuff-dishes, the shears and pincers for trimming the wicks and the small plates for the trimmings, of pure gold.

v. 24. of a talent of pure gold made he it, and all the vessels thereof, their value, by a rough estimate, being some $30,000. Cf Exo 25:31-40.

Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann

Exo 37:17. And he made the candlestick, &c. The word of God is the golden candlestick, pure in itself, without alloy, and serving to enlighten us for all the spiritual services whereunto we are consecrated. May we know how to value the inestimable blessing, and never provoke God to remove his blessed and holy word from us by our sins against the light of it.

Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke

Was not this candlestick an emblem of the light of the Holy Ghost, and of his sacred word? Hath not the church been enlightened with the illuminations of the Spirit, in all ages? Rev 2:7Rev 2:7 ; Psa 119:105 . And are not the branches of the candlestick meant to show that the supply of believers is from Christ?. Zec 4:2-3 . But Reader! Do not forget that after all, a candlestick is but a faint light. Divine communications in this world are but as the light of a candle. The full day-light of glory, in the Lord Jesus, is reserved for the upper world. 1Co 13:12 .

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

the candlestick of: Exo 25:31-39, Exo 40:24, Exo 40:25, Lev 24:4, 1Ch 28:15, 2Ch 13:11, Zec 4:2, Zec 4:11, Mat 5:15, Joh 1:4-9, Phi 2:15, Heb 9:2, Rev 1:12-20, Rev 2:1-5

Reciprocal: Exo 31:8 – pure candlestick Exo 35:14 – candlestick Num 4:9 – General Num 8:4 – this work 1Ki 7:24 – knops 1Ki 7:49 – the candlesticks

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Exo 37:17. This candlestick, which was not of wood overlaid with gold, but all beaten work of pure gold only, signified that light of divine revelation with which Gods church upon earth (which is his tabernacle among men) hath always been enlightened, being always supplied with fresh oil from Christ the good olive, Zec 4:2-3. The Bible is a golden candlestick, it is of pure gold; from it light is diffused to every part of Gods tabernacle, that by it the spiritual priests may see to do the service of his sanctuary. This candlestick has not only its bowls for necessary use, but its knops and flowers for ornament; many things which God saw fit to beautify his word with, which we can no more give a reason for than for these knops and flowers, and yet must be sure they were added for some good purpose. Let us bless God for this candlestick, have an eye to it continually, and dread the removal of it out of its place!

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments