Leviticus 24:3 Study Bible: Outside of the veil of the Testimony, in the Tent of Meeting, shall Aaron keep it in order from evening to morning before the LORD continually: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations.

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◄ Leviticus 24:3 ►

Outside the veil of the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting, Aaron is to tend the lamps continually before the LORD from evening until morning. This is to be a permanent statute for the generations to come.

Study Bible

Outside the veil of the Testimony
The "veil of the Testimony" refers to the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place in the Tabernacle. The Hebrew word for "veil" is "פָּרֹכֶת" (paroket), which signifies a barrier or a divider. This veil was a physical representation of the separation between God and humanity due to sin. The "Testimony" refers to the tablets of the Law, the Ten Commandments, housed within the Ark of the Covenant. This phrase emphasizes the holiness and sacredness of the space where God’s presence dwelt, reminding us of the reverence required when approaching God.

in the Tent of Meeting
The "Tent of Meeting" is another term for the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary used by the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings. The Hebrew term "אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד" (ohel mo'ed) translates to "tent of appointment," indicating a designated place where God would meet with His people. This highlights the intentionality of God in establishing a relationship with His people, providing a specific place for communion and worship.

Aaron is to tend the lamps
Aaron, the high priest, had the responsibility to maintain the lamps on the golden lampstand, or menorah, within the Holy Place. The Hebrew word for "tend" is "עָרַךְ" (arak), meaning to arrange or set in order. This duty symbolizes the role of spiritual leaders to ensure that the light of God’s presence and truth is continually shining among His people. It underscores the importance of diligence and faithfulness in spiritual leadership.

from evening until morning
This phrase indicates the time during which the lamps were to be kept burning, symbolizing God’s perpetual presence and guidance. The Hebrew concept of a day beginning at evening reflects the creation account in Genesis, where "there was evening, and there was morning." This continuous light serves as a reminder of God’s unending watchfulness and care over His people, even through the darkest times.

before the LORD continually
The phrase "before the LORD" signifies performing duties in the presence of God, with an awareness of His holiness and authority. The Hebrew word "תָּמִיד" (tamid), translated as "continually," emphasizes the perpetual nature of this service. It reflects the constancy of God’s presence and the ongoing nature of worship and devotion required from His people.

This is a permanent statute
The term "permanent statute" in Hebrew is "חֻקַּת עוֹלָם" (chukat olam), meaning an everlasting ordinance. This underscores the enduring nature of God’s commands and the timeless principles they embody. It serves as a reminder of the unchanging nature of God’s expectations for His people, calling for obedience and faithfulness across generations.

for the generations to come
This phrase highlights the continuity of God’s covenant with His people, extending beyond the immediate audience to future descendants. It emphasizes the responsibility of each generation to pass down the knowledge and practice of God’s statutes, ensuring that His light and truth are preserved and proclaimed throughout history. This serves as an inspiration for believers to remain steadfast in their faith and to diligently teach the next generation about the ways of the Lord.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Moses
The leader of the Israelites who received the laws from God on Mount Sinai. He is the one through whom God communicates His commandments to the people.

2. Aaron
The brother of Moses and the first high priest of Israel. He and his descendants are responsible for maintaining the lampstand in the Tabernacle.

3. Tabernacle of the Testimony
The portable earthly dwelling place of God among the Israelites, where the lampstand is to be kept burning continually.

4. Lampstand
A seven-branched candelabrum made of pure gold, which is to be kept burning continually as a symbol of God's eternal presence and guidance.

5. Sabbath
The day of rest on the seventh day of the week, which is a sign of the covenant between God and Israel, and a time for worship and reflection.

Teaching Points

The Importance of Continual Worship
Just as the lampstand was to be kept burning continually, our worship and devotion to God should be constant and unwavering.

Symbol of God's Presence
The lampstand serves as a reminder of God's eternal presence with His people. We are called to be aware of His presence in our daily lives.

Role of the Priesthood
Aaron and his descendants were tasked with maintaining the lampstand, highlighting the responsibility of spiritual leaders to guide and nurture the faith of their communities.

Light as a Witness
The continual light of the lampstand symbolizes the witness of God's people to the world. We are called to let our light shine before others, reflecting God's love and truth.

Obedience to God's Commands
The detailed instructions for the lampstand remind us of the importance of obedience to God's commands in every aspect of our lives.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the continual burning of the lampstand in the Tabernacle relate to our personal spiritual practices today?

2. In what ways can we, as believers, serve as a "light" in our communities, reflecting the presence of God?

3. What responsibilities do spiritual leaders have in maintaining the "light" within their congregations, and how can we support them?

4. How does the concept of God's eternal presence, as symbolized by the lampstand, provide comfort and guidance in our daily lives?

5. How can we ensure that our obedience to God's commands is as detailed and faithful as the instructions given for the lampstand in the Tabernacle?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Exodus 27:20-21
These verses provide the initial command for the Israelites to bring pure olive oil for the lampstand, emphasizing the importance of keeping the light burning continually before the Lord.

Matthew 5:14-16
Jesus speaks of His followers as the light of the world, drawing a parallel to the lampstand's role in the Tabernacle as a symbol of God's presence and guidance.

Revelation 1:12-13
The imagery of the lampstands is used to describe the churches, with Christ walking among them, signifying His presence and oversight.

Sermons

Everlasting Light	R.M. Edgar	Leviticus 24:1-4
Ourselves as Lights	W. Clarkson	Leviticus 24:1-4
The Lighting of the Sanctuary	J.A. Macdonald	Leviticus 24:1-4
The Lights in the Sanctuary	R.A. Redford	Leviticus 24:1-4
The Candlestick	R.A. Redford	Leviticus 24:2-4
Christ a Comforting Presence	Richard Newton, D. D.	Leviticus 24:2-9
Christ an Enlightening Presence	Richard Newton, D. D.	Leviticus 24:2-9
Christ the True Presence Bread	F. H. White	Leviticus 24:2-9
Directions for Furnishing of the Sanctuary	Henry, Matthew	Leviticus 24:2-9
Symbols and Their Meaning	J. Cumming, D. D.	Leviticus 24:2-9
The Priest Setting the Lamps in Order Daily Represents Christ Causing His People Daily to Receive and Give Forth Light and Life	A. A. Bonar.	Leviticus 24:2-9
The Sanctuary and its Furniture	J. A. Seiss, D. D.	Leviticus 24:2-9
The Shewbread as Typical of Christ	J. H. Holford, M. A.	Leviticus 24:2-9
The Table and Shewbread Typical of Christ and His Church	John Gill, D. D.	Leviticus 24:2-9
The Table for the Bread of Faces	George Junkin, D. D.	Leviticus 24:2-9

People

Aaron, Dan, Dibri, Ephah, Israelites, Israelitess, Moses, Shelomith

Places

Teman

Topics

Aaron, Age-during, Ark, Arrange, Burning, Congregation, Continually, Curtain, Dress, Evening, Everlasting, Forever, Generations, Lamps, Lasting, Meeting, Morning, Order, Ordinance, Outside, Perpetual, Rule, Statute, Tabernacle, Tend, Tent, Testimony, Throughout, Till, Vail, Veil

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Leviticus 24:3

     4933   evening
     7404   ordinances
     7474   Tent of Meeting

Leviticus 24:2-4

5373 lamp and lampstand

Leviticus 24:3-4

5445 potters and pottery

Library

The Doctrine of Non-Resistance to Evil by Force Has Been Professed by a Minority of Men from the Very Foundation of Christianity. Of the Book "What
CHAPTER I. THE DOCTRINE OF NON-RESISTANCE TO EVIL BY FORCE HAS BEEN PROFESSED BY A MINORITY OF MEN FROM THE VERY FOUNDATION OF CHRISTIANITY. Of the Book "What I Believe"--The Correspondence Evoked by it-- Letters from Quakers--Garrison's Declaration--Adin Ballou, his Works, his Catechism--Helchitsky's "Net of Faith"--The Attitude of the World to Works Elucidating Christ's Teaching--Dymond's Book "On War"--Musser's "Non-resistance Asserted"--Attitude of the Government in 1818 to Men who Refused to …
Leo Tolstoy—The Kingdom of God is within you

Feast of the Dedication. The Jews Attempt to Stone Jesus and He Retires to Peræa.
(Jerusalem and Beyond Jordan.) ^D John X. 22-42. ^d 22 And it was the feast of the dedication at Jerusalem: 23; it was winter; and Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. [The feast of dedication was one of eight days' duration and began upon the 25th Chisleu, which, according to the calculation of M. Chevannes, fell upon the nineteenth or twentieth of December, a.d. 29. The feast was kept in honor of the renovation and purification of the temple in the year b.c. 164, after it had been desecrated …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus Defends Disciples who Pluck Grain on the Sabbath.
(Probably While on the Way from Jerusalem to Galilee.) ^A Matt. XII. 1-8; ^B Mark II. 23-28; ^C Luke VI. 1-5. ^b 23 And ^c 1 Now it came to pass ^a 1 At that season ^b that he ^a Jesus went { ^b was going} on the { ^c a} ^b sabbath day through the grainfields; ^a and his disciples were hungry and began ^b as they went, to pluck the ears. ^a and to eat, ^c and his disciples plucked the ears, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands. [This lesson fits in chronological order with the last, if the Bethesda …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Questions About the Nature and Perpetuity of the Seventh-Day Sabbath.
AND PROOF, THAT THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK IS THE TRUE CHRISTIAN SABBATH. BY JOHN BUNYAN. 'The Son of man is lord also of the Sabbath day.' London: Printed for Nath, Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultry, 1685. EDITOR'S ADVERTISEMENT. All our inquiries into divine commands are required to be made personally, solemnly, prayerful. To 'prove all things,' and 'hold fast' and obey 'that which is good,' is a precept, equally binding upon the clown, as it is upon the philosopher. Satisfied from our observations …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Third Stage of the Roman Trial. Pilate Reluctantly Sentences Him to Crucifixion.
(Friday. Toward Sunrise.) ^A Matt. XXVII. 15-30; ^B Mark XV. 6-19; ^C Luke XXIII. 13-25; ^D John XVIII. 39-XIX 16. ^a 15 Now at the feast [the passover and unleavened bread] the governor was wont { ^b used to} release unto them ^a the multitude one prisoner, whom they would. { ^b whom they asked of him.} [No one knows when or by whom this custom was introduced, but similar customs were not unknown elsewhere, both the Greeks and Romans being wont to bestow special honor upon certain occasions by releasing …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Voluntary Suffering
I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. T hat which often passes amongst men for resolution, and the proof of a noble, courageous spirit, is, in reality, the effect of a weak and little mind. At least, it is chiefly owing to the presence of certain circumstances, which have a greater influence upon the conduct, than any inherent principle. Thus may persons who appear to set death and danger at defiance in the hour …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

A Divine Saviour.
"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew xvi. 1; John vi. 69.) We meet with a certain class of Enquirers who do not believe in the Divinity of Christ. There are many passages that will give light on this subject. In 1 Corinthians xv. 47, we are told: "The first man is of the earth earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven." In 1 John v. 20: "We know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true; and we are in Him that is …
Dwight L. Moody—The Way to God and How to Find It

Leviticus
The emphasis which modern criticism has very properly laid on the prophetic books and the prophetic element generally in the Old Testament, has had the effect of somewhat diverting popular attention from the priestly contributions to the literature and religion of Israel. From this neglect Leviticus has suffered most. Yet for many reasons it is worthy of close attention; it is the deliberate expression of the priestly mind of Israel at its best, and it thus forms a welcome foil to the unattractive …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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