Exodus 25:31 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold— This candlestick or chandelier was to consist of a shaft, from which were to issue six branches, each branch to have three bowls or cups, made in the shape of almonds, with knops and flowers, ornaments round and foliated like blossoms to each, and a lamp on the top of each of them. In the shaft of the candlestick were to be four of these almond-like bowls, with a lamp upon the top of it, Exodus 25:34 and there were to be in each of the six branches, besides the knop which belonged to the bowls, knops in the shank of the candle-stick, so contrived, that the six branches should arise out of three of them, two out of each knop; one on the one side, and the other on the other, Exodus 25:35. Thus there were to be seven lamps, one in the shaft on the middle, and six in the branches around, Exodus 25:37. These lamps, Aaron and his sons, the priests, were to light. Witsius observes, that "God everywhere, in the administration of his covenants, joined the symbols of light for knowledge, and of food for nourishment. In the first was the tree of knowledge and life; in the desert, the pillar of fire and the manna; here, the candlestick and the table: in the New Testament, baptism called φωτισμος, or illumination, by the ancients, and the holy supper: each of which things we especially want: food to support life; light to walk wisely and rightly."