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While the number of Cherubim was the same in the Temple as in the Tabernacle, Solomon had,
on the other hand, ten tables set up in the Temple in place of the one fashioned by Moses.
This was because the one table sufficed to bring sustenance to Israel so long as they were
maintained 5.34"> by manna in the desert; but as the demand for food was greater after they
settled in the promised land, Solomon had ten tables set up. But in the Temple also did
the table of Moses retain its ancient significance, for only upon it was the shewbread
placed, and it stood in the center, whereas the tables fashioned by Solomon stood five to
the south and five to the north. For from the south come "the dews of blessing and
the rains of plenty," while all evil comes from the north; hence Solomon said:
"The tables on the south side shall cause the rains of plenty and the dews of
blessing to come upon the earth, while the tables on the north side shall keep off all
evil from Israel." 337
Moses had great difficulty with the construction of the candlestick, for although God had
given him instructions about it, he completely forgot these when he descended from heaven.
He hereupon betook himself to God once more to be shown, but in vain, for hardly had he
reached earth, when he again forgot. When he betook himself to God the third time, God
took a candlestick of fire and plainly showed him every single detail of it, that he might
now be able to reconstruct the candlestick for the Tabernacle. When he found it still hard
to form a clear conception of the nature of the candlestick, God quieted him with these
words" "Go to Bezalel, he will do it aright." And indeed, Bezalel had no
difficulty in doing so, and instantly executed Moses' commission. Moses cried in
amazement: "God showed me repeatedly how to make the candlestick, yet I could not
properly seize the idea; but thou, without having had it shown thee by God, couldst
fashion it out of thy own fund of knowledge. Truly dost thou deserve thy name Bezalel, 'in
the shadow of God,' for thou dost act as if thou hadst been 'in the shadow of God' while
He was showing me the candlestick." 338
The candlestick was later set up in the Temple of Solomon, and although he set up ten
other candlesticks, still this one was the first to be lighted. Solomon chose the number
ten because it corresponds to the number of Words revealed on Sinai; and each of these
candlesticks had seven lamps, seventy in all, to correspond to the seventy nations. For
while these lamps burned the power of these nations was held in check, but on the day on
which these lamps are extinguished 5.33"> the power of the nations is increased. 339 The
candlestick stood toward the south, and the table to the north of the sanctuary, the table
to indicate the delights of which the pious would partake in Paradise, which lies to the
north; the light of the candlestick to symbolize the light of the Shekinah, for in the
future world there will be but one delight, to gaze at the light of the Shekinah. 340 On
account of its sacredness the candlestick was one of the five sacred objects that God
concealed at the destruction of the Temple by Nebuchadnezzar, and that He will restore
when in His loving-kindness He will erect His house and Temple. These sacred objects are:
the Ark, the candlestick, the fire of the altar, the Holy Spirit of prophecy, and the
Cherubim. 341
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