11/5/2022 0 Comments Menorah seven spirits of god![]() ![]() According to Tosofot, all the ornaments of the menorah measured one tefach in height (i.e., 3.5" or the width of a handbreadth), except for the combined flower/cup/apple that appeared on the stem at tefach 6. The flowers appeared at the top of each branch, just before the lamps (the other two occurred on the main stem, including one at the base of the menorah). According to Targum Yonathan, the flowers were similar to roses. Nine Flowers (i.e., perachim: פְּרַחִים) These were ornamental parts intended to beautify the menorah.The other elements (cups, buds, and flowers) were then placed up the tree. The first three tefachim were the base itself. According to the Talmud, the height of the menorah, from base to the end of the branches, was 18 "handbreadths" (i.e., tefachim: טְפָחִים), or roughly 63 inches (160cm). In that sense, the menorah itself resembled a tree, just as the Torah is referred to as a Tree of Life ( עֵץ־חַיִּים). Unlike modern depictions of the menorah, it is thought that the branches were all straight (yashar), not curved. Two branches extended diagonally from each side of the apple until they reached the exact height of the middle stem. The middle branch (or "stem") ascended straight up from the center of the base, and the six branches emerged from three "apples" (or fruit) proportionately located on the stem. Wicks were created from worn-out garments of the priests. According to the Talmud (Shabbat 22b), each lamp held about 9 ounces of the purest olive oil, sufficient to burn throughout the night. The lamps themselves were lit daily, "from evening until morning," from right to left ( Exod. The wicks were positioned by either bending them toward the center or by clamping them down between the bowl and the cover. Each lamp had a cover on it with a hole in the middle for the oil. ![]() The center lamp, however, resembled a basin. The lamps were "boat shaped" with pointed ends that faced the center lamp. Each lamp was made of the same gold used to form the rest of the menorah. The menorah had seven lamps, one lamp on top of the middle stem and one on top of each of its six branches. Refer to the illustration (above) for more information: After a flash of dazzling light, a glorious menorah came out formed by God Himself.Īlthough the details have been discussed (and debated) in the Talmud and related Jewish literature, the following are considered to be reliable details regarding the construction and function of the menorah. According to midrash, the method for constructing the menorah was difficult for Moses to comprehend, so the LORD first showed him one in the fire and told him: "This is how you will make it." Moses was unable to do so, however, so the LORD told him to take a block of gold and have Betzalel (the carpenter from Judah) throw it into the fire. Note that the word translated "hammered" or "beaten" ( מִקְשָׁה) comes from the word for "difficult" in Hebrew ( קָשֶׁה). The "lamp of God" was to be made by hammering a single piece of solid gold into shape ( Exod. It is called the "lamp of God" ( נֵר אֱלהִים) in the Scriptures ( 1 Sam. According to the Talmud, the menorah measured eighteen tefachim (i.e., "palms") in height (from the base to the start of the lamps), or roughly 5.25 feet. It was a highly decorative work that had seven branches (with seven lamps), nine flower blooms, eleven fruits, and twenty two cups. The holy menorah ( מְנוֹרָה) was formed from one piece of pure beaten gold weighing 3,000 shekels of silver (nearly 100 pounds). "Add oil to the lamp before the light dies, for if it does, the oil will do no good." ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |