John Calvin Commentary Exodus 27:20

"And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause a lamp to burn continually." — Exodus 27:20 (ASV)

You shall command the children of Israel. I have transferred these two passages from elsewhere, since they relate to the service of the tabernacle. The children of Israel are commanded to contribute as much oil as is sufficient for the seven lamps.

Now, since Divine illumination and the grace of the Holy Spirit were, as we have seen, the truth of this symbol, God requires pure oil—that is, not muddy or mixed with sediment. For if it had been faulty in any respect, so much would have been detracted from the dignity of the mystery. Its purity, then, showed that nothing inferior or common was signified by it, so that the Israelites also might bring with them pure minds, duly prepared and disposed to consider the spiritual light.

He again repeats that the oil must be supplied regularly at its proper hours, so that the lamps may always be burning. In this way, the children of Israel might learn that nothing is more opposed to the worship of God than obscurity and darkness, and that this worship is not to be interrupted at intervals,¹³⁷ but that the direction of the Spirit should shine from heaven in a perpetual flow. Thus, in the second passage cited, He thrice reiterates the word “continually” to show that the true light should never be extinguished in any respect.

God assigns this office to the priests because they should be ministers of light when they are interpreting the Law, which David calls “the lamp of our feet, and the light of our paths” (Psalms 119:105).

But what is the meaning of the offering of the oil by the people, since humans have no power for the spiritual enlightening of their own minds? I reply that, in the types of the Law, the several parts are not to be so scrupulously forced to fit a rigid rule, as if there were nothing in the outward sign with which the reality did not correspond. Furthermore, although people have nothing of their own to bring, yet, so that they may more diligently apply themselves in their endeavors to serve God, they are justly required to dedicate themselves and all that they have to God.

At the end, the words “a statute for ever” are added. Understand these to mean until the real manifestation of those things of which the candlestick and its lamps were a type. This point I have discussed in Genesis.¹³⁸ It is called “a statute from the ¹³⁹ children of Israel” (a filiis Israel,) since God requires its observance from them, unless it is preferred to translate it with Jerome as “Before (coram) the children of Israel.” The exposition of others, “among (apud) the children of Israel,” or from the fathers to the children, is harsher and altogether forced.

¹³⁷ “Et que ce n’est point assez d’estre eselaire par bouffees;” and that it is not enough to be enlightened by puffs. — ;” and that it is not enough to be enlightened by puffs. — Fr.

¹³⁸ “Au dix-septieme chapitre de Genese ” — ” — Fr.

¹³⁹ מאת, from the. A. V., on the behalf of. C. adheres to adheres to S.M., and in so doing he has kept close to the Hebrew. — ., and in so doing he has kept close to the Hebrew. — W.