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This, in scripture, signifies a lamp-stand, as is plainly implied in 2 Chr. 4: 20: 'the candlesticks with their lamps,' used in the temple. A 'candlestick' is also mentioned in Belshazzar's palace, near which the fingers of a man's hand wrote upon the wall. Dan. 5: 5. Except in large buildings, hand lamps were all that were needed.
THE GOLDEN CANDLESTICK in the Tabernacle and Temple with its seven lamps is minutely described in Ex. 25: 31-40: it is also called the 'pure candlestick.' It was situate in the holy place, and gave light over against the table of showbread. It might be thought from Ex. 27: 20 that the lamps were to be kept alight always, but this does not appear to be the sense of 'burn always.' It should rather be read 'burn continuously,' that is, every evening, for in the next verse it adds 'from evening to morning;' and in Ex. 30: 8 it distinctly says "when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even." In the morning they were allowed to go out. 1 Sam. 3: 3: cf. also 2 Chr. 13: 11. The candlestick was entirely of gold, signifying that which was divine in its nature, and was typical of Christ the true light, but to be reproduced in His people. Eph. 5: 8. The number of the lamps (seven) is also indicative of divine perfection.
The Candlestick that was in the temple in the time of the Lord was carried away at the siege of Jerusalem, and is portrayed on the triumphal 'Arch of Titus' at Rome, but as fabulous animals are depicted on its base it is very questionable whether it is a true representation.