Exodus 27:21

27:21 In the tent of meeting ¹  outside the curtain that is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons are to arrange it from evening ²  to morning before the Lord. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for generations to come. ³ 

Matthew 5:14-16

5:14 You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. 5:15 People ⁴  do not light a lamp and put it under a basket ⁵  but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.

Philippians 2:15

2:15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without blemish though you live in a crooked and perverse society, in which you shine as lights in the world ⁶ 

¹ tn The LXX has mistakenly rendered this name “the tent of the testimony.”

² sn The lamps were to be removed in the morning so that the wicks could be trimmed and the oil replenished (30:7) and then lit every evening to burn through the night.

³ sn This is the first of several sections of priestly duties. The point is a simple one here: those who lead the worship use the offerings of the people to ensure that access to God is illumined regularly. The NT will make much of the symbolism of light.

⁴ tn Grk “Nor do they light.” The plural in Greek is indefinite, referring to people in general.

⁵ tn Or “a bowl”; this refers to any container for dry material of about eight liters (two gallons) capacity. It could be translated “basket, box, bowl” (L&N 6.151).

⁶ tn Or “as stars in the universe.”