שמות, פרק מ׳, פסוק כ״ה

Setting up the Menorah in the Tabernacle was a deliberate and carefully timed process. The kindling of its lamps did not happen immediately in the morning the moment the Menorah was set in its place. The primary approach among commentators is that the lighting occurred only after the entire Tabernacle was fully erected and dedicated [קאסוטו]. Furthermore, this act was specifically reserved for the evening hours, aligning with the predetermined time for the ritual [העמק דבר].

The identity of the person who actually kindled the flames on that first day offers distinct perspectives. According to [המלבי"ם], Moses was the one who lit the lamps. Even though Aaron had already been initiated into the priesthood, Moses performed the service on that specific day because God had personally commanded him to do so. In contrast, [קאסוטו] views the action in a more general sense, referring simply to whoever was performing the duty at a given time. In this way, the action encompasses both Moses, who served as the acting priest during the initial days of the Tabernacle's dedication, and Aaron, who took over the responsibility of lighting the lamps in the days that followed.

Beyond the physical act of bringing light into the space, kindling the lamps held deep religious weight. It was not merely a practical task to illuminate the room. According to Jewish law, the act of lighting the Menorah is elevated to a level of profound significance, considered entirely equivalent to the act of offering a formal sacrifice to God [פרדס יוסף].