זכריה, פרק ד׳, פסוק ג׳

A marvelous vision unfolds, presenting a self-sustaining system of light that operates entirely without human intervention. Natural sources of oil stand beside the pure structure of a Menorah, creating an unbroken flow of illumination. The primary approach among commentators is that two living olive trees are positioned right next to this Menorah [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. While their placement might initially seem to be directly above the structure, they are actually situated closely beside it, specifically flanking the large bowl at its peak [מלבי״ם, רד״ק]. These trees stand on the right and left sides of the top bowl. Though later parts of the prophecy describe the trees as flanking the entire Menorah, the practical arrangement is the same, since the bowl and the Menorah function together as a single unified system [רד״ק].

The process of extracting oil from these trees happens completely on its own. Olives growing on the branches naturally drop and are crushed into a network of golden pipes, which act as a built-in olive press. Inside these pipes, the olives heat up and are pressed, allowing pure oil to flow directly into the top bowl and then down into the burning lamps [רש״י]. At this point in the vision, the deep symbolic meaning of the trees, as well as the specific reason there are exactly two of them, remains a mystery. These elements are kept hidden for now and are only explained in detail as the prophetic vision continues [אבן עזרא, מלבי״ם].