Editing Temple menorah (section)

==Usage==
According to the [[Book of Exodus]], the lamps of the menorah were lit daily from fresh, consecrated olive oil and burned from evening until morning.<ref>{{bibleverse||Exodus|27:21|HE}}</ref>

[[Josephus]] states that three of the seven lamps were allowed to burn during the day also;<ref>{{CathEncy|wstitle=Seven-Branch Candlestick}}</ref> however, according to one opinion in the [[Talmud]], only the center lamp was left burning all day, into which as much oil was put as into the others.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sefaria.org/Shabbat.22b.2?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en|title=Shabbat 22b:2|website=www.sefaria.org|access-date=4 July 2022|archive-date=3 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703045113/https://www.sefaria.org/Shabbat.22b.2?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en|url-status=live}}</ref> Although all the other lights were extinguished, that light continued burning oil, in spite of the fact that it had been kindled first. This miracle, according to the Talmud, was taken as a sign that the [[Shechinah]] rested among Israel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sefaria.org/Menachot.86b.8?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en|title=Menachot 86b:8|website=www.sefaria.org|access-date=4 July 2022|archive-date=3 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703054201/https://www.sefaria.org/Menachot.86b.8?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en|url-status=live}}</ref> It was called the ''ner hama'aravi'' (Western lamp) because of the direction of its wick. This lamp was also referred to as the ''ner Elohim'' (lamp of God), mentioned in I Samuel 3:3.<ref>{{bibleverse|1 Samuel|3:3}}</ref><ref name="Birnbaum366" /> According to the Talmud, the miracle of the ''ner hama'aravi'' ended after the High Priesthood of [[Simeon the Just|Simon the Just]] in the 3rd or 4th century BC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sefaria.org/Yoma.39a.15?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en|title=Yoma 39a:15|website=www.sefaria.org|access-date=4 July 2022|archive-date=3 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703050414/https://www.sefaria.org/Yoma.39a.15?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en|url-status=live}}</ref>

Contrary to some modern designs, the ancient menorah burned oil and did not contain anything resembling [[candle]]s, which were unknown in the Middle East until about 400 CE.