וזה מעשה המנורה. הזכיר שלא נראה כמוהו: AND THIS WAS THE WORK OF THE CANDLESTICK. Scripture teaches that no such menorah was ever seen.7Scripture describes the menorah because it was a unique work of art. The menorah had already been described in Ex. 25:31-40. Hence I.E.’s comment.
מקשה. פירשתיו: BEATEN. I have already explained the meaning of mikshah (beaten).8“Mikshah means equal” (I.E. on Ex. 25:31, Vol. 2, p. 547). According to I.E. the various parts of the menorah were of equal size.
ירכה. הוא על הקנה שתעמוד עליו כי כן כתוב ירכה וקנה: THE BASE THEREOF. This refers to the shaft upon which it stood,9The shaft, to which the menorah’s branches were attached. for Scripture explicitly states, its base, and its shaft (Ex. 25:31).
פרחה. ידוע ולא היה כח בחרש חכם לעשותה כן לולי שהשם הראה אותה למשה במראה הנבואה: THE FLOWERS THEREOF. The meaning of the word pirchah (flowers thereof) is well known.10Hence there is no reason to explain it. If God had not shown Moses the menorah in a prophetic vision, then no wise craftsman would have had the ability to make the menorah described in Scripture.
כן עשה. שב אל משה והטעם בצווי וכן ועשית מנורת זהב: SO HE MADE. This refers to Moses. The meaning of made is, made by command.11Moses commanded a craftsman to make the menorah. The same applies to And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold (Ex. 25:31).
וטעם הסמך פרשת הלוים להורות כי אהרן יתעסק בהדלקת הנר ובשאר העבודות יעזרוהו הלוים ויעמדו לפניו לעשות מה שיצוה: The section dealing with the Levites follows the one dealing with the lighting of the menorah to teach us that Aaron shall occupy himself with the kindling of the lamps.12By himself, as stated in verse 2. However, the Levites shall assist him in the other services and shall stand before him to do all that he commands.13See verse 19.