Midrasch zu Schemot 27:21

R. Meir declared that the Holy One, blessed be He, said: The lamps that Aaron lights are more precious to Me than the luminaries that I placed in heaven. Why was he permitted to perform that act? At the time the heads of the tribes brought the dedicatory offering to the altar, the tribe of Levi was not called upon to bring a sacrifice and Aaron was deeply distressed. He said: All the chiefs of the tribes brought a dedicatory offering, but I have had no share in the sacrifices. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: Be assured, all the other tribes will bring only one offering, but you alone will perform the dedication before the veil, which is without the curtain of testimony in the Tent of Meeting, for Aaron and his sons shall set it in order (Exod. 27:21). Scripture states in reference to the above verse: Lord, Thou hast heard the desire of the humble (Ps. 10:17). Therefore, though the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses: Thou shalt command, it is written later that Aaron and his sons shall set it in order. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses: Command the children of Israel to bring the oil so that Aaron may light it before Me.

(Exod. 27:21:) IN THE TENT OF MEETING OUTSIDE THE VEIL <… AARON AND HIS SONS SHALL SET IT (the lamp) UP>. Lest your <evil> drive mislead you, saying: He needs light, see what is written (ibid.): OUTSIDE THE VEIL.¹⁶Tanh., Exod. 8:7. The menorah only needed to be put inside of the veil with the ark, but it was put OUTSIDE THE VEIL in order to inform you that he does not need a light. Why did he tell you <to set it up>? Because you are worthy of the light. Another interpretation: By universal custom, <when> a king of flesh and blood makes himself a couch and table, he sets the menorah to his left; but it was not like this in the Temple. Instead the menorah was placed to the right of the table in order to inform you that he does not need a lamp of yours. Why did he tell you <to set it up>? To give you light in the world to come, when darkness shall come upon the peoples of the world, as stated (in Is. 60:2): FOR BEHOLD DARKNESS SHALL COVER THE EARTH, AND THICK CLOUDS THE PEOPLES. THEN THE LORD WILL SHINE UPON YOU AND HIS GLORY WILL APPEAR OVER YOU.

In the tent of meeting, without the veil (Exod. 27:21). In case you are inclined to assert that He required the light, the menorah was placed before the curtain near the ark, outside of the veil. This was to demonstrate to you that He did not require the light supplied by man. Usually, when a human king constructs a bed and a table, he places a lamp on the table at his left side, but in the Temple, the Menorah was placed at the right of the table, as it is said: And thou shalt set the table without the veil, and the candlestick over against the table (Exod. 26:35). This was done to teach you that He does not require your light. It was instituted solely for your sake, so that the world would be illumined in the future, when darkness descends upon the nations of the world, as it is said: For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples; but upon thee the Lord will arise, and His glory shall be seen upon thee (Isa. 60:2).

10) (Shemoth 27:21) "Aaron and his sons shall order it" (as opposed to "Aaron shall order it.") What is the intent of this? (i.e., How are the verses to be reconciled?) Because it is written (Bamidbar 8:2) "The seven lamps shall give light towards the face of the menorah," I might think that one Cohein (Aaron) enters with seven lamps; it is, therefore, written "to raise a flame always." I might then think that one Cohein does not enter with seven lamps, but that seven Cohanim enter with seven lamps; it is, therefore, written "Aaron and his sons shall order it," — Aaron and his sons order it only one by one (i.e., one after the other).