מדרש אויף יחזקאל 40:16

(Numb. 8:2:) “When you set up the lamps.” What is written above the matter (in Numb. 7:1–2)? “So it came to pass on the day that Moses had finished [ … ] that the princes of Israel, [the heads of their ancestral houses, namely the princes of the tribes, the ones in charge of those being numbered,] made their offerings.” Then afterwards (in Numb. 8:2), “Speak unto Aaron [and say unto him], ’When you set up [the lamps].’”¹²Numb. R. 15:6. This text is related (to Ps. 34:10), “Fear the Lord, O you His holy ones, for those who fear Him lack nothing.” You find above (in Numb. 7) that eleven tribes made offerings, while the tribe of Levi made no offering. So while the tribe of Ephraim made offerings and all of the princes made offerings, the prince of Levi [did not]. Now who was the prince of Levi? This was Aaron, as stated (in Numb. 17:18), “And you shall write the name of Aaron upon the rod of Levi.” So Aaron did not make an offering with the princes, for he said, “Woe to me! Perhaps it is because of me that the Holy One, blessed be He, is not accepting the tribe of Levi.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moshe, “Go, say unto Aaron, ‘Do not be afraid. You are destined for something greater than this.’” It is therefore written (in Numb. 8:2), “Speak unto Aaron [...], ‘When you are raised.’” The offerings remain in force as long as the Temple exists, but the lamps are forever (according to Numb. 8:2 cont.) “in front of the menorah.” Moreover, all the blessings which I have given you to bless My children shall never pass away. Another interpretation (of Numb. 8:2 cont.), “in front of the menorah.” So that you will not despise this menorah. It is so stated (in Zech. 4:10), “For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice to see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel, [even] these seven [...].” This is the menorah. And what are “[these] seven?” These are the seven lamps corresponding to the seven planets that (ibid. cont.) “roam around all the earth.”¹³Numb. R. 15:7. These seven likewise are dear to Me. Thus you may not despise them. It is therefore written (in Numb. 8:2:) “let the seven lamps give their light in front of the menorah.” Lest your [evil] drive lead you astray into saying that He (i.e. The Holy One, blessed be He) has need of light, [see] what is written about the windows of the Temple (in Ezek. 40:16, 25), “Now there were narrow windows into the cells [...]. Like the windows (kehahallonot) mentioned above.” "Kahallonot"¹⁴The midrash is explaining an extra he (h) which does not belong there. is not written here but "kehahallonot" (understood here as kehah halonot which means "dim windows"), in that they were wide on the outside and narrow on the inside in order to send forth light to the outside.¹⁵Above, Numb. 3:2. R. Berekhyah the Priest said, “This lightning is the result of fire from on high. When it goes forth it brightens up the whole world, as stated (in Ezek. 1:13), ‘As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like coals of fire burning with the appearance of torches … [and from the fire there went forth lightning],’ and it brightens up the whole world. And I would need your light? [So] why did I tell to you to give Me light? Simply in order to exalt you (ha'alotekha),¹⁶Cf. Numb. 8:2: WHEN YOU SET UP THE LAMPS (ha‘alotekha). as stated (in Numb. 8:2), ‘When you set up (beha'alotekha).’” R. Hanina said, “Concerning your own eyes they have within them both black and white. Still you see not out of the white but out of the black. [Now if in the case of your eyes, which have within them both black and white, but with you seeing only out of the black], would the Holy One, blessed be He, who is all light need your light?” Another interpretation (of Numb. 8:2 cont.), “in front of the menorah.” Flesh and blood lights a lamp from a burning lamp. Could one [ever] light a lamp from the darkness? The Holy One, blessed be He, however, did make a lamp give light from the darkness, as stated (in Gen. 1:2), “with darkness upon the face of the deep.” What is written after that (in vs. 3)? “Then God said, ‘Let there be light.’” [Since] I have brought light out of the darkness, do I have need for your light? So why did I say [to light lamps]? Simply to exalt you (rt.: 'lh), (in the words of Exod. 27:20) “to set up (rt.: 'lh) an everburning lamp.”

Another interpretation (of Numb. 8:2 cont.): LET THE SEVEN LAMPS GIVE THEIR LIGHT IN FRONT OF THE MENORAH, so that you will not despise this menorah. It is so stated (in Zech. 4:10): FOR WHOEVER HAS DESPISED THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS SHALL REJOICE TO SEE THE PLUMMET IN THE HAND OF ZERUBBABEL, <EVEN> THESE SEVEN. What are <THESE> SEVEN? These are the seven planets, in that (ibid. cont.:) THEY ROAM AROUND ALL THE EARTH.¹⁶Tanh. Numb. 3:5 cont.; Numb. R. 15:7. (Numb. 8:2:) LET THE SEVEN LAMPS GIVE THEIR LIGHT. These seven likewise are dear to him. Thus you may not despise them. It is therefore written (in Numb. 8:2:) LET THE SEVEN LAMPS GIVE THEIR LIGHT IN FRONT OF THE MENORAH, lest your <evil> drive lead you astray into saying that he (i.e. the Holy One) has need of light. See what written about light, <i.e.> about the windows of the temple (in Ezek. 40:16, 25): NOW THERE WERE NARROW WINDOWS INTO THE CELLS […. LIKE THE WINDOWS (kehahallonot) MENTIONED ABOVE]. "Behallonot"¹⁷The traditional Tanhuma Numb. 3:5 reads kahallonot, which is probably the correct reading. The midrash is explaining an extra he (h) which does not belong there. is not written here but "kehahallonot" (understood here as kehah halonot which means "dim windows"), in that they were wide on the outside and narrow on the inside in order to send forth light to the outside.¹⁸Above, Numb. 3:2. R. Berekhyah the Priest [Berabbi] said: This lightning is the result of fire from on high. When it goes forth it brightens up the whole world, as stated (in Ezek. 1:13): AS FOR THE LIKENESS OF THE LIVING CREATURES, [THEIR APPEARANCE WAS LIKE COALS OF FIRE BURNING WITH THE APPEARANCE OF TORCHES … AND FROM THE FIRE THERE WENT FORTH LIGHTNING]. The Holy One said: I have no need of your light. [So why did I tell to you <to give me light>]? Simply in order to exalt you (ha'alotekha).¹⁹Cf. Numb. 8:2: WHEN YOU SET UP THE LAMPS (ha‘alotekha).

Another matter, “toward the front of the candelabrum, the seven lamps shall illuminate” – you must not demean the candelabrum.³Do not think that the candelabrum is superfluous since God does not need the light. That is: “For who scorns the day of small things? They will rejoice and see the tin lump of the plumb line in the hand of Zerubavel. These seven…” (Zechariah 4:10). “These” – these are the candelabrum. “Seven,” – these are the seven lamps, corresponding to the seven planets that “rove throughout the earth” (Zechariah 4:10). They are so dear, you must not demean them.
This is why it is stated: “Toward the front of the candelabrum, the seven lamps shall illuminate” – so your inclination will not mislead you to say that He needs the light. See what is written regarding the windows: “There were narrowing windows for the cells and for their pillars from within…and likewise for the halls…like those windows [kehaḥalonot]” (Ezekiel 40:16, 25). Kaḥalonot is not written here, but rather kehaḥalonot,⁴This is an allusion to the fact that they shall be opaque (kehot), that light would not enter through them. that they shall be wide from without and narrow from within, so they can cause the light to emerge outward.
Rabbi Berekhya HaKohen said in the study hall of Rabbi: This lightning is a product of the supernal fire, and it emerges and illuminates the entire world, as it is stated: “The likeness of the creatures, their appearance was like fiery coals, burning like the appearance of torches…and from the fire, lightning would emerge” (Ezekiel 1:13), and illuminate the entire world, and I need your light? Why, then, did I say it to you? It is in order to elevate you.
Rabbi Ḥanina said: The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘The eyes that you possess have in them white and black, and you do not see through the white, but rather, through the black. If your eyes, that have in them black and white, you see only through the black, the Holy One blessed be He, who is completely light, does He need your light?’
Another matter, “toward the front of the candelabrum” – flesh and blood kindles from a kindled lamp. Could he, perhaps, kindle from darkness? It is stated: “Darkness upon the face of the deep” (Genesis 1:2). What is written thereafter? “God said: Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3). [God said:] ‘From the darkness I produced light, and I need your light? I said it to you only to elevate you: “to kindle a lamp continually”’ (Exodus 27:20).