Another matter, “when you kindle” – you find that Moses encountered difficulty in the crafting of the candelabrum more than he did with all the [other] Tabernacle vessels, until the Holy One blessed be He showed him with His finger. Likewise, regarding the hoofs of a kosher and non-kosher animal, as it is stated: “This is the beast that you shall eat” (Leviticus 11:2); “this you shall not eat” (Leviticus 11:4), and He showed him with His finger.
Likewise, regarding the [new] moon: “This month is for you” (Exodus 12:2). Likewise regarding the candelabrum: “This is the crafting of the candelabrum, hammered [miksha] gold” (Numbers 8:4). In other words, how difficult [kasha] it is to craft, as Moses toiled greatly in its regard. Since he encountered difficulty, the Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Take a gold talent, cast it into the fire, remove it, and it will be crafted on its own,’ as it is stated: Its knobs and its flowers, its cups, and its shaft “were from it” (Exodus 37:17).
He would strike with the hammer and it would be crafted on its own. That is why it says: “Hammered it shall be crafted [tei’aseh]” (Exodus 25:31); it is written with a yod and it is not written te’aseh,1Without a yod. See the Minhat Shay Exodus 25:31, who writes that in some books the yod appears in the word and in some it does not. In other words, it shall be crafted on its own.
Moses took the talent and cast it into the fire. Moses said: ‘Master of the universe, the talent is in the fire. Just as You will it, so it will be crafted.’ Immediately, the candelabrum emerged, crafted in accordance with its specifications.
That is why it is written: “Like the vision that the Lord showed Moses” (Numbers 8:4); “so Moses crafted the candelabrum” is not written here, but rather, “so was it made” without elaboration. Who crafted it? It was the Holy One blessed be He. That is why the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘If you cautioned them to kindle it before Me, I will protect your souls from all evil matters,’ as souls were likened to lamps, as it is stated: “The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord” (Proverbs 20:27). And it is stated: “When you kindle the lamps.”