Another matter, “when you kindle” – that is what the verse said: “Even darkness does not darken for You, and night, like day, illuminates. Darkness and light are the same” (Psalms 139:12), and to us, He says: “When you kindle”? To what is the matter comparable? It is to a king who had a beloved one.
The king said to him: ‘Know that I will be dining with you; go and prepare for me.’ His beloved went and prepared a common bed, a common lamp, and a common table. When the king came, his attendants came with him, they encircled him from this side and that side, with a golden lamp before him. When his beloved saw all the grandeur, he was ashamed, and hid everything that he had prepared for him, as it was all for commoners.
The king said to him: ‘Did I not say to you that I am dining with you? Why did you not prepare anything for me?’ His beloved said to him: ‘I saw all this grandeur that came with you, and I was ashamed and hid everything that I had prepared, as they were common vessels.’ The king said: ‘As you live, I reject everything that I brought, and due to my love for you, I will use only yours.’
Likewise, the Holy One blessed be He is all light, as it is stated: “And the light rests with Him” (Daniel 2:22). He said to Israel: ‘Prepare for Me a candelabrum and lamps.’ What is written there? “They shall craft a Sanctuary for Me and I will dwell in their midst” (Exodus 25:8).
“You shall craft a candelabrum of pure gold” (Exodus 25:31).When they crafted it, the Divine Presence came. What is written there? “Moses was unable to enter the Tent of Meeting” (Exodus 40:35). Immediately, He called to Moses: “When Moses came into the Tent of Meeting to speak with Him, he heard the Voice speaking with him” (Numbers 7:89). What did He speak with him? “When you kindle the lamps.”