1. “Lamp” would be a better word here than “candle,” since oil is what was used for illuminating purposes in Palestine. Though frequent reference is made in Scripture to the lamp, no description of it is given. Many ancient lamps of various shapes and material have been preserved to the present time, and doubtless give some idea of the sort of lamp used in our Saviour’s time. The Egyptian monuments have also representations of still earlier lamps, such as were probably used by the Hebrews.
The common lamps among the Greeks and Romans were made of clay, the more costly ones of bronze, and even sometimes of gold. Some of these were very beautiful. Most of the lamps were oval in shape and flat on top, on which there were often figures in relief.
A wick floated in the oil or passed through holes in the lamp. The lamps received different names according to the number of holes which they had for the wicks.
See Job 18:66The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him. (Job 18:6); Proverbs 31:1818She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. (Proverbs 31:18); Jeremiah 25:1010Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle. (Jeremiah 25:10); Zephaniah 1:1212And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil. (Zephaniah 1:12); Luke 15:88Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? (Luke 15:8). See further note on Matthew 25:33They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: (Matthew 25:3) (#708).
2. Mόὁιος “bushel,” represents the chief Roman dry-measure, the modius. Its capacity is reckoned at nearly one peck, English measure.
3. The candlestick or lamp-stand was as varied in shape and quality as the lamp. The rudest sort was to be found sometimes in houses with mud walls, where, in building up the wall, a portion of the clay was suffered to bulge out into the room at a suitable height. It was then hollowed; and, when the house was finished, the hollow was filled with oil, and a wick was made to float in it.
This contrivance combined lamp and lamp-stand in one utensil. The ordinary lamp-stands were made of wood; the better kinds, of bronze. They were of various heights, and some of them of very beautiful form and workmanship. The lamp-stand is also referred to in Revelation 2:55Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. (Revelation 2:5).