And he put the lampstand in the tent of meeting is literally “And he placed the menorah in the ʾohel moʿed.” This, of course, refers to the tabernacle. (See the comment at verse 22 above.) Opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle means that it was the lampstand that was on the south side, since the table was already placed on the north side. Good News Translation avoids this confusion: “He put the lampstand in the Tent, on the south side, opposite the table.” Contemporary English Version reduces this to “The lampstand was put along the south wall.”

And set up the lamps is literally “and he caused the lamps to go up.” This is the same verb used in verse 4 above and in 25.37. (See the comment there.) Good News Translation here changes its rendering to “he lit the lamps,” which is another possible interpretation of the same Hebrew text (similarly New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and American Standard Version). But assuming that the lamps were not a part of the lampstand, it would follow that they would have to be “set in place” (Durham) before they could be lighted. It is better therefore to be consistent with the other references where this expression is used.

Before the LORD and as the LORD had commanded Moses are discussed at verse 23 above.

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .