“When you light the candles, all seven flames should face the center of the Menora” (8:2).
The Ohr HaChaim cites the statement of Rav in the Gemora Shabbos 22 that the Menora served as a testimony that the Shechina dwells among Klal Yisrael. Surely the Menora’s purpose was not to give any light; proof for this is that for the forty years that Bnei Yisrael traveled in the desert, Hashem was their source of light. Obviously, the purpose of the Menora in the Bais HaMikdosh is not to give light. Rav explained that the testimony that the Menora gave was its miraculous Ner Maarovi, its westernmost candle, which contained the same exact measure of oil as all the other candles, yet always burned longer. The Kohen would always begin with that candle and end with that candle; it was an everlasting flame.
The Ohr HaChaim asks if the entire purpose of the Menora is for the miracle of the Ner Maarovi. If so, why do we need seven candles? For the flames of the candles to face the center you need only three candles: the center Ner Maarovi and one candle on either side. The Ohr HaChaim answers that a proper Menora needs seven candles and that this hints at a wondrous idea:
The seven candles represent the seventy nations of the world with Klal Yisrael at their center. All the nations face toward and illuminate Klal Yisrael and even when all their lights eventually fade and fail, still Klal Yisrael shines on and its flame never goes out.
Candles shine best at night, and night represents Golus, whereas the Geula is like the morning after. So too during exile, the nations shine brightest, but when the flames of the nations go out during the day of redemption, the light of Klal Yisrael endures and shines.
