Artificial Intelligence From the Bible

The Lampstand
(Short and Long-term Memory, Anticipation, Sequence Learning and Pattern Completion)

Zechariah 4:1-14

Note: This interpretation is partially incorrect and subject to change at any time. See the latest news for more info. Last revision: May 18, 2005.

Introduction

Zechariah means "The Lord Remembers" in Hebrew. This is fitting since Zechariah's vision is a collection of metaphors describing the organization of the brain's memory system. The seven eyes on one stone (and the seven lamps) represent the seven-item capacity of working memory. Chapter 4 of Zechariah continues to expand on the metaphors of the previous chapter. We can now understand the mechanism of short-term memory and conscious attention. We learn that sequences are formed, not by Joshua but by the Branch.

Interpretation

4:1

Then the angel who was speaking with me returned and roused me, as a man who is awakened from his sleep.

And the angel who was speaking with me came again. Zechariah is keen to point out that this is the same angel that was speaking with him earlier. Why? It seems to imply that there are other angels standing by, not just the one who was talking to Zechariah. In other words, there are many sequences running (awake) simultaneously.

And roused me, as a man who is awakened from his sleep. For some strange reason, Zechariah falls asleep in the middle of the vision and has to be awakened by the angel. This has to be a parallel between the Sardis message and Zechariah's vision. Remember that the church of Sardis is repeatedly told to stay awake (to wake up or be watchful). In my opinion, being awake or being watchful symbolizes conscious attention. The ability to pay attention to certain things and not to others is a very important aspect of intelligent systems. Obviously, one cannot think of everything at the same time.

4:2

He said to me, What do you see? And I said, I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps on it with seven spouts belonging to each of the lamps which are on the top of it;

A lampstand all of gold with a bowl on the top of it, and his seven lamps on it. We have already encountered the metaphor of the seven lamps. In Revelation 4:5 and 5:6 we learned that the seven lamps are not only the seven spirits of God but also the seven eyes of the Lord. The same metaphor is mentioned in the message to the church of Sardis. My hypothesis is that the lamps/eyes/spirits symbolize seven sequential nodes which receive input signals from the sensory cortex (Smyrna and Ephesus) and from feedback. Elsewhere the eyes are said to be like flames of fire. These symbolize the rigorous testing (trial by fire) that takes place in the sensory cortex. There are seven inputs for each lampstand. My current interpretation is that the lampstand represents a single sequence of seven nodes which can be used directly for motor output. This means that memory is organized into sequences.

With seven spouts belonging to each of the lamps which are on the top of it. Another translation is, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof. The number of spouts (or pipes) is either seven, fourteen, or forty-nine depending on who is doing the translating. It now seems (I did not always think so) that there are seven pipes for each lamp on the lampstand. Why would a single lamp need seven pipes? In my opinion, it has to do with the seven eyes on one stone mentioned earlier in verse 3:9.

4:3

Also two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left side.

Also two olive trees by it. My interpretation is that the two olive trees are part of the short-term memory mechanism. One of their functions is to supply oil to the lampstand's bowl. The book of Revelation also mentions two olive trees:

Rev 11:3
And I will give authority to my two witnesses and they shall prophecy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.

And I will give authority to my two witnesses and they shall prophecy. The two witnesses (which are the two olive trees as seen in the next verse) are also prophets. This is highly significant because anticipation or prediction is one of the things one would suspect has to occur in memory.

For twelve hundred and sixty days. We have already seen that a day represents one cycle or about ten milliseconds. Apparently the two witnesses are not only prophesying but they do it for twelve hundred and sixty cycles. And while this is happening, the gentiles nations have taken over the outer courts of the temple. Interesting stuff. I think this means that short-term memory lasts 1260 cycles. Assuming a shortest cycle length  of 10 milliseconds, this means that short-term memory should last about 12.6 seconds or longer.

Clothed in sackcloth. I am not sure of the significance of this metaphor. Sackcloth symbolizes repentance. But why would the two witnesses need to repent? It is possible that, since they are the sons of fresh oil, they may have been unfaithful in their duties which is to keep the lampstand continually supplied with fresh oil. However, I rather suspect that the sackcloth is a symbol of the primary function of the two witnesses, which is to correct the misdeeds of the people.

Rev 11:4
These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.

Note that the two olive trees are standing before the Lord of the earth. Later in this chapter of Zechariah, in verse 4:14, we read that they stand by the Lord of the whole earth. I think this is significant, otherwise why the emphasis? My interpretation is that the two olive trees represent the internal thinking/reasoning mechanism of the left and right hemisphere of the brain, hence the reference to the Lord of the whole earth.

Note also that Revelation equates the two witnesses with the two olive trees and the two lampstands! I interpret this to mean that there are indeed two identical lampstands and that Zechariah's single lampstand is just a description of lampstands in general. The two lampstands apparently stand for the memory mechanism of the left and the right hemispheres of the brain.

One on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left side. This yin-yang, left-right duality obviously has an important symbolic meaning. Although the two lampstands are identical in composition, one is the complement or opposite of the other.

4:4

Then I said to the angel who was speaking with me saying, What are these, my lord?

The angel who was speaking with me. Again, notice the repeated emphasis on specifying a particular angel. The implication is that there were other angels standing around in Zechariah's vision, but only one of them talks to Zechariah. Why is this important? I think it is just a way of implying that the other angels are attending to other lampstands or sequences.

4:5

So the angel who was speaking with me answered and said to me, Do you not know what these are? And I said, No, my lord.

There may be some sort of symbolic significance to the back and forth dialog between Zechariah and the angel. I think that it may be a way to attract attention to the fact there are other angels standing by. But why would the angel ask Zechariah this question since the answer should be obvious?

4:6

Then he said to me, This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts.

This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel. The name Zerubbabel means "seed" or "branch of Babylon" in Akkadian and Hebrew.

Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit. I interpret this to mean that conscious memory is ultimately under the control of the spirit that is atached to the brain. It is the spirit that decides what to think about. It is obvious that we cannot build an artificial spirit but does this mean that we cannot build an intelligent yet unconscious machine? I believe we can. There are ways to control attention that do not necessitate a spirit. Attention can be dictated by motivation and when motivation is indecisive, random selection will do.

Note. One of my readers brought something important to my attention. Apparently there is some controversy among scholars about the placement of verses 6 to 10 within this chapter. Some think that the scribes whose job was to make copies of old manuscripts, may have unintentionally changed the order of these verses. Some scholars believe that that verses 6-10 should come after verse 14. The end result is that verse 6 would be a direct answer to Zechariah's question in verse 4 and 5. Verses 6 and 7 would then become:

4:6
These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range to and fro through the whole earth.

4:7
Then I said to him, What are these two olive trees on the right of the lampstand and on its left?

The verses would continue normally up to current verse 14, followed by current verses 6 to 10. I am not yet sure of the importance of this, if any.

4:7

What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of Grace, grace to it!

What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain. This implies that there are major difficulties facing Zerubbabel but he conquers them all. Is there a symbolic significance to this sentence within the context of the brain? I think that it may be pointing out that Zerubbabel has a major job to do: he must build the temple.

He will bring forth the top stone. Here again we see the metaphor of the stone which is used to build the house of God. But note that this time around, it is a top stone or capstone, which is the last and most important stone to be placed during construction. This must be the stone placed before Joshua the high priest.

With shouts of Grace, grace to it! Grace means forgiveness of sin. This seems to be referring to Joshua's sins being forgiven. And if Joshua's stone is the capstone, the other stones (which are implied) that are needed to build the temple must be those of his friends.

4:8

Also the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

4:9

The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.

The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will also finish it. This seems to indicate that Zerubbabel is involved in the building of entire the house of God from beginning to end. Joshua is not the builder but one of the stones used in the building. This is related to a few verses in chapter 6 of the book of Zechariah in which we are told that the real builder of the temple is the Branch:

6:11
Take silver and gold, make an ornate crown and set it on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest.

Take silver and gold, make an ornate crown and set it on the head of Joshua. In my opinion, the crown on Joshua's head is the same crown we find in the message to the church of Philadelphia. This is another indication that output signals from these nodes are used for motor output.

6:12
Then say to him, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Behold, a man whose name is Branch, for He will branch out from where He is; and He will build the temple of the LORD.

For He will branch out from where He is. Metaphorically this means that the Branch is used to link the stones (nodes) into a sequence. Notice that the translator decided to capitalize the H in the second 'He' in the sentence. The assumption made is that both instances of the pronoun He refer to the Branch. But is this justifiable within the context? In my opinion, it makes no sense to say that a branch branches out from itself. The context has to do with the previous verse which is about a crown being placed on Joshua's head. The more obvious implied meaning of the sentence should be as follows: For He (the Branch) will branch out from where He (Joshua) is.

6:13
Yes, it is He who will build the temple of the LORD, and He who will bear the honor and sit and rule on His throne. Thus, He will be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between the two offices.

Yes, it is He who will build the temple of the LORD. The Branch is obviously a metaphor for Zerubbabel (branch of Babylon) who was said earlier to be the builder of the temple.

He who will bear the honor and sit and rule on His throne. Thus, He will be a priest on His throne. The repeated mention of throne is important. The throne is in the temple of the LORD. We see the same throne mentioned in the message to church of Laodicea. This gives us a powerful indication that the church of Laodicea is also involved with motor control.

And the counsel of peace will be between the two offices. Another translation has it thus: "And there shall be harmony between the two." Still another is "And the two shall be in agreement." Given the context, 'the two' seems to be referring to Joshua and the Branch. I interpret this to mean that the two signals shall be in agreement, meaning that they should arrive together.

 

4:10

For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel--these are the eyes of the LORD which range to and fro throughout the earth.

These are the eyes of the LORD which range to and fro throughout the earth. It is obvious that "these seven" are the seven eyes on Joshua's stone. It seems that Zerubbabel is the one that strings the seven lamps (nodes) together to form a sequence. However, what does it mean for the seven eyes to be glad when they see the plumb line in the Hands of Zerubbabel? It must be rather important. I don't yet understand the metaphor but I suspect that it has to do with the timing of Joshua's friends.

4:11

Then I said to him, What are these two olive trees on the right of the lampstand and on its left?

The thing to note here is that the angel does not answer Zechariah's question. I believe this is because the answer is given in Revelation 11:4 as discussed above. The question is: Are the two olive trees the same as the two olive branches mentioned below?

4:12

And I answered the second time and said to him, What are the two olive branches which are beside the two golden pipes, which empty the golden oil from themselves?

Most Bible commentators think that the two olive branches are the two olive trees. I have my doubts. Why did not the angel answer Zechariah's question about the two olive trees? A branch is certainly not a tree. Notice also that the two olive branches are associated with two golden pipes. These were not mentioned before. What is the symbolic significance of the branches and the pipes? 

4:13

So he answered me, saying, Do you not know what these are? And I said, No, my lord.

Again, we see the angel asking Zechariah a seemingly silly question considering that the answer should be obvious. Perhaps this is how the angel chooses to express surprise at Zechariah's ignorance. Why would this surprise him? And if so, what is the symbolic significance of it? My experience is that, when it comes to metaphorical texts, every little detail is important. There must be a reason for this weird exchange. I need to think about this some more.

4:14

Then he said, These are the two anointed ones who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth.

These are the two anointed ones. The literal translation is: These are the two sons of fresh oil. When God commanded Moses to build and place a golden lampstand in the house of the Lord, he also commanded that the sons of the priests (the sons of Aaron and the other Levite priests) should replenish the lamp with oil so as to keep the seven lamps burning continually.

To be continued...

Tentative Memory Model

Check out the latest memory model based on these interpretations.

__

Next: The Flying Scroll