The beginning of chapter 8 of Numbers records instructions from God that Moses is to relay to Aaron:
"Speak to Aaron and say to him, When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand" (verse 2).
Once the lamps were lit, they illuminated the bread of the presence on the adjacent table. Michael Morales observes that this is sort of a visual representation of the Aaronic blessing. Through the mediation of the high priest, God's face (represented by the menorah) shines on the twelve tribes, represented by the bread of the presence. So the light from the menorah represents God's blessing of the nation and the work of the high priest on behalf of the nation.
It is interesting to ask why this particular instruction to Aaron is mentioned at this particular juncture in the narrative. After all, similar instruction about the menorah has already been given in Exodus 27:20-21 and Lev 24:1-4.
One answer is that Numbers 8:1-4 is a natural follow up to the gifts of the tribes to the Levites and the altar described in Numbers 7. The oil for the lamp is an ongoing gift from all the tribes to the work of the tabernacle, so Numbers 8:1-4 is connected to Numbers 7.
On the other hand, the menorah passage is followed by a description of the cleansing of the Levites in the rest of Numbers 8, so verses 1-4 fits right into a discussion of the work of the tribe of Levi on behalf of the nation. Numbers 8:1-4 is a sort of "hinge" making the transition from Numbers 7 to Numbers 8.
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