In this portion, Moses is further told to instruct the Israelites to bring olive oil for lighting the lamps of the Tabernacle.  The lamps, which are to be the responsibility of the priests (Aaron and his sons), are to burn from evening to morning for all time.  Moses is told to ordain Aaron and his sons as priests.

Tetzaveh begins with the commandment to the Israelites to kindle the Tabernacle lights regularly.  The Hebrew phrase ner tamid used in this instruction has been transposed over time to refer not to an act to be performed perpetually, but to an object to be perpetually present.  Thus, the eternal light in our synagogues is there to maintain some sense of the original command found here regarding the light in the Tabernacle.  This command was later observed in the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem.