The lampstands of pure gold, five on the south side and five on the north, before the inner sanctuary: The ten lampstands were also to be made of gold as was the lampstand that had been in the Tent of the LORD’s presence (Exo 25.31-40). The lampstands were probably stands that were cylindrical in shape with their tops and bottoms flaring out. These lampstands were placed before the inner sanctuary (see 1 Kgs 6.16-17), that is, in the room in front of the Most Holy Place. For pure gold, see the comments at 1 Kgs 6.20.

The same kind of solution as in verse 39 may be used here if the expressions south side and north side present problems in the receptor language; for example, “… five to the right of the entrance to the Most Holy Place and five to the left of the entrance.”

The Hebrew word rendered flowers is actually singular, but undoubtedly has a collective meaning, so it may be rendered as a plural. This refers to the flower-shaped ornaments on the lampstands (compare Exo 25.31, 33). In order to make it clear that these were not real flowers, some translators may wish to specify “gold flowers” or “flower decorations made of gold.”

The lamps on the lampstands were made of ceramic. They were fitted with wicks made of flax and fueled with olive oil.

Regarding the Hebrew noun rendered tongs, see the comments on verse 50.

A more literal translation of this verse will show the emphatic position of the word “gold” in Hebrew; for example, “and the lampstands, five on the south side and five on the north before the inner sanctuary, pure gold; and the flowers and the lamps and the tongs, gold.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .