The weight of gold for each table for the showbread: The construction of the gold … table for the showbread is described in Exo 25.23-30. This table was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold. Only here and in 2 Chr 4.19 is there mention of more than one table for the loaves of bread offered to God. Therefore a few versions refer to only one table for the bread; for example, New Living Translation says “He designated the amount of gold for the table on which the Bread of the Presence would be placed,” and Contemporary English Version has “the gold table which held the sacred loaves of bread.” However, translators should translate the plural both here and in 2 Chr 4.19. For the showbread, see the comments on 1 Chr 9.32. Good News Translation says “the loaves of bread offered to God.”

The silver for the silver tables: Silver tables are mentioned only here in the Old Testament lists concerning the items for the interior of the Temple. Nothing is said regarding how they were used in the Temple. Since the gold tables seem to have been made of wood and covered with gold, the silver tables were probably also made of wood and covered with silver. Contemporary English Version says “the tables made of silver,” but it is better to say “the tables covered with silver.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .