Since the Most Holy Place and the altar are said to have been covered with gold, Contemporary English Version adds the word “also,” that is, “The creatures were also covered with gold.” In languages without passive verb forms, it may be necessary to translate “he [Solomon] had the cherubim covered with gold” or “he caused workers to wrap the cherubim with 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 .