This was the construction of the stands: This introductory statement may be left implicit in certain languages (so Good News Translation). The context will make it clear that what follows is a statement about how these carts were constructed. The description that follows through verse 37 is not at all clear. These verses contain repetition and information that seems contradictory.

They had panels: Four panels made the bottom part of each cart, so that it had the appearance of a box on wheels. These were probably flat bronze sheets that were square. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh translates “insets.” Apparently the Hebrew word refers to some kind of enclosure. Other versions speak of “borders” (New Revised Standard Version), but “borders within frames” are difficult to picture.

The panels were set in the frames: The frames were like picture frames surrounding the panels on all four sides.

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 .