So renders the common Hebrew conjunction. Here it is better translated “also” (Good News Translation, New International Version, Revised English Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible).

Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of the LORD: Although the Hebrew says that Solomon made the gold items that were in the Temple, it is not probable that he himself did the actual work. For this reason it may be better to use a causative form of the verb in some languages, that is, he had the vessels made. Compare Contemporary English Version: “Solomon gave orders to make the following temple furnishings out of gold.”

The golden altar, the golden table for the bread of the Presence: The altar (see 6.20, 22) and the table in the Temple were to be covered with gold as they had been in the Tent of the LORD’s presence (Exo 30.1-3; 25.23-30).

The bread of the Presence is literally “the bread of the face,” that is, bread placed before the face of God. Fresh bread was placed on the table each Sabbath (Lev 24.5-9). English translations often translate this as “the bread of the Presence” (Revised Standard Version/New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New International Version) or “the shewbread/showbread” (King James Version, New American Bible, Jewish Publication Version). Other translations include “the bread of display” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), “the loaves of permanent offering” (New Jerusalem Bible), and “the bread of offering” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible).

As noted in the heading to this section, the Hebrew structure emphasizes the word “gold.” A more literal translation of this verse reads “And Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of the LORD: the altar of gold, and the table which upon it the bread of the Presence, 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 .