Ver. 38 And the tongs thereof Which, according to Jarchi, was a sort of forks with which they took the wicks out of the oil, and put them in the lamps; or, as some think, the snuffers, but they are distinguished from tongs, ( 1 Kings 7:491 Kings 7:50 ) and the snuffdishes thereof shall be of pure gold; in which the tongs or snuffers were put, or into which the snuff itself was put that was snuffed off. Jarchi says they were a sort of small cups, in which they put the ashes of the lamp, morning by morning, when they trimmed the lamps from the ashes of the wicks which burned in the night, and were extinct: so Ben Gersom and Lyra say they were vessels full of water where those were put which were snuffed off, that they might not make a smoke, which is not improbable.
36
Their capitals and their branches shall be of one piece with it, the whole of it one piece of hammered work of pure gold.
37
And you shall make the seven lamps for it; and the lamps shall be set up so as to give light upon the space in front of it.
38
Its snuffers and their trays shall be of pure gold.
39
Of a talent of pure gold shall it be made, with all these utensils.
40
And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which is being shown you on the mountain.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.