דברי הימים א, פרק כ״ח, פסוק ט״ו

Before handing over the kingdom to his son Solomon, King David provides him with precise blueprints and metal allotments for the Temple vessels, particularly the lighting fixtures. Unlike the Tabernacle, which housed only a single candelabra to fulfill the lighting requirement, the Temple demanded a much larger and more extensive lighting system [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. To achieve this, Solomon was to craft ten new gold candelabras, placing five to the right of Moses' original candelabra and five to the left [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. David established a precise weight for each individual fixture [רש״י, מצודת דוד]. Every gold candelabra weighed exactly the same, matching the standard of one talent established in the Torah [מלבי״ם]. Even the individual lamps, the receptacles that held the oil and wicks, were assigned their own specific weight in gold [רש״י, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The inclusion of silver candelabras in David's plans presents a historical puzzle. The original Tabernacle contained no decorated silver vessels, and later accounts of Solomon building the Temple never mention him crafting silver candelabras [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Commentators offer two main ways to understand this discrepancy. One approach suggests that these silver candelabras were indeed created, but they were not placed in the main Sanctuary. Instead, they were kept in the priests' chambers to provide light at night while the priests ate the holy offerings or went to sleep [רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. Another perspective argues that Solomon never actually made the silver fixtures. According to this view, David planned for them only because he did not know how wealthy his son would become. However, during Solomon's reign, silver became so common and abundant that it was no longer considered respectful enough for this sacred use [מלבי״ם].

The plans also dictated that the weight of the metals correspond directly to the specific use of each candelabra. This instruction is understood in several ways. It may refer to the weight of the accompanying service tools needed to maintain the light, such as the tongs and firepans [רש״י]. Alternatively, it means the weight of each candelabra was carefully determined to suit its particular structure and design [מצודת דוד]. A third approach views this as a legal distinction between the different types of candelabras. While the gold candelabras were required to maintain a strict, fixed weight of one talent, the silver candelabras were not bound by this rule. Therefore, the weight of the silver fixtures was not uniform, but rather varied according to the specific function assigned to each one [מלבי״ם].