Exodus 25:29

And thou shalt make the dishes thereof— The dishes were patens, or a sort of charger wherein to put the shew bread; Numbers 7:13. The spoons, as appears from Numbers 7:14 were vases for containing incense; and therefore some think that, with the LXX, the word would have been rendered more properly censers, as, most likely, they were to hold the frankincense which was put upon the shew-bread; Leviticus 24:7. The covers thereof are sufficiently shewn, Exodus 37:16 to mean, according to the translation of the LXX, cups for libation, (see also Numbers 4:7.) and the bowls were large bowls or goblets, which contained the sacred liquor whereof the libation was to be made, and which was to be taken from the larger bowls by the smaller cups or vessels just mentioned. The four words might thus be rendered, the patens, and the censers thereof; and the cups, and the bowls thereof, wherewith they may make libation. Josephus mentions, that when Pompey went into the holy place, he saw there, among other vessels, σπονδεια, or cups for libation; and, as libations were made to God by pouring out wine before him in the holy place, (see Numbers 28:7.) so it is reasonable to believe that these bowls contained sacred wine, constantly kept upon the table, as it appears from the next verse that bread was constantly preserved there. Calmet informs us, from the Jewish traditions, that there was always a vessel full of excellent wine placed on the table with the shew-bread, and that, when the bread was changed, the wine was poured out as a libation before the Lord; and, probably, this table, with its furniture of bread and wine, might have been figurative of HIM who set forth in his own Person the meat and drink of eternal life for the food of true believers, and who always appears in the presence of his Father, to make intercession for us. Hebrews 9:24.

See commentary on Exodus 25:23