17 And he made the candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work made he the candlestick; his shaft, and his branch, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, were of the same:

18 And six branches going out of the sides thereof; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side thereof, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side thereof:

19 Three bowls made after the fashion of almonds in one branch, a knop and a flower; and three bowls made like almonds in another branch, a knop and a flower: so throughout the six branches going out of the candlestick.

20 And in the candlestick were four bowls made like almonds, his knops, and his flowers:

21 And a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches going out of it.

22 Their knops and their branches were of the same: all of it was one beaten work of pure gold.

23 And he made his seven lamps, and his snuffers, and his snuffdishes, of pure gold.

24 Of a talent of pure gold made he it, and all the vessels thereof.

I am no expert, but it seems to me that the crafting of the golden candlestick may have been the most impressive work done in the creation of the temple. Note that it says it was a “beaten work.” This means that the candlestick was hammered into shape, not cast from a mold.

Casting from a mold would have greatly simplified the creation of the candlestick, as it would have allowed the mold to be designed from softer materials, and each mold could be used to cast multiple branches. But casting would have required a very powerful forge to melt the metals down to liquid form, something the Israelites were unlikely to have in their nomadic lifestyle. Thus, hammering was likely the only viable option.

The process of hammering gold is to heat the material until it becomes soft, and then beating it with a hammer, slowly stretching, dividing, and forming it into the shape of the candlestick. Every branch would have to be shaped individually. Every minute detail of almonds and flowers meticulously hammered with tiny strikes. Every symmetry verified by eye and measurement.

Clearly it would take a great master to create something of beauty and symmetry. It would require the patience, passion, and attention to detail that every disciple ought to strive for in his service of the Lord.