What were the Neiros?
Rashi, Rashbam, Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: Lampholdefrs, into which they placed the oil and the wicks.
Why does the Torah change from the second person - "Ve'asisa" to the third person "Vehe'elah"?
Rashbam and Targum Yonasan: Because whereas "Ve'asisa" was said to Moshe, "Vehe'lah" refers to a Kohen. 1
See also Sifsei Chachamim, who, citing the Mizrachi, explains the latter half of the Pasuk with regard to the manufacturer, who should shape the lamp-holders in such a way that they point towards the middle.
What does the Torah mean when it writes "ve'He'ir el Eiver Panehah"?
Rashi and Seforno (in Pasuk 31): It means that the six lamps on top of the six branches should face the lamp on the center-shaft. 1
Rashbam and Hadar Zekenim: When kindling the Menorah, the Kohen should turn the seven wicks towards the Shulchan 2 to illuminate it.
Oznayim la'Torah (citing Menachos, 27): Whenever the Torah inserts the word "P'nei", it means the east, 3 in which case the Torah here means that - irrespective of whether the Menorah faced east to west or, north to south, the Kohen kindled the lamps with the wicks facing eastwards. 4
Hadar Zekenim: According to this, it should have said 'Ya'iru Shiv'as ha'Neros'!
Da'as Zekenim: Assuming it was aligned from east to west. If it was aligned from north to south, we must say that the middle lamp faced west, and that the other six lamps faced the center. It does not seem that it was to illuminates the Shulchan (for only the northern lamp faced it).
See Oznayim la'Torah who elaborates.
