Reference: Laver
American
A large circular vessel, cast from the polished brass mirrors contributed by the Hebrew women, and placed between the door of the tabernacle and the altar of burnt-offering, with water for the necessary sacred ablutions, Ex 30:18-21; 28:8; 40:7; 30-32.
For the temple of Solomon, besides the vast brazen sea for the use of the priests, (see SEA,) ten lavers were made for cleansing the sacrifices, 2Ch 4:6. Each laver contained about three hundred gallons, and was supported above a highly elaborate and beautiful base, 1Ki 7:27-39. They were stationed within the court of the priests, in front of the temple, five on each side. See TEMPLE.
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And the girdle of the ephod shall be of the same workmanship and of the same stuff: even of gold, jacinth, scarlet, purple and twined bysse.
"Thou shalt make a laver of brass and his foot also of brass to wash withal, and shalt put it between the tabernacle of witness and the altar and put water therein: that Aaron and his sons may wash both their hands and their feet thereout, read more. when they go into the tabernacle of witness, or when they go unto the altar to minister and to burn the LORD's offering, lest they die. And it shall be an ordinance forever unto him and his seed among your children after you."
and set the laver between the tabernacle of witness, and the altar, and put water therein,
And he made ten bottoms of brass, four cubits long and four cubits broad apiece, and three high. And the works of the bottoms was on this manner that the sides were as it were flat boards between the ledges. read more. And on the flat boards between the ledges were lions, oxen and Cherubs. And upon the ledges that were above and beneath the lions and oxen, was joined pendant work. And every bottom had four brazen wheels, whose axletrees were also of brass. And in the four corners were undersetters under the laver cast, each over against his fellow. And the stalk of the laver was in the middle of the bottom one cubit high, and a cubit and a half round, and it had knops thereon in the bare places which were foursquare not round. And under the sides were four wheels and their axletrees joined fast to the bottom. And the height of every wheel was a cubit and a half. And the workmanship of the wheels was like the work of a chariot wheel. And the axletrees, the navels, spokes and shafts were all molten. And the four undersetters in the four corners were of the very bottoms. And under the stalk of the laver in the midst of the bottom was there a round foot of half a cubit high. And thereon, plain places and ledges of the self. And he graved in the plain and also on the ledges, Cherubs, lions and palm trees, everywhere round about. And on this manner he made the ten bottoms cast work: all of one measure and one size. Then he made ten lavers of brass containing forty baths apiece, and they were of four cubits apiece, for every one of the bottoms a laver. And he put five of those bottoms on the right corner of the temple, and other five on the left: And put the sea on the right corner of the temple Eastward and toward the South.
And he made ten lavers: and put five on the right hand and five on the left, to wash with all. And in them they thrust the flesh of the burnt offerings. But the sea was for the priests to wash in.
Easton
(Heb kiyor), a "basin" for boiling in, a "pan" for cooking (1Sa 2:14), a "fire-pan" or hearth (Zec 12:6), the sacred wash-bowl of the tabernacle and temple (30/18/type/mstc'>Ex 30:18,28; 31:9; 35:16; 38:8; 39:39; 40:7,11,30, etc.), a basin for the water used by the priests in their ablutions.
That which was originally used in the tabernacle was of brass (rather copper; Heb nihsheth), made from the metal mirrors the women brought out of Egypt (Ex 38:8). It contained water wherewith the priests washed their hands and feet when they entered the tabernacle (Ex 40:32). It stood in the court between the altar and the door of the tabernacle (Ex 30:19,21).
In the temple there were ten lavers used for the sacrifices, and the molten sea for the ablutions of the priests (2Ch 4:6). The position and uses of these are described 1Ki 7:23-39; 2Ch 4:6. The "molten sea" was made of copper, taken from Tibhath and Chun, cities of Hadarezer, king of Zobah (1Ch 18:8; 1Ki 7:23-26).
No lavers are mentioned in the second temple.
Illustration: Laver
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"Thou shalt make a laver of brass and his foot also of brass to wash withal, and shalt put it between the tabernacle of witness and the altar and put water therein: that Aaron and his sons may wash both their hands and their feet thereout,
And it shall be an ordinance forever unto him and his seed among your children after you."
and the altar of burnt sacrifice and all his vessels, and the laver and his foot.
and the altar of burnt offerings with all his vessels, and the laver with his foot,
the altar of burnt sacrifices and his brazen gridiron that longeth thereto with his staves and all his ordinance and the laver and his foot;
And he made the laver of brass and the foot of it also of brass, in the sight of them that did watch before the door of the tabernacle of witness.
And he made the laver of brass and the foot of it also of brass, in the sight of them that did watch before the door of the tabernacle of witness.
and the brazen altar, and the gridiron of brass longing thereunto with his bars and all his vessels, and the laver with his foot,
and set the laver between the tabernacle of witness, and the altar, and put water therein,
And anoint also the laver and his foot, and sanctify it.
And he set the laver between the tabernacle of witness and the altar, and poured water therein to wash with all.
both when they went into the tabernacle of witness, or when they went to the altar, as the LORD commanded Moses.
and thrust it into the pan, kettle, cauldron or pot. And all that the flesh hook brought up the priest took away. And so they did unto all Israel that came thither to Shiloh.
Then he cast a sea of brass, ten cubits wide from brim to brim and round in compass, and five cubits high. And a string of thirty cubits might compass it about, and under the brim of it as it were apples compassed and embraced the sea of ten cubits wide in two rows cast with it when it was cast. read more. And it stood on twelve oxen: of which three looked North, three West, three South, and three East, and the sea on high upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward. And it was a hand breadth thick, and the brim wrought like the brim of a cup with flowers of lilies. And it contained two thousand baths. And he made ten bottoms of brass, four cubits long and four cubits broad apiece, and three high. And the works of the bottoms was on this manner that the sides were as it were flat boards between the ledges. And on the flat boards between the ledges were lions, oxen and Cherubs. And upon the ledges that were above and beneath the lions and oxen, was joined pendant work. And every bottom had four brazen wheels, whose axletrees were also of brass. And in the four corners were undersetters under the laver cast, each over against his fellow. And the stalk of the laver was in the middle of the bottom one cubit high, and a cubit and a half round, and it had knops thereon in the bare places which were foursquare not round. And under the sides were four wheels and their axletrees joined fast to the bottom. And the height of every wheel was a cubit and a half. And the workmanship of the wheels was like the work of a chariot wheel. And the axletrees, the navels, spokes and shafts were all molten. And the four undersetters in the four corners were of the very bottoms. And under the stalk of the laver in the midst of the bottom was there a round foot of half a cubit high. And thereon, plain places and ledges of the self. And he graved in the plain and also on the ledges, Cherubs, lions and palm trees, everywhere round about. And on this manner he made the ten bottoms cast work: all of one measure and one size. Then he made ten lavers of brass containing forty baths apiece, and they were of four cubits apiece, for every one of the bottoms a laver. And he put five of those bottoms on the right corner of the temple, and other five on the left: And put the sea on the right corner of the temple Eastward and toward the South.
And from Tibhath and Cun, cities of Hadadezer, brought David exceeding much brass. Wherewith Solomon made the brazen sea and the pillars and the vessels of brass.
And he made ten lavers: and put five on the right hand and five on the left, to wash with all. And in them they thrust the flesh of the burnt offerings. But the sea was for the priests to wash in.
In that time will I make the princes of Judah like a hot burning oven with wood, and like a cresset of fire among the straw: so that they shall consume all the people round about them, both upon the righthand and the left. Jerusalem also shall be inhabited again: namely, in the same place where Jerusalem standeth.
Fausets
It and the altar stood in the court of the tabernacle. Consisting of the laver itself and a base, both of brass. In it the priests were bound to wash their hands and feet in approaching the altar and entering the tabernacle, on pain of death. Constructed of the polished metallic looking glasses which the devout women (assembling at the door of the tabernacle of God's meeting His people) offered, renouncing the instrument of personal vanity for the sake of the higher beauties of holiness. The word of God is at once a mirror wherein to see ourselves and God's image reflected, and the means of sanctifying or cleansing (2Co 3:18; Jas 1:23-25; Eph 5:26; Ex 30:18-19; 38:8). The women made a like sacrifice of ornaments ("tablets," rather armlets) for the Lord's honour (Ex 35:22). On solemn occasions the priest had to bathe his whole person (Ex 29:4; Le 16:4). The kiyor, "laver," was probably the reservoir; the base received and held water from it, and was the place for washing.
Thus, the water was kept pure until drawn off for use. In Solomon's temple there was one great brazen "sea" for the priests to wash in, and ten lavers on bases which could be wheeled about, for washing the animal victims for burnt offering, five on the N., five on the S. sides of the priests' courts; each contained 40 "baths" (1Ki 7:27,39; 2Ch 4:5-6). Ahaz mutilated the bases; and Nebuzaradan carried away the remainder (2Ki 16:17; 25:13). No lavers are mentioned in the second or Herod's temple. Solomon's "molten sea" was made of the copper captured from Tibhath and Chun, cities of Hadarezer king of Zobah (1Ch 18:8), five cubits high, ten diameter, 30 circumference; one hand-breadth thick; containing 3,000 baths according to Chronicles, but 2,000 in Kings; 2,000 is probably correct, Chronicles reading is a transcriber's error.
It is thought that it bulged out below, but contracted at the mouth to the dimensions in 1Ki 7:23-26. A double row of gourds ("knops"), 5 + 5 or 10 in each cubit, ran below the brim. The brim or lip was wrought curving outward like a lily or lotus flower. Layard describes similar vessels at Nineveh, of smaller size. The 12 oxen represent the 12 tribes of Israel the priestly nation, which cleansed itself here in the person of its priests to appear holy before the Lord. The sacrificial animals, the oxen, represent the priestly service.
The "oxen" in 2Ch 4:3 instead of "gourds" or "knops" in Kings is a transcriber's error. The "holy water" in the trial of jealousy (Nu 5:17), and in consecrating the Levites by purifying and sprinkling, was probably from the laver (Nu 8:7); type of the true and efficacious sprinkling of Christ's blood on the conscience (Heb 9:9-10; 10:22; Tit 3:5; Eph 5:26); not to be so washed entails eternal death. The hands and feet need daily cleansing, expressing those members in general most exposed to soils; but the whole body needs but once for all "bathing" (Greek louoo), just as once for all regeneration needs not repetition, but only the removal of partial daily "stains" (Greek niptoo). Joh 13:1-10, "he that is bathed has no need save to wash (the parts soiled, namely,) his feet."
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And bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of witness, and wash them with water,
"Thou shalt make a laver of brass and his foot also of brass to wash withal, and shalt put it between the tabernacle of witness and the altar and put water therein: that Aaron and his sons may wash both their hands and their feet thereout,
And the men came with the women - even as many as were willing hearted - and brought bracelets, earrings, rings and girdles and all manner jewels of gold; and all the men that waved wave offerings of gold unto the LORD;
And he made the laver of brass and the foot of it also of brass, in the sight of them that did watch before the door of the tabernacle of witness.
And he shall put the holy linen alb upon him, and shall have a linen breech upon his flesh, and shall gird him with a linen girdle, and put the linen mitre upon his head: for they are holy raiments. And he shall wash his flesh with water, and put them on.
and let him take holy water in an earthen vessel and of the dust that is in the floor of the habitation, and put it into the water.
And this do unto them when thou cleansest them: sprinkle water of purifying upon them and make a razor to run along upon all the flesh of them, and let them wash their clothes, and then they shall be clean.
Then he cast a sea of brass, ten cubits wide from brim to brim and round in compass, and five cubits high. And a string of thirty cubits might compass it about, and under the brim of it as it were apples compassed and embraced the sea of ten cubits wide in two rows cast with it when it was cast. read more. And it stood on twelve oxen: of which three looked North, three West, three South, and three East, and the sea on high upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward. And it was a hand breadth thick, and the brim wrought like the brim of a cup with flowers of lilies. And it contained two thousand baths. And he made ten bottoms of brass, four cubits long and four cubits broad apiece, and three high.
And he put five of those bottoms on the right corner of the temple, and other five on the left: And put the sea on the right corner of the temple Eastward and toward the South.
And king Ahaz brake the sides of the bottoms and took the lavers from off them, and took down the sea from off the brazen oxen that were under it, and put it upon a pavement of stone.
And the pillars of brass that were in the house of the LORD and the bottoms, and the brazen sea that was in the house of the LORD the Chaldeans brake, and carried the brass of them to Babylon.
And from Tibhath and Cun, cities of Hadadezer, brought David exceeding much brass. Wherewith Solomon made the brazen sea and the pillars and the vessels of brass.
And the images of oxen did compass it round about under it: that is to wit, two rows of oxen cast when it was cast did compass that sea which was ten cubits wide, round about.
Before the feast of Easter, when Jesus knew that his hour was come, that he should depart out of this world unto the father; When he loved his which were in the world, unto the end he loved them; And when supper was ended, after that, the devil had put in the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him. read more. Jesus, knowing that the father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He rose from supper, and laid aside his upper garments, and took a towel, and gird himself. After that, poured he water into a basin, and began to wash his disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was gird. Then came he to Simon Peter. And Peter said to him, "Lord shalt thou wash my feet?" Jesus answered and said unto him, "What I do, thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter." Peter said unto him, "Thou shalt not wash my feet while the world standeth." Jesus answered him, "If I wash thee not, thou shalt have no part with me." Simon Peter said unto him, "Lord not my feet only: but also my hands and my head." Jesus said to him, "He that is washed needeth not, save to wash his feet, and is clean every whit. And ye are clean: but not all."
But we all behold the glory of the Lord with his face open, and we are changed unto the same similitude, from glory to glory, even of the spirit of the Lord.
to sanctify it, and cleansed it in the fountain of water through the word,
to sanctify it, and cleansed it in the fountain of water through the word,
not of the deeds of righteousness which we wrought, but of his mercy, he saved us, by the fountain of the new birth, and with the renewing of the holy ghost,
which was a similitude for the time then present, and in which were offered gifts and sacrifices that could not make them that minister perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; with meats only and drinks, and divers washings, and justifyings of the flesh, which were ordained until the time of reformation.
let us draw nigh with a true heart in a full faith sprinkled in our hearts, from an evil conscience, and washed in our bodies with pure water,
For if any hear the word, and do it not, he is like unto a man that beholdeth his bodily face in a glass. For as soon as he hath looked on himself, he goeth his way, and forgetteth immediately what his fashion was: read more. but whoso looketh in the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein - if he be not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work - the same shall be happy in his deed.
Hastings
Morish
This appertained to the tabernacle and the temple. It was placed between the tabernacle and the brazen altar, and the priests were required to wash their hands and their feet when they approached for any service. Ex 30:18-21. The priests were at first thoroughly washed, but that was a distinct thing from the continual cleansing of their hands and feet. Joh 13:4-14 is somewhat analogous to this, where the apostles, though declared to be clean (except Judas), needed that their feet should be washed, because of the defilements of the way, in order to have part with Christ when He went to the Father. In the tabernacle it was hands as well as feet that were to be washed, because there it was service, as well as the sphere of their walk. Ex 40:7,11,30.
The laver for the tabernacle was made of the brazen mirrors given by the women. Ex 38:8; its shape and size are not specified. The laver for the temple was circular, being ten cubits in diameter, and (in round numbers) thirty in circumference, and five cubits in height. 1Ki 7:26 states that it "contained 2000 baths," which probably refers to the quantity of water that was usually put into it; for 2Ch 4:5 says "it received and held 3000 baths," which may signify its full capacity. The above dimensions do not seem to agree with this capacity; but the definite shape of the laver is not given, it may have bulged out considerably in the middle.
The laver for the temple is called 'a molten sea,' and 'a brazen sea,' and was supported on twelve oxen. It was used for the same purpose as the laver of the tabernacle; but in the temple there were also ten smaller lavers at which the sacrifices were washed. 1Ki 7:23-43; 2Ki 16:17; 2Ch 4:6,14.
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"Thou shalt make a laver of brass and his foot also of brass to wash withal, and shalt put it between the tabernacle of witness and the altar and put water therein: that Aaron and his sons may wash both their hands and their feet thereout, read more. when they go into the tabernacle of witness, or when they go unto the altar to minister and to burn the LORD's offering, lest they die. And it shall be an ordinance forever unto him and his seed among your children after you."
And he made the laver of brass and the foot of it also of brass, in the sight of them that did watch before the door of the tabernacle of witness.
and set the laver between the tabernacle of witness, and the altar, and put water therein,
And anoint also the laver and his foot, and sanctify it.
And he set the laver between the tabernacle of witness and the altar, and poured water therein to wash with all.
Then he cast a sea of brass, ten cubits wide from brim to brim and round in compass, and five cubits high. And a string of thirty cubits might compass it about, and under the brim of it as it were apples compassed and embraced the sea of ten cubits wide in two rows cast with it when it was cast. read more. And it stood on twelve oxen: of which three looked North, three West, three South, and three East, and the sea on high upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward. And it was a hand breadth thick, and the brim wrought like the brim of a cup with flowers of lilies. And it contained two thousand baths.
And it was a hand breadth thick, and the brim wrought like the brim of a cup with flowers of lilies. And it contained two thousand baths. And he made ten bottoms of brass, four cubits long and four cubits broad apiece, and three high. read more. And the works of the bottoms was on this manner that the sides were as it were flat boards between the ledges. And on the flat boards between the ledges were lions, oxen and Cherubs. And upon the ledges that were above and beneath the lions and oxen, was joined pendant work. And every bottom had four brazen wheels, whose axletrees were also of brass. And in the four corners were undersetters under the laver cast, each over against his fellow. And the stalk of the laver was in the middle of the bottom one cubit high, and a cubit and a half round, and it had knops thereon in the bare places which were foursquare not round. And under the sides were four wheels and their axletrees joined fast to the bottom. And the height of every wheel was a cubit and a half. And the workmanship of the wheels was like the work of a chariot wheel. And the axletrees, the navels, spokes and shafts were all molten. And the four undersetters in the four corners were of the very bottoms. And under the stalk of the laver in the midst of the bottom was there a round foot of half a cubit high. And thereon, plain places and ledges of the self. And he graved in the plain and also on the ledges, Cherubs, lions and palm trees, everywhere round about. And on this manner he made the ten bottoms cast work: all of one measure and one size. Then he made ten lavers of brass containing forty baths apiece, and they were of four cubits apiece, for every one of the bottoms a laver. And he put five of those bottoms on the right corner of the temple, and other five on the left: And put the sea on the right corner of the temple Eastward and toward the South. And Hiram made pots, shovels and basins, and so furnished all the work that he made king Solomon for the house of the LORD: that is to say, two pillars and two scalps of the heads that were on the tops of the two pillars, and four hundred pomegranates upon two wreaths, two rows on either wreath, to cover the two scalps of the heads that were on the tops of the two pillars. And the ten bottoms of brass with ten lavers upon them;
And the thickest of it was a handbreadth, and the brim like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies. And it received and held the thousand baths.
He rose from supper, and laid aside his upper garments, and took a towel, and gird himself. After that, poured he water into a basin, and began to wash his disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was gird. read more. Then came he to Simon Peter. And Peter said to him, "Lord shalt thou wash my feet?" Jesus answered and said unto him, "What I do, thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter." Peter said unto him, "Thou shalt not wash my feet while the world standeth." Jesus answered him, "If I wash thee not, thou shalt have no part with me." Simon Peter said unto him, "Lord not my feet only: but also my hands and my head." Jesus said to him, "He that is washed needeth not, save to wash his feet, and is clean every whit. And ye are clean: but not all." For he knew his betrayer. Therefore said he, "Ye are not all clean." After he had washed their feet, and received his clothes, and was set down again, he said unto them, "Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me 'Master' and 'Lord,' and ye say well, for so am I. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet: ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
Smith
Laver.
1. In the tabernacle, a vessel of brass containing water for the priests to wash their hands and feet before offering sacrifice. It stood in the fore offering sacrifice. It stood in the court between the altar and the door of the tabernacle.
It rested on a basis, i.e. a foot, which, was well as the laver itself, was made from the mirrors of the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle court.
The form of the laver is not specified, but may be assumed to have been circular. Like the other vessels belonging to the tabernacle, it was, together with its "foot," consecrated with oil.
2. In Solomon's temple, besides the great molten sea, there were ten lavers of brass, raised on bases,
five on the north and five on the south side of the court of the priests. They were used for washing the animals to be offered in burnt offerings.
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that Aaron and his sons may wash both their hands and their feet thereout,
And it shall be an ordinance forever unto him and his seed among your children after you."
And he made the laver of brass and the foot of it also of brass, in the sight of them that did watch before the door of the tabernacle of witness.
And Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the habitation and all that was therein and sanctified them, and sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all his vessels, and the laver with his foot, to sanctify them.
And he made ten bottoms of brass, four cubits long and four cubits broad apiece, and three high.
And he put five of those bottoms on the right corner of the temple, and other five on the left: And put the sea on the right corner of the temple Eastward and toward the South.
And he made ten lavers: and put five on the right hand and five on the left, to wash with all. And in them they thrust the flesh of the burnt offerings. But the sea was for the priests to wash in.
Watsons
LAVER. Between the altar and the tabernacle, a little to the south, stood a circular laver, which, together with its base, was made of the brazen ornaments which the women had presented for the use of the tabernacle, and was thence called ???? ????, Ex 30:18; 40:7. The priests, when about to perform their duties, washed their hands in this laver.
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"Thou shalt make a laver of brass and his foot also of brass to wash withal, and shalt put it between the tabernacle of witness and the altar and put water therein:
and set the laver between the tabernacle of witness, and the altar, and put water therein,