146. The Brazen Laver

Narrator: Chris Genthree
 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 10
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Exodus 40:77And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein. (Exodus 40:7) Thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein.
This was made out of the “brazen1 mirrors” of the women (Exod 38:8) and was used for the ablutions of the priests (Ex. 30:17-2117And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 18Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein. 19For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat: 20When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the Lord: 21So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations. (Exodus 30:17‑21)). The better to accomplish this purpose it was placed between the brazen altar and the door of the Tabernacle (Ex. 40:30-3230And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash withal. 31And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat: 32When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the Lord commanded Moses. (Exodus 40:30‑32)). No description is given of its shape or size, but it is supposed to have been circular. In connection with the laver frequent mention is made of what is called its “foot.” See Exodus 30:18,28; 31:9; 35:16; 39:39; 40:1118Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein. (Exodus 30:18)
28And the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot. (Exodus 30:28)
9And the altar of burnt offering with all his furniture, and the laver and his foot, (Exodus 31:9)
16The altar of burnt offering, with his brazen grate, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot, (Exodus 35:16)
39The brazen altar, and his grate of brass, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot, (Exodus 39:39)
11And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it. (Exodus 40:11); Leviticus 8:1111And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all his vessels, both the laver and his foot, to sanctify them. (Leviticus 8:11). This has led some commentators to believe that the “foot” was something more than a mere pedestal for the support of the laver, and they suppose that it may have been a lower basin to catch the water which flowed through taps or otherwise from the laver, thus making a convenient arrangement for washing the hands and feet of the priests.