In the context of the Bible, "lavers" refer to large basins or vessels used for ceremonial washing, primarily within the tabernacle and later the temple. These were essential for maintaining the ritual purity required by the Levitical laws. The concept of ceremonial washing is deeply rooted in the Old Testament, symbolizing purification and preparation for service to God.

The Bronze Laver in the Tabernacle

The first mention of a laver is found in the instructions for the construction of the tabernacle. In Exodus 30:17-21, God commands Moses to make a bronze laver for the priests to wash their hands and feet before approaching the altar or entering the tent of meeting. This was a critical component of the tabernacle's furnishings, emphasizing the necessity of purity in worship. The Berean Standard Bible states:

"The LORD also said to Moses, 'You are to make a bronze basin for washing, with a bronze stand. Place it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it. Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet with water from it. Whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister by presenting an offering made by fire to the LORD, they must wash with water, so that they will not die. Thus they are to wash their hands and feet, so that they will not die. This is to be a permanent statute for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come.'" (Exodus 30:17-21)

The laver was made from the bronze mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting (Exodus 38:8). This detail highlights the communal contribution to the tabernacle's construction and the transformation of personal items into sacred objects.

The Lavers in Solomon's Temple

When Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem, he expanded on the concept of the laver. According to 1 Kings 7:23-26 and 2 Chronicles 4:2-6, Solomon commissioned a massive "Sea of cast metal" and ten smaller lavers. The Sea was used by the priests for washing, while the ten smaller lavers were used to rinse the burnt offerings. The Berean Standard Bible describes the Sea as follows:

"He also made the Sea of cast metal, circular in shape, measuring ten cubits from rim to rim and five cubits high. It took a line of thirty cubits to measure around it. Below the rim, gourds encircled it—ten per cubit. The gourds were cast in two rows in one piece with the Sea. The Sea stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The Sea rested on them, and their hindquarters were toward the center. It was a handbreadth thick, and its rim was fashioned like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It could hold two thousand baths." (1 Kings 7:23-26)

The grandeur of the Sea and the additional lavers in Solomon's temple underscore the importance of ritual purity and the scale of worship during this period.

Symbolism and Significance

The laver's primary function was for purification, symbolizing the need for cleanliness before approaching God. This concept of purification is echoed throughout Scripture, pointing to the holiness required of God's people. The laver serves as a physical representation of the spiritual cleansing that is necessary for communion with God.

In the New Testament, the theme of washing and purification is fulfilled in Christ, who provides the ultimate cleansing from sin. The laver, therefore, can be seen as a foreshadowing of the spiritual purification available through Jesus Christ, as believers are washed and made clean by His sacrifice.

The laver's presence in both the tabernacle and the temple highlights the continuity of God's requirements for holiness and the provision He makes for His people to approach Him.

Of the Building of this Temple
... 6. He also made ten brazen bases for so many quadrangular lavers; the length of
every one of these bases was five cubits, and the breadth four cubits, and the ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 3 of the building.htm

Hiram, the Inspired Artificer
... lilies. Beyond this, there were ten lavers, smaller in size, for the washing
of such things as were offered in sacrifice. These ...
/.../milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/hiram the inspired artificer.htm

The Temple and Its Dedication
... The brazen furniture,"the altar of burnt offering, the great laver supported by
twelve oxen, the lavers of smaller size, with many other vessels,""in the ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 2 the temple and.htm

How David Brought under the Philistines, and the Moabites, and the ...
... is said to be more valuable than gold; of which brass Solomon made that large vessel
which was called The [Brazen] Sea, and those most curious lavers, when he ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 5 how david brought.htm

Book 8 Footnotes
... [10] The round or cylindrical lavers of four cubits in diameter, and four in height,
both in our copies, 1 Kings 7:38, 39, and here in Josephus, must have ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 8 footnotes.htm

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/solomons temple spiritualized.htm

The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7. <. ...
/.../chapter ithe assyrian revival and.htm

Funeral Oration on the Great S. Basil, Bishop of C??sarea in ...
Lectures of S. Cyril of Jerusalem. <. ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xliii funeral oration on.htm

The Holy City; Or, the New Jerusalem:
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the holy city or the.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6. <. ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

Lavers (6 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Lavers (6 Occurrences). ... (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV).
1 Kings 7:40 And Hiram made the lavers, and the shovels, and the basins. ...
/l/lavers.htm - 8k

Laver (13 Occurrences)
... In the temple there were ten lavers used for the sacrifices, and the molten sea
for the ablutions of the priests (2 Chronicles 4:6). The position and uses of ...
/l/laver.htm - 17k

Lavish (2 Occurrences)

/l/lavish.htm - 7k

Rinsed (6 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 4:6 And he made ten lavers, and put five on the right and five on the
left, to wash in them: they rinsed in them what they prepared for the burnt ...
/r/rinsed.htm - 8k

Rinse (2 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 4:6 And he made ten lavers, and put five on the right and five on the
left, to wash in them: they rinsed in them what they prepared for the burnt ...
/r/rinse.htm - 7k

Executed (39 Occurrences)
... all his people. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS). 1 Kings 7:40 And Hiram made
the lavers, and the shovels, and the basins. So Hiram made ...
/e/executed.htm - 18k

Plate (34 Occurrences)
... (3) luach, used for tablets or tables of stone (Exodus 24:12, etc.), but in 1 Kings
7:36 for the metal plates on the bases of the lavers in the temple. ...
/p/plate.htm - 20k

Pots (30 Occurrences)
... all sorts of dry foods, (BBE). 1 Kings 7:40 And Hiram made the lavers, and
the shovels, and the basins. So Hiram made an end of doing ...
/p/pots.htm - 15k

Bath (13 Occurrences)
... It seems to have been regarded as a standard for liquid measures (Ezekiel 45:10),
as in the case of the molten sea and the lavers in Solomon's temple (1 Kings 7 ...
/b/bath.htm - 22k

Completeth (7 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 7:40 And Hiram maketh the lavers, and the shovels, and the bowls; and Hiram
completeth to do all the work that he made for king Solomon, 'for' the ...
/c/completeth.htm - 8k

What is a laver in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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