THE BRAZEN LAVER.
(18) Thou shalt also make a laver of brass. — Rather, of bronze. (See Note on Exodus 25:3.) Water was required for the ablutions of the priests (Exodus 30:19-21), for the washing of certain parts of the victim, (Exodus 29:27; Leviticus 1:9; Leviticus 1:13, &c.), and probably for the cleansing of the altar itself and the ground whereon it stood from blood stains and other defilements.
His foot. — The laver was probably in the shape of a large urn or vase, supported upon a comparatively slender stem, which rose from a pedestal. Vases of this kind are represented in the Assyrian bas-reliefs. (See Ancient Monarchies, vol. i., p. 481.)
Thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar. — It was essential that the laver should be near the altar, since on every occasion of their ministering at the altar the priests had to wash at it (Exodus 30:20). It was also essential that it should be near the entrance into the tabernacle, since they had likewise to wash before they entered into the holy place. Jewish tradition says that its place was between the entrance and the brazen altar, not, however, exactly between them, but a little to the south.