And he made ten bases of brass; four cubits was the length of one base, and four cubits the breadth thereof, and three cubits the height of it.
He made ten bases of brass - (see the notes at Exodus 30:18-21, where the tabernacle is said to have had only one layer.) These were trucks, or four-wheeled carriages, for the support and conveyance of the lavers. The description of their structure shows that they were elegantly fitted up, and skillfully adapted to their purpose. They stood, not on the axles, but on four rests attached to the axles, so that the figured sides were considerably raised above the wheels. They were all exactly alike in form and size. The lavers which were borne upon them were vessels capable each of holding 300 gallons of water, upwards of a ton weight. The whole, when full of water, would be no less than two tons (Napier). Jewish writers say that the water was changed daily, so as to be always pure, and that ablution in this water was indispensable to every one; because none were allowed to enter until this ceremony was performed.