Bronze laver

The laver was an instrument in the Tabernacle and Temples in Jerusalem that was used by the priests to wash their hands and feet. All lavers were made of bronze and placed next to the Altar of Burnt Offering.

Tabernacle laver

The instructions given to Moses in the Book of Exodus included the creation of a bronze laver (Hebrew: כיור נחשת kîyōr nəḥōšeṯ), to be sited outside the Tabernacle of Meeting, between the Tabernacle door and the Altar of Burnt Offering, for Aaron, his sons and their successors as priests to wash their hands and their feet before making a sacrifice.

Both the laver and its base were to be made of bronze.^[1] Bronze mirrors supplied by the Israelite women who served at the Tabernacle door were used to make the laver and its base,^[2] and they were then anointed with holy oil along with the Tabernacle, all its furnishings and the priests.^[3]

First Temple lavers

Ten bronze lavers were used in Solomon's Temple, alongside a Molten Sea described in 1 Kings 7:23–26 and 2 Chronicles 4:2–5.

Second Temple laver

References

↑ Exodus 30:17-18
↑ Exodus 38:8
↑ Exodus 30:28

[1] Exodus 30:17-18

[2] Exodus 38:8

[3] Exodus 30:28

[1]

[2]

[3]

v t e Book of Exodus
Chapters	1–6 6–9 10–13 13–17 18–20 21–24 25–27 27–30 30–34 35–38 38–40
People	Moses Israelites Aaron Bezalel Eliezer Gershom Jethro Joshua High Priest of Israel Hur Ithamar Miriam Nadab and Abihu Oholiab Pharaoh Pharaoh's daughter Shiphrah and Puah Zipporah
Events	Finding of Moses The Exodus Plagues of Egypt Parting of the Red Sea Ten Commandments Zipporah at the inn
Objects	Aaron's rod Ark of bulrushes Ark of the Covenant Asherah pole Bronze laver Burning bush Golden calf Incense offering Manna Mercy seat Pillars of fire and cloud Priestly clothing breastplate golden head plate robe sash tunic turban undergarments Showbread Staff of Moses Tabernacle Tablets of Stone Tefillin Temple menorah
Places	Biblical Egypt Elim Marah Massah and Meribah Mount Horeb Mount Sinai Stations of the Exodus Pi-HaHiroth Pi-Ramesses Battle of Refidim Shur Wilderness of Sin Yam Suph (Reed Sea)
Torah readings	Shemot Va'eira Bo Beshalach Yitro Mishpatim Terumah Tetzaveh Ki Tissa Vayakhel Pekudei
Sources	Priestly Jahwist Elohist
Manuscripts	Nash Papyrus Papyrus 18
Textual analysis	Sources and parallels Textual variations Covenant Code Exodus Rabbah Mekhilta of Rabbi Ishmael Mekhilta of Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai Song of the Sea In Antebellum America
Phrases	I Am that I Am Baal-zephon El Shaddai Eye for an eye Finger of God Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy With a strong hand and an outstretched arm

Tabernacle laver

First Temple lavers

Second Temple laver

See also

References