Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
(wash). Brazen vessel holding water for priestly washings-hands, feet, and the sacrifices (Ex. 30:18-21; 38:8; 1 Kings 7:38-40; 2 Chron. 4:6).
Concise Bible Dictionary:
This appertained to the tabernacle and the temple. It was placed between the tabernacle and the brazen altar, and the priests were required to wash their hands and their feet when they approached for any service (Ex. 30:18-21). The priests were at first thoroughly washed, but that was a distinct thing from the continual cleansing of their hands and feet. John 13:4-14 is somewhat analogous to this, where the apostles, though declared to be clean (except Judas), needed that their feet should be washed, because of the defilements of the way, in order to have part with Christ when He went to the Father. In the tabernacle it was hands as well as feet that were to be washed, because there it was service, as well as the sphere of their walk (Ex. 40:7,11,30).
The laver for the tabernacle was made of the brazen mirrors given by the women (Ex. 38:8): its shape and size are not specified. The laver for the temple was circular, being ten cubits in diameter, and (in round numbers) thirty in circumference, and five cubits in height. 1 Kings 7:26 states that it “contained 2000 baths,” which probably refers to the quantity of water that was usually put into it; for 2 Chronicles 4:5 says “it received and held 3000 baths,” which may signify its full capacity. The above dimensions do not seem to agree with this capacity; but the definite shape of the laver is not given, it may have bulged out considerably in the middle.
The laver for the temple is called “a molten sea,” and “a brazen sea” and was supported on twelve oxen. It was used for the same purpose as the laver of the tabernacle; but in the temple there were also ten smaller lavers at which the sacrifices were washed (1 Kings 7:23-43; 2 Kings 16:17; 2 Chron. 4:6, 14).
From Manners and Customs of the Bible:
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 “brazen mirrors” of the women (Exod 38:8) and was used for the ablutions of the priests (Ex. 30:17-21). The better to accomplish this purpose it was placed between the brazen altar and the door of the Tabernacle (Ex. 40:30-32). 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; 40:11; 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.
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