Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 30:18
Thou shalt also make a laver [of] brass, and his foot [also of] brass, to wash [withal]: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein.
18. Thou shalt also make ] Heb. And thou shalt make.
brass ] bronze or copper, as always: see on Exo 25:3. The metal, according to Exo 38:8, was obtained from the mirrors of the women who ‘served in the host’ (see the note).
base ] some kind of pedestal, upon which it rested.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 18. A laver of brass] kiyor sometimes signifies a caldron, 1Sa 2:14; but it seems to signify any large round vessel or basin used for washing the hands and feet. There were doubtless cocks or spigots in it to draw off the water, as it is not likely the feet were put into it in order to be washed. The foot of the laver must mean the pedestal on which it stood.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
See the accomplishment Exo 38:8; to wash both the priests and the parts of the sacrifices. The altar, to wit, of burnt-offerings.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
18-21. Thou shalt . . . make a laverof brassThough not actually forming a component part of thefurniture of the tabernacle, this vase was closely connected with it;and though from standing at the entrance it would be a familiarobject, it possessed great interest and importance from the baptismalpurposes to which it was applied. No data are given by which its formand size can be ascertained; but it was probably a miniature patternof Solomon’sa circular basin.
his footsupposed notto be the pedestal on which it rested, but a trough or shallowreceptacle below, into which the water, let out from a cock or spout,flowed; for the way in which all Eastern people wash their hands orfeet is by pouring upon them the water which falls into a basin. Thislaver was provided for the priests alone. But in the Christiandispensation, all believers are priests, and hence the apostleexhorts them how to draw near to God (Joh 13:10;Heb 10:22).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash [withal],…. For Aaron, and his sons, and the priests in succession, to wash at before their entrance on their ministry; and denotes in general the necessity of purity, in order to minister in the priestly office; and which was in its perfection in Christ, who being holy and harmless, was an high priest becoming us, and suitable to us, qualified to offer himself without spot to God, and to take away sin; of which purity his baptism in water might be a symbol, which he submitted to before he entered publicly on the execution of his office as a prophet and priest; and as this may respect the ministers of the Gospel, it shows that they should be pure and holy in their lives and conversations, and be examples in purity of conversation to others: and as this may chiefly respect all the saints who are priests unto God; it may be either typical of the laver of regeneration, in which grace, comparable to water, is given, and in which a clean heart is created; and which has an influence on purity of life and conversation, and secures from death: or rather of the blood of Christ, the laver and fountain to wash in for sin and uncleanness; which is large and capacious for all the priests of the Lord, and stands open and uncovered for all to come unto; and as this was made of brass, and that brass the looking glasses of the women, Ex 38:8 as it may respect the laver of regeneration, may denote the durableness of that grace, which is an immortal seed, a well of living water, springing up to everlasting life, and was a clear evidence of election of God, and redemption by Christ; and as it may be an emblem of the blood of Christ, it signifies the duration and continued virtue of that blood to cleanse from all sin; and that such who are washed in it, and cleansed by it, are not only beheld as clean and pure by the Lord, but in their own sight also, God having caused their iniquities to pass from them, and justified them from them by his blood:
and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar; that is, the altar of burnt offering, which was by the door of the tabernacle; and between that and the tabernacle or tent of the congregation stood the laver for the priests to wash in, just as they entered into the tabernacle, Ex 40:29 it stood inclining to one of the sides, as Aben Ezra says; a little on the south side, as Jarchi observes:
and thou shall put water therein; or order it to be put in for the use next mentioned.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
18. Thou shalt also make a laver of brass. Although this oblation was a sign of the purity which God required in His priests, yet, inasmuch as this hollow vessel ( concha) or laver, which supplied the water, was a part or utensil of the sanctuary, I have thought it best to insert here what is ordained respecting it, not only as to its fashion, but also its use, which could not be well separated: for if bare mention had only been made of a laver or water-vessel, (155) the reader would have received no profit from it. But, when God expressly commands that water should always be ready in this basin for the priests to wash their hands and feet, we gather from hence with what reverence and sanctity God would have His holy service performed. It was, indeed, a common proverb among the Gentiles that they were guilty of impiety who handled holy things with unwashen hands, and they testified in this ceremony that they could not worship God aright except when purified from all pollution and uncleanness. One in Virgil says: —
“——— donec me flumine vivo Abluero.” (156)
“Till in some living stream I cleanse the guilt Of dire debate and blood in battle spilt.” — Dryden.
And such expressions are of constant occurrence. Sometimes they even seemed almost to hit the right point; as where the poet commands the ungodly and the criminal to depart from the sacrifices, lest they should contaminate them; (157) but this was only a fleeting imagination, since no anxiety to repent had awakened in them a desire to propitiate God; and so, even whilst they were diligent in performing ablutions, their minds, darkened with error, knew not what it meant. But the Israelites were thus chiefly reminded how unworthy they were to offer sacrifices to God, since the impurity of the very priests, who were chosen to this once, prevented them from exercising it, until they were cleansed with water. The washing of the hands and feet denoted that all parts of the body were infected with uncleanness; for, since Scripture often uses the word “hands” for the actions of life, and compares the whole course of life to a way or journey, it is very suitable to say by synecdoche that all impurity is purged away by the washing of the hands and feet. The comparison with Christ now remains to be considered; but this we shall understand better a little beyond in reference to the sacrifices.
(155) Addition in Fr., ” Sans savoir pourquoy il estoit basti;” without knowing what it was made for.
(156) A En. 2:719, 720. They are among the words which A Eneas reports himself to have spoken to Anchises, when about to bear him out of Troy:
” Tu, genitor, cape sacra manu, patriosque Penates. Me, bello e tanto digressum et caede recenti, Adtrectare nefas; donec me flumine vivo Abluero.”
(157) Doering’s note on Hor. Carm. 3:1. 1. — “ Odi profanum vulgus et arceo,” contains the following words: “He uses these formulas which the priests were accustomed to use at the commencement of their ceremonies, in order to drive away the profane, ἑκάς, βέβηλοι! or ἑκάς, ἑκάς, ὅστις ἀλιτρός· (Callim. Hymn., Rev 2:0.) Procul o procul este, profani. (Virg. A En. 6:258.)”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
THE BRAZEN LAVER.
(18) Thou shalt also make a laver of brass.Rather, of bronze. (See Note on Exo. 25:3.) Water was required for the ablutions of the priests (Exo. 30:19-21), for the washing of certain parts of the victim, (Exo. 29:27; Lev. 1:9; Lev. 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 (Exo. 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.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
18. Laver of brass According to Exo 38:8, it was made of the mirrors of the women who were wont to assemble at the entrance of the tabernacle . The purpose of this laver was mainly for the priests to wash themselves when they entered upon their holy work; also for the washing of inwards and legs of victims . Lev 1:9. Its form is not described, but it rested upon a foot or pedestal, and the adjoining cuts represent two possible forms according to which it may have been constructed . For the temple there was a brazen sea resting upon twelve oxen, and also ten lavers resting upon as many bases. See notes and cuts at 1Ki 7:23-39. The laver was to be placed between the tabernacle and the altar, probably as indicated in the cut of the tabernacle and court on page 522.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Exo 30:18. Thou shalt also make a laver of brass See 2Ch 4:2. A large font or bason, made of brass, for the priests to wash their hands and feet in, was to be placed at the entrance of the tabernacle; in the water of which, let out through cocks, they were constantly to wash on pain of death, when they ministered at the altar, Exo 30:20 not only because neglect of doing so would have argued high presumption and profaneness against a positive command of God; but because this neglect would, most probably, have been involved with that greater one of mental impurity; see ch. Exo 29:4. Psa 26:6. Heb 10:22. Tit 3:5. From the command of washing their feet as well as their hands, as also from the omission of the mention of shoes or sandals in the description of the priests’ vestments, it has been concluded, that they ministered bare-footed; see note on ch. Exo 3:5. It is well known, how careful the heathens were in washing their hands before they sacrificed, or entered upon the performance of other religious duties; whence came the proverb of doing things illotis manibus, with unwashed hands; i.e. in a profane and indecent manner. See Saurin’s 54th Dissertation, where will be found an ample and very judicious discussion of all things relating to the tabernacle.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Exo 30:18 Thou shalt also make a laver [of] brass, and his foot [also of] brass, to wash [withal]: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein.
Ver. 18. Between the tabernacle and the altar. ] The laver and altar situated in the same court, signified the same; as the water and blood issuing out of Christ’s side, viz., the necessary concurrence of justification and sanctification in all that shall be saved.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
a laver of brass. Probably copper or bronze. See note on Exo 25:3.
The laver comes after the altar; the altar is for sinners; the laver is for priests = cleansing for worship. Not included in Ex. 25-28, but added here after atonement. Joh 13:10 is the Divine antitype.
foot. Hebrew base.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
laver
Laver, type of Christ cleansing us from defilement, and from “every spot or wrinkle or any such thing” Joh 13:2-10; Eph 5:25-27. It is significant that the priests could not enter the holy place after serving at the brazen altar till hands and feet were cleansed.
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
a laver: Exo 31:9, Exo 38:8, Lev 8:11, 1Ki 7:23, 1Ki 7:38, 2Ch 4:2, 2Ch 4:6, 2Ch 4:14, 2Ch 4:15, Zec 13:1, Tit 3:5,*Gr: 1Jo 1:7
put it: Exo 40:7, Exo 40:30-32
Reciprocal: Exo 29:4 – wash them Exo 35:16 – the laver Num 5:17 – holy water
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Exo 30:18. Thou shalt make a laver of brass The laver, or font, was a large vessel, that would contain a good quantity of water. The foot of brass, it is supposed, was so contrived as to receive the water, which was let out of the laver by spouts or cocks. They then had a laver for the priests only to wash in; but to us now there is a fountain opened for Judah and Jerusalem, Zec 13:1, an inexhaustible fountain of living water, so that it is our own fault if we remain in our pollution. Aaron and his sons were to wash their hands and feet at this laver every time they went in to minister. For this purpose, clean water was put into the laver fresh every day. Though they washed themselves ever so clean at their own houses, that would not serve, they must wash at the laver. This was designed to teach them purity in all their ministrations, and to possess them with a reverence of Gods holiness, and a dread of the pollutions of sin. They must not only wash and be made clean when they were first consecrated, but they must wash and be kept clean whenever they went in to minister. He only shall stand in Gods holy place that hath clean hands and a pure heart, Psa 24:3-4. And it was to teach us, who are daily to attend upon God, daily to renew our repentance for sin, and our believing application of the blood of Christ to our souls for remission.