Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

LAVER

A bowl or basin (so NRSV) used for ceremonial washing associated with both the wilderness tabernacle (Exod. 30:17-21) and the Jerusalem temple (1 Kgs. 7:38-39; 2 Chr. 4:6). In one instance Heb. kiyyôr refers to a bronze platform upon which Solomon stood in solemn assembly to offer his prayer when dedicating the temple (2 Chr. 6:13). The term can also have more profane associations, referring to a caldron or pot of fire (1 Sam. 2:14; Zech. 12:6).

The ceremonial basin associated with the wilderness tabernacle was to be made of bronze and placed between the tent of meeting and the altar so that Moses, Aaron, and his sons could wash their hands and feet whenever they approached the altar or entered the tent of meeting (Exod. 30:18-21; 40:30-32). The sacred character of the basin is indicated by the divinely-inspired skill required to construct it (Exod. 31:1-11) and the command to anoint it along with other tabernacle furnishings (30:22-29; 40:9-11).

Solomon’s temple had 10 ceremonial basins used primarily for rinsing the items associated with the burnt offerings (2 Chr. 4:6). Here, the focus is on the splendor of the lavers rather than their sacred character, as in the tabernacle. The 10 bronze basins each held 40 baths (one bath was ca. 23 l. [6 gal.]), and each stood on its own bronze, wheeled stand (1 Kgs. 7:27-37). These elaborate stands were pillaged by Ahaz several centuries later in his attempt to bribe the king of Assyria (2 Kgs. 16:17).

Kevin D. Hall

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

LAVER

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)