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thereby defiled, and so would have had to be renewed for each ablution. The Orientals, in their washings, make use of a vessel with a long spout, and wash at the stream which issues from thence, the waste water being received in a basin which is placed underneath. See Ablution. It has therefore been suggested that they held their hands and feet under streams that flowed from the laver, and that the " foot" caught the water that fell. As no mention is made of a vessel whereat to wash the parts of the victims offered in sacrifice, it is presumed that the laver served this purpose also. The Jewish commentators state (perhaps referring, how- ever, to the later vessels in the Temple) that any kind of water might be used for the laver, but that the water must be changed every day. They also mention that ablution before entering the tabernacle was in no case dispensed with. A man might be perfectly clean, might be quite free from any ceremonial impurity, and might even have washed his hands and feet before he left home, but still he could by no means enter the taberna- cle without previous ablution at the laver. " In the account of the offering by the woman suspected of adul- tery there is mention made of 'holy water' mixed with dust from the floor of the tabernacle, which the woman was to drink according to certain rites (Numb, v, 17). Most probably this was water taken from the laver. Perhaps the same should be said of the ' water of puri- fying' (Numb, viii, 7), which was sprhikled on the Lc- vites on occasion of their consecration to the service of the Lord in the tabernacle" (Fairbairn). Like the other vessels belonging to the tabernacle, the laver was, to- gether with its "foot," consecrated with oil (Lev. viii, 10, 11). No mention is found in the Hebrew text of the mode of transporting it, but in Numb, iv, 14 a pas- sage is added in the Sept., agreeing with the Samaritan Pent, and the Samaritan version, which prescribes the method of packing it, viz. in a purple cloth, protected by a skin covering. See Tabernacle.
2. In the Temple of Solomon, when the number of both priests and victims had greatly increased, ttn lavers were used for the sacrifices, and the molten sea for the personal ablutions of the priests (2 Chron. iv, 6). These lavers are more minutely described than that of the tabernacle. These likewise were of copper ("brass"), raised on bases (Hli-^S, from ',!13, to "stand upright," Gesenius,7'/ie«(!/r. p. G65, G70 , Sept. Griecizes fitxwim^, Vulg. bases) (1 Kings vii, 27, 39), five on the north and south sides respectively of the court of the priests. They were used for washing the animals to be offered in burnt- offerings (2 Chron. iv, 6). Josephus (^Ant. viii, 3, G) gives no distinct account of their form. Ahaz mutila- ted the laver, and removed it from its base (2 Kings xvi, 17). Whether Ilezekiah restored the parts cut off is not stated, but in the account of the articles taken by the Chakkeans from the Temple only the bases are mentioned (2 Kings xxv, IG; Jer. lii, 17; Josephus omits even these, A nt. x, 8, 5).
" The dimensions of the bases, with the lavers, as given in the Hebrew text, are four cubits in length and breadtli, and three in height. The Sept. gives 4 by 4, and G in height. Josephus, who appears to have fol- lowed a various reading of the Sept., makes them five in length, four in width, and six in height (1 Kings vii, 28; Thenius, ad loc. ; Josephus, yl?;^ viii, 3, 8). There were to each four wheels of one and a half cubit in diameter, with spokes, etc., all cast in one piece. The principal parts requiring explanation may be thus enumerated: {(I) ' Borders' (rillJO^, Sept. irvyKXiin^iara, Vulgate sciilpturcp), probably panels. Gesenius ( T/iesanr. p. 938) supposes these to have been ornaments like square shields, with engraved work, (b) ' Ledges' (CSb'J, i^tX<'>l^ti'a, juncture, from 25^3, ' to cut in notches,' Gesenius, p. 1411), joints in corners of bases or fillets covering joints, {r) 'Additions' (n""'?, from ni^, ' to twine,' Gesenius, p. 746 ; xCiQai, lora, whence Thenius
suggests \CJpoi or Xwf)« as the true reading), probably festoons ; Lightfoot translates ' margines oblique de- scendentes.' ((/) 'Plates' (CJ'lp, irQokxovTa, axes, Ge- senius, p. 972 ; Lightfoot, massce (erece tetragona), prob- ably axles, cast in the same piece as the wheels, (e) ' Undersetters' (msrs, wfiiat, humendi, Gesen. p. 724), either the naves of the wheels, or a sort of handles f(jr moving the whole machine, Lightfoot renders ' columniB fulcientes lavacrum.' (/) ' Naves' (n"i'n!l\l"n, modioli), io) 'Spokes' (Cpli'rt, radii; the two words combined in the Sept. ?) irpayixaTtia, Gesen. p. 536; Schleusner, Lex. V. T. Trpayji.). (h) 'Felloes' (D'^Sa, vuiroi, canthi, Gesen. p. 256). (i) ' Chapiter' (n'nrs, Ki^aXii;, summi- fas, Gesen. p. 725), perhaps the rim of the circular open- ing (' mouth,' 1 Kings vii, 31) in the convex top. (k) A ' round compass' (a""" D ?^", Gesenius, p. 935, 989 ; ff-pdyyiiXoi' ki<k\({J ; 7-otundilas), perhaps the convex roof of the base. To these parts Josephus adds chains, which may probably be the festoons above mentioned (.4 «^ viii, 3, ()).