Exodus 30:18 NIV

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 30:18

Exodus 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, Zechariah 13:1, an inexhaustible fountain of living water, so that it is our own fault if we remain in our... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Exodus 30:17-21

Bronze laver (30:17-21)The laver was a large basin in which the priests washed their hands and feet before either entering the Holy Place or administering the sacrifices. No doubt they needed to wash again after offering the sacrifices (cf. 2 Chronicles 4:6). Such washing, apart from its practical benefits, had symbolic significance, since cleansing from all uncleanness was necessary for acceptable service for God (17-21).No details are given concerning the shape or size of the laver, though it... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Exodus 30:18

a laver of brass . Probably copper or bronze. See note on Exodus 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. John 13:10 is the Divine antitype. foot. Hebrew base. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Exodus 30:17-21

THE BRONZE LAVER"And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, whereat to wash. And thou shalt put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein. And Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat: when they go into the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn an offering made by fire unto Jehovah. So shall they wash their hands and... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Exodus 30:18

Exodus 30:18. Thou shalt also make a laver of brass— See 2 Chronicles 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... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Exodus 30:18

18-21. Thou shalt . . . make a laver of brass—Though not actually forming a component part of the furniture of the tabernacle, this vase was closely connected with it; and though from standing at the entrance it would be a familiar object, it possessed great interest and importance from the baptismal purposes to which it was applied. No data are given by which its form and size can be ascertained; but it was probably a miniature pattern of Solomon's—a circular basin. his foot—supposed not to be... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Exodus 30:17-21

The brazen laver 30:17-21The laver was a large reservoir for the water that the priests used to wash with as they performed their duties. It stood between the brazen altar and the sanctuary. Its presence there symbolized the fact that cleansing is necessary after the making of atonement and before the enjoyment of fellowship with God."The necessity of daily cleansing on the part of those who are engaged even in the most holy service, and of all who would approach God, is so obvious as hardly to... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 30:1-38

The Altar of Incense. The Ransom Money. The Laver. The Anointing Oil. The Incense1-10. The Altar of Incense. The use of incense in worship was probably due to the worshipper’s desire to honour God by offering to Him what he enjoys himself. ’Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart’ (Proverbs 27:9). It served also to counteract the strong smell of burning flesh, and was therefore usually presented as an accompaniment of sacrifice, and offered either in censers (Leviticus 10:1; Leviticus 16:12;... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Exodus 30:18

THE BRAZEN LAVER.(18) Thou shalt also make a laver of brass.—Rather, of bronze. (See Note on Exodus 25:3.) Water was required for the ablutions of the priests (Exodus 30:19-21), for the washing of certain parts of the victim, (Exodus 29:27; Leviticus 1:9; Leviticus 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... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Exodus 30:1-38

The Census and Its Religious Aspect Exodus 30:12 I. This first census of which we have any recorded history took place more than three thousand years ago. It was taken in the wilderness, and in a very different way from that in which our census is taken. From the grouped tribes every man of twenty years of age and upwards was called out, and afterwards passed over to the crowd of the 'numbered'. No women or children were numbered. Women and children owe even more than men to the influence of... read more