Topical Bible: Laver: Altered by Ahaz

◄ Laver: Altered by Ahaz ►

Topical Encyclopedia

The laver, a significant fixture in the religious practices of ancient Israel, was a large basin used for ceremonial washing by the priests in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple. It symbolized purification and was essential for maintaining the ritual cleanliness required for service in the presence of God. The laver was initially constructed under the direction of Moses, as described in Exodus 30:17-21, and was made of bronze from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

During the reign of King Solomon, the laver was replaced by the "Sea of cast metal," a massive bronze basin supported by twelve oxen, as part of the furnishings of the First Temple (1 Kings 7:23-26). This grand structure continued to serve the priests in their duties, emphasizing the importance of purity and preparation before approaching the altar.

However, significant alterations to the Temple's furnishings occurred during the reign of King Ahaz of Judah. Ahaz, known for his unfaithfulness to the covenant with Yahweh, made several changes to the Temple to appease the Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III, whose favor he sought. In 2 Kings 16:17 , it is recorded: "King Ahaz cut off the frames of the stands and removed the basins from them. He took down the Sea from the bronze oxen that were under it and put it on a stone pavement."

This act of altering the laver and other sacred items was part of Ahaz's broader pattern of religious compromise and syncretism. By removing the Sea from its original position and placing it on a stone pavement, Ahaz demonstrated a disregard for the divinely ordained design and function of the Temple's furnishings. His actions reflected a shift away from the worship of Yahweh alone, as he introduced altars and practices influenced by foreign deities (2 Kings 16:10-16).

Ahaz's modifications to the Temple, including the alteration of the laver, were emblematic of his overall failure to uphold the spiritual and religious integrity of Judah. His reign is often viewed as a period of decline, marked by political subservience and religious apostasy. The changes he made to the Temple were later reversed by his son Hezekiah, who sought to restore proper worship and adherence to the covenant with God (2 Chronicles 29:3-19).

The laver, in its various forms, remained a powerful symbol of the need for purification and holiness in approaching God, a theme that resonates throughout the biblical narrative and underscores the importance of faithfulness to divine instructions.

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2 Kings 16:17
And king Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases, and removed the laver from off them; and took down the sea from off the brazen oxen that were under it, and put it on the pavement of stones.
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