The Basin with its Stand, also known as the Bronze Laver, is a significant element in the tabernacle and later in the temple worship as described in the Old Testament. It served a crucial role in the ritual purification of the priests, symbolizing the need for cleanliness and holiness before approaching God.

Biblical Description and Construction

The instructions for the construction of the Basin with its Stand are found in the Book of Exodus. God commanded Moses to make a bronze basin for washing, with a bronze stand, to be placed between the Tent of Meeting and the altar. The purpose of the basin was for Aaron and his sons to wash their hands and feet before entering the Tent of Meeting or approaching the altar to minister, ensuring they did not die due to impurity. This is detailed in Exodus 30:17-21 :

"The LORD also said to Moses, 'You are to make a bronze basin with a stand for washing. Place it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it, with which Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet. Whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister by burning an offering to the LORD, they must wash with water, so that they will not die. Thus they are to wash their hands and feet, so that they will not die. This is to be a permanent statute for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come.'"

The basin was made from the bronze mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, as described in Exodus 38:8 : "Next, he made the bronze basin and its stand from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting."

Symbolism and Function

The Basin with its Stand symbolizes purification and the necessity of holiness in the presence of God. The act of washing was not merely a physical cleansing but also a spiritual preparation, emphasizing the sanctity required of those who serve in the presence of the Almighty. The washing ritual underscored the concept that God is holy and those who approach Him must be clean, both physically and spiritually.

The use of the mirrors to construct the basin may also carry symbolic significance, representing self-examination and reflection, as mirrors were tools for personal reflection. This act of using mirrors for the basin could imply the need for introspection and acknowledgment of one's own impurities before God.

The Basin in the Temple

The concept of the Basin with its Stand continued into the Solomonic Temple, where it was replaced by a much larger structure known as the "Sea," described in 1 Kings 7:23-26. This massive basin was supported by twelve oxen and served a similar purpose of ritual purification for the priests.

Theological Implications

The Basin with its Stand highlights the importance of purity and preparation in worship. It serves as a reminder of the holiness of God and the need for His people to be cleansed from sin. The ritual washing points forward to the New Testament understanding of spiritual cleansing through Jesus Christ, who provides the ultimate purification for believers. The laver's role in the tabernacle and temple worship underscores the continuity of God's requirement for holiness and the provision of means for His people to approach Him in purity.