- it contained:
- This immense laver, called a sea from it magnitude, held, at a moderate computation, 16,000 gallons. Besides this great brazen laver, there were in the temple ten lavers of brass of a less size, which moved on wheels, and were ornamented with the figures of various animals, having, probably, always some relation to the cherubim. These lavers were to hold water for the use of the priests in their sacred office, particularly to wash the victims that were to be offered as a burnt offering, as we learn from "He madeª° also tenª lavers,ª and putª° fiveª on the right hand,ª¹ and fiveª on the left,ª¹ to washª° in them:¹ such things as they offeredª for the burnt offeringª they washedª° in them; but the seaª [was] for the priestsª to wash¹ in.²°" {2Ch 4:6}; but the brazen sea was for the priests to wash in. The knops are supposed to have been in the form of an ox's head ("And under¹ it [was] the similitudeª of oxen,ª which did compassª° it round about:ª tenª in a cubit,ª compassingª°¹ the seaª round about.ª Twoª rowsª of oxenª [were] cast,ª° when it was cast.ª" {2Ch 4:3}); and some think the water flowed out at their mouths.
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