Topical Bible: Laver: Broken and Carried Away to Babylon by the Chaldeans

◄ Laver: Broken and Carried Away to Babylon by the Chaldeans ►

Jump to: Nave's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

The laver, an essential component of the tabernacle and later the temple, served as a large basin for ceremonial washing by the priests. Its significance is rooted in the ritual purity required for those serving in the presence of God. The laver was initially constructed under the direction of Moses, as described in Exodus 30:17-21, where God commands the making of a bronze basin for Aaron and his sons to wash their hands and feet before ministering at the altar.

In Solomon's Temple, the laver was replaced by a more elaborate structure known as the "Sea," along with ten smaller lavers, as detailed in 1 Kings 7:23-39. These were crafted by Hiram of Tyre, a skilled artisan, and were made of cast bronze. The Sea was a massive basin supported by twelve oxen, symbolizing the tribes of Israel, and was used for the purification rites of the priests.

The destruction and desecration of the temple by the Babylonians marked a significant moment in Israel's history. In 2 Kings 25:13-17, the account of the Chaldeans breaking and carrying away the temple furnishings, including the bronze lavers, is recorded. The Berean Standard Bible states: "The Chaldeans broke up the bronze pillars, the stands, and the bronze Sea in the house of the LORD, and they carried the bronze to Babylon" (2 Kings 25:13). This act was not only a physical destruction but also a symbolic dismantling of the religious and cultural identity of the Israelites.

The removal of the laver and other sacred items to Babylon was part of the broader Babylonian exile, a period of profound theological reflection and transformation for the Jewish people. The loss of the temple and its sacred objects underscored the consequences of Israel's disobedience and idolatry, as forewarned by the prophets. Jeremiah, for instance, had prophesied the coming judgment and the subsequent exile (Jeremiah 25:8-11).

Theologically, the breaking and carrying away of the laver can be seen as a divine judgment upon the nation of Israel, yet it also set the stage for eventual restoration and renewal. The exile prompted a return to the covenantal faithfulness and a deeper understanding of God's sovereignty and holiness. The laver, once a symbol of purification and service, became a poignant reminder of the need for spiritual cleansing and repentance.

In the post-exilic period, the rebuilding of the temple under Zerubbabel and later enhancements by Herod the Great did not see the return of the original lavers. However, the concept of ritual purity and the need for spiritual cleansing continued to be central to Jewish worship and later Christian theology, as seen in the New Testament's emphasis on baptism and inner purification (Hebrews 10:22).

The laver's fate at the hands of the Chaldeans serves as a historical and spiritual lesson on the importance of faithfulness to God's commands and the enduring hope of redemption and restoration.

Nave's Topical Index

2 Kings 25:13,16
And the pillars of brass that were in the house of the LORD, and the bases, and the brazen sea that was in the house of the LORD, did the Chaldees break in pieces, and carried the brass of them to Babylon.
Nave's Topical Index

Jeremiah 52:17,20
Also the pillars of brass that were in the house of the LORD, and the bases, and the brazen sea that was in the house of the LORD, the Chaldeans broke, and carried all the brass of them to Babylon.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Treatise on Christ and Antichrist.
... was wounded and healed again, in its being broken up or ... 1531] which she bears with
her is the laver of the ... that he might cause her to be carried away of the ...
/.../treatise on christ and antichrist.htm