This bronze tank within the Temple was 7 ½ feet high, 15 feet across, and 45 feet in circumference. It was used by the priests to wash their hands and feet before they ministered to the Lord. In verses 27 through 29, we see that, not only was there this huge bronze tank that contained 14,000 gallons of water, but there were ten portable tanks six square feet in size that each held about 250 gallons of water for the priests to wash themselves whenever and wherever they had need.

The brass laver in the Tabernacle that preceded these lavers in the Temple was made from the mirrors of the Israelite women carried out of Egypt (Exodus 38:8). The image is perfect because we are cleansed by the water of the Word (John 15:3), which is also likened to a mirror in James 1:23. Therefore, I suggest that the laver in the Temple containing fourteen thousand gallons of water speaks of the full counsel of God (Acts 20:27), the Word in its entirety, while the smaller lavers speak of the smaller portions of the Word we carry in our hearts upon which we are to meditate throughout the day (Psalm 1:2; 119:105). As a “chosen generation, a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9), we need both as we minister to the Lord and to people every day.