Solomon's Laver - The Sea

In I kings 7:23-26 and II Chronicles 4:2-5 we have a description of another piece of furniture in the courtyard of the temple that Solomon built for God – the Molten Sea. This piece of furniture corresponded to the Laver in the Sanctuary that Moses had built for God in Exodus 30:18-21. This piece of furniture was for the washing of the hands and feet of the priests before they went in to the Holy Place to minister before God. In the Temple that Solomon built, the Scriptures state that the Sea was for the priests to wash in. II Chronicles 4:6.

The Bible states that the Sea was 10 cubits from brim to brim – approximately 15 feet in diameter. The Sea was 5 cubits high – about 7.5 feet high, and 30 cubits in circumference – about 30 feet around. In the research that this writer performed there were many opinions about what the Sea looked like which ranged from a circular tub to a hexagonal flower form like the bud of a lily. Several writers preferred the form of a flower bud due to the mathematical issues of Pi, which would not allow for a precise circle to be 30 feet in circumference with a diameter of 15 feet. I will leave this discussion for the mathematicians to solve.

In addition to the measurements of the Sea, there is recorded that the Sea would hold 2000 baths of water. In II Chronicles 4:5 the record states that the Sea would hold 3000 baths. Some discrepancy between the two numbers but the end product was that the Sea held a lot of water.
There were several other interesting qualities to the Sea. Around the Sea was a series of "bud" like protuberances cast into the Sea. These "knops" were like seed bearing pods preparing to open and cast out their seed into the world to share a similar quality that the larger flower like Sea would bear with its abundance of waters. This could be similar to the idea that the Sea was like Jesus the Great High Priest and His followers were like buds preparing to open and be Christ like – minor priests in relationship to Jesus the Major priest. I Peter 2:5-9 These knops were in two rows surrounding the Sea10 knops per cubit – or approximately 600 knops – 30 cubits x 10 knops per cubit x 2 rows. One additional thought on priests – they would be seen by Jesus as fountains of water springing up out of their bellies – giving the good news of Jesus and His gospel to the world. John 7:37-39; John 4:10-14.

The next fascinating quality of the Sea in the Temple that Solomon built for God, was that the Sea was set upon the backs of 12 brass oxen. These 12 oxen were in 4 groups of 3. Each set of 3 oxen were facing in one of the directions of the compass – so 3 facing North, 3 facing East, 3 facing South, and three facing West. The hind parts of the brass oxen were all facing inward and the heads of the oxen facing outward. The backs and hindquarters were the support area for the molten sea to set upon. This writer believes that the oxen were a symbol of service that would carry the gospel message of the water of life accumulated in the Molten Sea. This water, symbolically, came from the throne of God (Revelation 22:1-3; Ezekiel 47:1-12), ran out through the two pillars, accumulated in the Molten Sea, and was dispersed to the world through God’s priesthood – His people.

Another facet of the oxen that supported the Molten Sea was the fact that the 12 oxen, facing the 4 compass points was similar to the positions of the 12 tribes around the Sanctuary that Moses had built for God. First of all the Sanctuary was in the middle of the encampment. The Gershonites, one of the Levitical families was to camp to the West of the Sanctuary. The family of Kohath, one of the families of the Levites, was to camp to the South of the Sanctuary. Merari, one of the families of the Levites, would camp to the North. Moses, Aaron, and their sons were to camp to the East of the Sanctuary. Numbers 3.

In Numbers 2 the 12 tribes were distributed around the Sanctuary in a specific order. On the East side, outside of the Levites positions around the Sanctuary were the tribes of Judah, then Issachar, and then Zebulun. On the South side was the tribe of Reuben, then Simeon, and then Gad. On the West side of the Sanctuary was the tribe of Mannaseh, then Benjamin, and then Ephraim. On the North side of the Sanctuary was to be the tribe of Dan, then Asher, and then Naphtali. 4 sets of 3 tribes facing the 4 corners of the compass, acting in the manner of priests. Exodus 19:6

In the Sanctuary built by Moses the Laver was placed in the courtyard between the Tabernacle of the Congregation and the Altar of burnt offering. Exodus 30:18. In the Temple that Solomon built for God the Sea was placed on the right side of the house Eastward over against the South. I am not sure where exactly this position would be but if we can use the Temple Moses built for God as a reference point the Sea would be on the South side of the courtyard between the Altar and the Holy Place, just east of the middle of the space between the Altar of burnt offering and the Holy Place.

One final thought before closing. This Sea is mentioned in Revelation 7:14 where the people of God come to wash their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. In addition in Revelation 15:3. In this scene the 144,000; those who were sealed and those who had victory over the beast, over image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name; were standing on the Sea of glass having the harps of God and singing the Song of Moses and the Lamb. These 144,000 were the ones sealed with seal of God in Revelation 7:1-8. The interesting part of this is that the place where these people were standing was on the sea of glass. In the Sanctuary that Moses built for God the Laver was eventually covered with the mirrors of the women of Israel. Exodus 38:8. It is from this text that James gets the idea of looking into the glass of the law of liberty and seeing Jesus. James 1:21-25. The Sea of Glass is the place in the courtyard where Jesus bids His people wait for Him to return. This place is a place of judgment, and a place of testifying of victory over sin. Revelation 15:2

This place is a place before the throne of God. Ellen White, in her book Early Writings pages 54-56, sheds some light on this place and the activities that take place there. She states the following:

"End of the 2300 Days I saw a throne, and on it sat the Father and the Son. I gazed on Jesus' countenance and admired His lovely person. The Father's person I could not behold, for a cloud of glorious light covered Him. I asked Jesus if His Father had a form like Himself. He said He had, but I could not behold it, for said He, "If you should once behold the glory of His person, you would cease to exist." Before the throne I saw the Advent people--the church and the world. I saw two companies, one bowed down before the throne, deeply interested, while the other stood uninterested and careless. Those who were bowed before the throne would offer up their prayers and look to Jesus; then He would look to His Father, and appear to be pleading with Him. A light would come from the Father to the Son and from the Son to the praying company. Then I saw an exceeding bright light come from the Father to the Son, and from the Son it waved over the people before the throne. But few would receive this great light. Many came out from under it and immediately resisted it; others were careless and did not cherish the light, and it moved off from them. Some cherished it, and went and bowed down with the little praying company. This company all received the light and rejoiced in it, and their countenances shone with its glory.

I saw the Father rise from the throne, and in a flaming chariot go into the holy of holies within the veil, and sit down. Then Jesus rose up from the throne, and the most of those who were bowed down arose with Him. I did not see one ray of light pass from Jesus to the careless multitude after He arose, and they were left in perfect darkness. Those who arose when Jesus did, kept their eyes fixed on Him as He left the throne and led them out a little way. Then He raised His right arm, and we heard His lovely voice saying, "Wait here; I am going to My Father to receive the kingdom; keep your garments spotless, and in a little while I will return from the wedding and receive you to Myself." Then a cloudy chariot, with wheels like flaming fire, surrounded by angels, came to where Jesus was. He stepped into the chariot and was borne to the holiest, where the Father sat. There I beheld Jesus, a great High Priest, standing before the Father. On the hem of His garment was a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate. Those who rose up with Jesus would send up their faith to Him in the holiest, and pray, "My Father, give us Thy Spirit." Then Jesus would breathe upon them the Holy Ghost. In that breath was light, power, and much love, joy, and peace.

I turned to look at the company who were still bowed before the throne; they did not know that Jesus had left it. Satan appeared to be by the throne, trying to carry on the work of God. I saw them look up to the throne, and pray, "Father, give us Thy Spirit." Satan would then breathe upon them an unholy influence; in it there was light and much power, but no sweet love, joy, and peace. Satan's object was to keep them deceived and to draw back and deceive God's children."

It is this writer’s view that the place where Jesus led out His people a little way is to the Sea of Glass in Revelation 15:1-3 This place is a symbolic place of purity, where we can be washed and cleansed in the blood of the Lamb and in the Water of the Word of God. Revelation 7:14; Ephesians 5:26.

I pray that each of us may "see" the various functions and goals of the Sea in the Temple that Solomon built for God. I pray that all that God has intended for us to learn from these concepts will be imparted to us by the Holy Spirit and that we may indeed share these insights with all of the rest of the world.