[Heb. kéyor, "basin," "laver."] Specifically, the bronze basin in the courtyard of the ancient tabernacle, between the altar of burnt offering and the sanctuary, and later similar but more elaborate water containers in Solomon's Temple (Ex 30:17-21; 1 Ki 7:23-39). The priests used the water for their ritual. They were to wash their hands and feet before ministering at the altar or entering into the sanctuary (Ex 30:17-21; Lev 8:11). These ablutions were symbolic of the concept that God requires absolute cleanness of heart and life on the part of those who approach Him in worship. The bronze laver made at Mount Sinai was cast from the metal mirrors of Israelite women (Ex 38:8). It consisted of 2 parts, a bronze bowl and the bronze pedestal on which it stood the (ch 30:18). The "molten sea" and the 10 lavers provided by Solomon for his Temple (1 Ki 7:23-43) served the same purpose as the laver in the sanctuary. Solomon's "molten sea" was for the priests "to wash in," and the 10 smaller lavers were for washing portions of the burnt offerings (2 Chr 4:6). Each of the 10 lavers had its own stand or base, cast separately from the laver, and these bases were equipped with wheels to permit the lavers to be moved about the court as necessary. These bases and that of the "molten sea" were elaborately decorated (1 Ki 7:23-37). Nothing is known of the size or capacity of the laver in the original tabernacle. Each of the 10 smaller, portable "lavers" held 40 "baths," or about 232 gallons (v 38) -- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Dictionary.