Basin of Bronze כִּיּ֥וֹר נְחֹ֛שֶׁת

We are in chapter thirty of Exodus with our word for today. כִּיּ֥וֹר נְחֹ֛שֶׁת basin of bronze, platform of bronze. It is used 4 times in the Old Testament. Our phrase is used once to identify a platform that Solomon prayed from to dedicate the temple. 2 Chronicles 6:12-13 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands. Solomon had made a כִּיּ֣וֹר נְחֹ֗שֶׁת bronze platform five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and had set it in the court, and he stood on it. Then he knelt on his knees in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven. Three out of the four times our phrase is used it refers to the basin used for washing of the priests serving at the tabernacle worship. Exodus 30:17-21 The Lord said to Moses, “You shall also make a כִּיּ֥וֹר נְחֹ֛שֶׁתbasin of bronze, with its stand of bronze, for washing. You shall put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it, with which Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet. When they go into the tent of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to burn a food offering to the Lord, they shall wash with water, so that they may not die. They shall wash their hands and their feet, so that they may not die. It shall be a statute forever to them, even to him and to his offspring throughout their generations.” It is interesting where the original basin metal was used from. Exodus 38:8 He made הַכִּיּ֣וֹר נְחֹ֔שֶׁת the basin of bronze and its stand of bronze, from the mirrors of the ministering women who ministered in the entrance of the tent of meeting. When Solomon built the temple he had a special craftsman do the work. 1 Kings 7:13-14, 38 And King Solomon sent and brought Hiram from Tyre … he was full of wisdom, understanding, and skill for making any work in bronze. He came to King Solomon and did all his work … And he made ten כִיֹּר֖וֹת נְחֹ֑שֶׁתbasins of bronze. Each basin held forty baths, each basin measured four cubits, and there was a basin for each of the ten stands. And he set the stands, five on the south side of the house, and five on the north side of the house. And he set the sea at the southeast corner of the house. It is interesting that the first basin was made out of the mirrors of the women serving at the entrance of the tent of meeting. I don’t think this is a coincidence because later God compares his word to a mirror. Bronze was used as a mirror because when polished one could see the reflection in it. James 1:22-26 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. We can see where we need to let God transform us when we read God’s word just like a mirror reflects our image. I’ll close with this great passage that also connects this idea of a mirror image of reflection and God’s transforming power. 2 Corinthians 3:18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.