The Gofpel of theSea and Lavers in the Temple. 379 general ; that it flood in the Eaft part of the Court, this is certain ; but force Place it in the North-eaft Corner : So our Tranflators read, r Kings,7. 39. and he fet the Sea on the right fide of the Houfe eaftward over againft the South, Mimmonl-negeb ; but others read it not over -. againfl the South, but towards the South, verjus aufirurn, that is, in the South-eaft Corner ofthe Prieft's Court, which Ez.ekiel's Vitìon feems to countenance, Ezek. q.7. 1. the Waters came down from under the right fide of the Houfe, at the South fide of the Altar. The Lavers were placed five on one fide, and five on the other fide of the Court. 7. The zfe of thefe famous Utenfils was to wafh thereat, from whence called Lavers or Lavatories. Of the Laver of the Tabernacle it is faid, Aaron and his Sons ¡hall wafh their Hands and their Feet thereat, Exod. 3o. 19. It was anointed and fanaified to this life, Levit. 8. 11. Mofes took the anointing Oyl, and he anointed the Tabernacle, and the Al- tar, and the Laver and his Foot to,fanaify them. The molten Sea in. the Temple was for the Priefts to wafh in the Lavers were for the Sacrifices, z Chron. ¢. 6. fuch things as they offer- ed for the Burnt-Offering, they wafhed in them, but the Sea was for the, Priefts to wafh in. But how did the Priefts math in it ? Not that they did go with their whole Bodies into it ; for neither did the Law require them fo to do, neither indeed could they; for the molten Sea was fodeep, that it would have drowned them. But the Text exprefl'eth it thus, Exod. 3o. 19, for Aaron and bit Sons ¡hall wafh their Hands and their Feet thereat : The Holy Ghoft loth not fay, they (hall wafh their whole Bodies therein, but only their Hands and their Feet thereat. And it is clearer and more fignificant in the He- brew Mimmenu ex ilia : ThereforeAinfroorth renders it therefrom, and his Note is this, to wit, in the Water that is taken out of the Laver into force Vefjel of the Sanlïuary. They took Water out of it byCocks, of Pipes, as they had occafion. Vid. Engl. Annot. Some think Pafrages were made through the Heads of the Oxen, to let the Water out of the Sea. Quell. But whence bad they this Water that was in the molten Sea ? Anfiv. It was the Office of the Gibeonites to provide it, and to at- tend upon all the Servile-work of the Temple, 70f 9. 23i z7. And Jofhua gave them that Day to be Hewers of Wood and Drawers of Water for she Congregation, and for the Altar of the Lord, ( that is for the Priefts and Sacrifices of the Altar) even unto this Day, in the Place which he fhould chofe. And Verf. 23. Drawers of Water for the Houfe of my God. Hence they came in after-times to be called Nethinims, Nehem. ro. z8. C CC 2 Ezra
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