Women Without Mirrors

The laver was the second piece of furniture in the court (the first being the altar of the burnt offering). The laver had a foot (or a stand), was filled with water and was used by the priest to wash their hands and their feet while they were in Jehovah's service (Ex. 30:19, 21, 40:31). No dimensions, shape, or details were provided for it.

We do know that the laver was metal. Depending on the version of the Bible and/or commentator, it was either brass, bronze or copper. The commentators I admire most call it copper, so will I. The copper came from mirrors. And he made the laver of copper, and its stand of copper, of the mirrors of the crowds of women who crowded before the entrance of the tent of meeting.—Ex. 38:8

A number of commentators say that priest saw their reflection, saw the dirt, and washed. But I don't get it. I just don't get it. When was the last time you washed your hands? or your feet? When was the last time you used a mirror to see how dirty your hands or feet were?

Mirrors back then were not the silver coated glass that reflects a perfect image, but flat pieces of polished metal (Copper). The flat mirrors were beaten or some how molded into some kind of basin to hold water. No longer flat, no longer casting a good reflection. Besides, the laver, and the water in it, was always dirty. Several time each day the priest had to wash the dust off their feet and the blood off their hands.

These commentators miss the point. It is not that the priest somehow sawtheir reflection, but that the women couldn't. The women were without mirrors.

Mirrors are used everyday by everyday people (not just women), to see their imperfections and to make the necessary adjustments so that others won't see them. When is a miror used? First thing in the morning (before anyone sees us) or before we leave the (house, restroom, car -- fill in the blank). We look at the image of ourselves. We wash our face, adjust our hair, shave, put on makeup, etc. We see ourselves in the mirror before anyone sees us. Then we walk away forgetting what we look like.

... like to a man considering his natural face in a mirror: for he has considered himself and is gone away, and straightway he has forgotten what he was like. But *he* that fixes his view on [the] perfect law, that of liberty, and abides in [it], being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of [the] work, *he* shall be blessed in his doing.

There will be a time when we won't need mirrors – when we are perfect (or complete) we will not need to see how we look, will not need to adjust our hair or put on make up before others see us. We will not have imperfections.

For we know in part, and we prophesy in part: but when that which is perfect has come, that which is in part shall be done away. -- 1 Cor. 13:9-10