Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Kings 7:27-29

"And he made the ten bases of brass; four cubits was the length of one base, and four cubits the breadth thereof, and three cubits the height of it. And the work of the bases was on this manner: they had panels; and there were panels between the ledges; and on the panels that were between the ledges were lions, oxen, and cherubim; and upon the ledges there was a pedestal above; and beneath the lions and oxen were wreaths of hanging work." — 1 Kings 7:27-29 (ASV)

The smaller brass lavers for washing the sacrifices, and the movable bases on which they rested, are described in even greater detail. Some details of the description are obscure, and it is clear that our translators were significantly mistaken about them. Generally, however, it appears that each base was a kind of hollow chest, 6 feet square in its layout and 4½ feet high, having pilasters or fillets (“ledges” in 1 Kings 7:28) at the angles, with panels on each side (“borders” in 1 Kings 7:28), ornamented with “lions, oxen, and cherubims.” Below these hung festoons of thin metalwork—(“certain additions made of thin work,” in 1 Kings 7:29). Each base was set on four brazen wheels with brazen axles (“plates” in 1 Kings 7:30), only 27 inches high, and with naves, felloes, and spokes, all cast in brass.

On each base was a convex circular stand (1 Kings 7:35), with a “mouth,” or circular opening (apparently “the chapiter” of 1 Kings 7:31), upon which, or over which, the laver stood. This stand was nine inches high, ornamented with carvings of “cherubims, lions, and palm-trees.” From the four corners of the upper surface of the base sprang “undersetters,” apparently brackets helping to support the laver (which rested above the “mouth” of the convex stand) and to keep it firmly in its place (1 Kings 7:30; 1 Kings 7:34).

The laver was 6 feet in diameter and held 40 baths, or about 360 gallons. The whole assembly stood high, no doubt to bring it nearly on a level with the brazen altar, which was 15 feet high. In form, perhaps, each laver was a smaller copy of the molten sea. A conjectural description and sketch of the whole are given in the Dictionary of the Bible, in the article 'LAVERS'.