Basin, Or Bason

The following Hebrew words are rendered "bason" in English: "aggan," "kefor," "mizraḳ," and "saf." Of these "aggan" and "kefor" are rare, the former occurring in Ex. xxiv. 6 as the name of the vessel in which the blood of the sacrifice was put, before the people were sprinkled with it; the latter, in I Chron. xxviii. 17; Ezra i. 10, xxviii. 27 (A. V. "bason"; R. V. "bowl").

The common Biblical word for Basin is "mizraḳ" Three metals are mentioned in the Bible in connection with the basins, copper or brass, silver, and gold. Brass basins were used as sprinkling-bowls in sacrificing (Ex. xxvii. 3, xxxviii. 3; I Kings vii. 40, 45). Basins of silver were offered with the mealoffering to the tabernacle by the "princes" of the congregation (Num. vii. 11, 13, 19, 25 et seq.). Solomon made basins of gold for the Temple (I Kings vii. 50), and those of gold and of silver were taken by Nebuzaradan when he plundered Jerusalem (II Kings xxv. 15; Jer. lii. 18, 19). In Zech. ix. 15 sacred vessels of this kind are spoken of in a way that indicates that they were used for wine; and in Amos vi. 6 the "mizraḳ" is mentioned as a drinking-bowl. Fifty basins were among the gift of treasure to the Second Temple (Neh. vii. 70). "Mizraḳ" is translated in both A. V. and R. V. sometimes as "bason" and sometimes as "bowl."

"Saf" (A. V. "bason"; R. V. generally "cup," but twice "bason") seems to have corresponded in a great measure to "mizraḳ." It is mentioned (Ex. xii. 22) as being used for holding the blood of victims in connection with the Passover sacrifice before the Exodus, and as a utensil for the Temple (II Kings xii. 14 [A. V.]; I Kings vii. 50; Jer. lii. 19). "Saf" is also used as a general term for Basin or bowl (II Sam. xvii. 28; Zech. xii. 2).

J. Jr. C. J. M.