10345. 'And the laver and its pedestal' means that which is representative of purification and regeneration, and the natural degree. This is clear from the meaning of 'washing', which was accomplished by means of the water in the laver, as that which is representative of purification and regeneration, dealt with in 10237, 10239; from the meaning of 'the laver' as the natural degree within a person, dealt with in 10235; and from the meaning of 'its pedestal' as the level of the senses, which is the last and lowest of the natural degree, dealt with in 10236.

9724. 'And shovels, and basins, and its forks, and its tongs' means known facts that act as containers and serve every purpose. This is clear from the meaning of vessels generally as the items of knowledge or known facts that the external memory possesses, dealt with in 3068, 3069, and - in regard to things of a holy nature - as the cognitions of good and truth which serve as means by which to worship the Lord, 9544. Such also is what the vessels for ministry around the altar mean. But each particular vessel there means the known facts that relate to some specific purpose, so that all the vessels there mean the known facts that serve every purpose.