Josiah Meyer

Exo 38:8 GNB  He made the bronze basin and its bronze base out of the mirrors belonging to the women who served at the entrance of the Tent of the LORD's presence.

I never really noticed this verse before.  What is the purpose of telling us that women who served at the entrance of the temple gave up their mirrors to make the bronze basin?  A historical tidbit would be that mirrors in those days had a lot of “bronze” in them. Our mirrors are primarily glass with a silver backing.  In those days, the reflective surface was probably polished bronze.  

But what of it, certainly there has to be a better reason?  I think the primary reason is that these women now had no mirrors.  

Lev 19:29 GNB  "Do not disgrace your daughters by making them temple prostitutes; if you do, you will turn to other gods and the land will be full of immorality.

With most other religions of the day, the women who served at the entrance were prostitutes.  A prostitute would need her mirror; her outward beauty was of utmost importance.  Not so with God’s female temple servants, who were certainly not called to be prostitutes.

Exo 30:18-21 GNB  "Make a bronze basin with a bronze base. Place it between the Tent and the altar, and put water in it.  (19)  Aaron and his sons are to use the water to wash their hands and feet  (20)  before they go into the Tent or approach the altar to offer the food offering. Then they will not be killed.  (21)  They must wash their hands and feet, so that they will not die. This is a rule which they and their descendants are to observe forever."

The mirrors were given to make a tool used for ritual cleaning of the priests before they approached the alter.  That is significant.