Matthew Poole and continuators on Exodus 38:8

8 And he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the looking glasses of the women assembling, which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation .

Which as now they are sometimes made of polished steel, so anticntly were made of polished brass, as appears both from sacred and from profane writers. See Iob 37. 18. Plin. 33. 9. &c.

It seems to note a company of religious women who in a more peculiar manner devoted themselves to the service of God in or about his Tabernacle, by fasting, prayer, &c. See 1 Sam. 2. 22. and Luk. 2. 37. And whereas some object, that the Tabernacle was not yet built, it may be replied, either that this is to be understood of the tabernacle, spoken of Exod. 33. 7. which might serve for that purpose till this was built, or that here is a prolepsis or anticipation, and that he speaks not of what the women now did, but of what they did after the Tabernacle was built, which was before Moses writ these words.

Marginal references: chap. 30. 18.; Or, brazen glasses.; Heb. assembling by [illegible: 1+ letters]oops. as 1 Sam. 2. 22.