2 Chronicles 1 - 5

As I have studied the Old Testament, I have not found any reference to the word "baptize" or baptism. What is interesting is that as the gospels of the New Testament begin we read that -

"...John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins." (New Testament Mark 1:4)

It is obvious that Jesus did not teach John about baptism nor does it appear that this practice was in the least unusual. The gospel writers seem to write that baptism is a common practice. We know that baptism was an established practice in Old Testament times for -

"...when the Lord had spoken with Adam, our father, that Adam cried unto the Lord, and he was caught away by the Spirit of the Lord, and was carried down into the water, and was laid under the water, and was brought forth out of the water.
65 And thus he was baptized, and the Spirit of God descended upon him, and thus he was born of the Spirit, and became quickened in the inner man." (Pearl of Great Price Moses 6:64 - 65)

Also -

"...Noah continued his preaching unto the people, saying: Hearken, and give heed unto my words;
24 Believe and repent of your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, even as our fathers, and ye shall receive the Holy Ghost, that ye may have all things made manifest..." (Pearl of Great Price Moses 8:23 - 24)

Even Enoch tells that he was commanded that he -

"...should baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, which is full of grace and truth, and of the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of the Father and the Son." (Pearl of Great Price Moses 7:11)

So why is there no direct reference to baptism in the Old Testament? I don't know other than I am convinced that baptism was generally practiced in Old Testament times. I would have to assume that writers and translators must have removed any reference to the word of baptism for whatever purpose.

As I read of the building of the temple of Jerusalem, I read that Solomon -

"...made a molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass, and five cubits the height thereof; and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.
3 And under it was the similitude of oxen, which did compass it round about: ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about. Two rows of oxen were cast, when it was cast.
4 It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward." (Old Testament 2 Chronicles 4:2 - 4)

What is interesting is Solomon -

"...made also ten lavers, and put five on the right hand, and five on the left, to wash in them: such things as they offered for the burnt offering they washed in them..." (Old Testament 2 Chronicles 4:6)

"...but the sea was for the priests to wash in..." (Old Testament 2 Chronicles 4:6)

The whole purpose of the sea was to wash in. It was the priests as John the Baptist that were given authority to wash or to "baptize". I wonder if that verse could also be written as -

"...but the sea was for the priests to [baptize] in..." (Old Testament 2 Chronicles 4:6)

That being the case, the molten sea was nothing less than a baptismal font.