1 Kings 7

In the temple of Solomon, we read that Hiram of Tyre -

"...made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other: it was round all about, and his height was five cubits: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.
24 And under the brim of it round about there were knops compassing it, ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about: the knops were cast in two rows, when it was cast.
25 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 | 1 Kings 7:23 - 25)

In the beginning of the gospels, 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)

Does one think this was a brand new doctrine with John? I'm sure if it was, the writers would have suggested there was a strange new doctrine called baptism. But baptism for remission of sins does not seem to be new to the gospel writers.

As we read of the molten sea in the temple of Solomon, one must wonder if this was a baptismal font. Modern day temples are also built with a so called "molten sea" set on twelve oxen.