To prevent the men from looking at them, they made these mirrors and reflected the sunlight toward the men, preventing them from looking at the women. The washstand stood between the Tabernacle and the altar. The washstand therefore hid the women who would stand at the Tabernacle so that the men could not see them. Moses made the washstand out of those mirrors because through them the women could see everything that was done in the Tabernacle. These mirrors were indications of the women's desire to come to the Tabernacle to pray and hear words of Torah.
Some commentaries translate the word tzovaot to mean masses of women.
The rnarot ha-tzovaot belonged to the masses of women who congregated to bring their mirrors to the Tabernacle to make the washstand. Some say that these mirrors were made for the priests who would come to wash their hands and feet from the washstand. They would look in the mirrors to see if they had any spot or stain on their vestments. They were then able to make themselves look their best before they performed any Divine service. This teaches that one must prepare oneself to took his best before prayer or other Divine service just as he would prepare himself before greeting a king.