Exodus 30:19

19 Aaron and his sons must wash their hands and feet with the water from this bowl.

Exodus 30:19 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 30:19

For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their
feet thereat.
] Not in it, but at it; the laver had mouths or spouts, as Ben Melech says, from whence the water flowed when the priests washed their hands and feet at it; and so Bartenora says F26 they did not wash out of the laver, but from water flowing out of it; it is said "out of it", not in it; it seems at first there were but two of these spouts; for it is said F1 Ben Katin made twelve spouts or cocks, which had but two before; so that twelve priests could wash their hands and feet at one time, and which they could do at once, presently, by putting the right hand on the top of the right foot, and the left hand upon the left foot, as both Jarchi and Ben Melech relate: and now the hands being the instruments of action, and the feet of walking, this shows that the actions of good men, the priests of the Lord, and their walk and conversation, are not without sin, and that these need washing in the laver of Christ's blood, to which there must be daily application, see ( Zechariah 13:1 ) ( Revelation 7:14 ) . Our Lord seems to have reference to this ceremony, ( John 13:10 ) the Egyptian priests washed twice every day in cold water, and twice every night F2.


FOOTNOTES:

F26 In Misn. Zebachim, c. 2. sect. 1.
F1 Misn. Yoma. c. 3. sect. 10.
F2 Herodot. Euterpe, sive, l. 2. c. 37.

Exodus 30:19 In-Context

17 The Lord said to Moses,
18 "Make a bronze bowl, on a bronze stand, for washing. Put the bowl and stand between the Meeting Tent and the altar, and put water in the bowl.
19 Aaron and his sons must wash their hands and feet with the water from this bowl.
20 Each time they enter the Meeting Tent they must wash with water so they will not die. Whenever they approach the altar to serve as priests and offer a sacrifice to the Lord by fire,
21 they must wash their hands and their feet so they will not die. This is a rule which Aaron and his descendants are to keep from now on."
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.