Shemot 30:19

19 For Aharon and his banim shall wash their hands and their feet thereat;

Shemot 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.

Shemot 30:19 In-Context

17 And Hashem spoke unto Moshe, saying,
18 Thou shalt also make a Kiyor of nechoshet, and its Stand also of nechoshet, to wash withal; and thou shalt place it between the Ohel Mo’ed and the Mizbe’ach, and thou shalt put mayim therein.
19 For Aharon and his banim shall wash their hands and their feet thereat;
20 When they go into the Ohel Mo’ed, they shall wash with mayim, that they die not; or when they come near to the Mizbe’ach to minister, to present offering made by eish unto Hashem;
21 So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not; and it shall be a chok olam to them, even to him and to his zera throughout their dorot.
The Orthodox Jewish Bible fourth edition, OJB. Copyright 2002,2003,2008,2010, 2011 by Artists for Israel International. All rights reserved.