Exodus 30:19

19 for Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet in water from it.

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 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
18 "You shall also make a laver of bronze, with its base also of bronze, for washing. You shall put it between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar. And you shall put water in it,
19 for Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet in water from it.
20 When they go into the tabernacle of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to burn an offering made by fire to the Lord, they shall wash with water, lest they die.
21 So they shall wash their hands and their feet, lest they die. And it shall be a statute forever to them--to him and his descendants throughout their generations."
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.