Definition and Purpose:
Ablution refers to the ceremonial washing or cleansing, particularly in a religious context. In the context of the Old Testament, the ablution of priests was a divinely mandated ritual that symbolized purification and preparation for service in the Tabernacle and later the Temple. This ritual washing was essential for maintaining the sanctity required to approach God and perform sacred duties.

Biblical References:
The primary instructions for the ablution of priests are found in the Book of Exodus. God commanded Moses to institute these practices as part of the consecration of Aaron and his sons, the first priests of Israel.

· Exodus 29:4 : "Then present Aaron and his sons at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and wash them with water."

· Exodus 30:17-21 : "Then the LORD said to Moses, 'You are to make a basin of bronze with a bronze stand for washing. Place it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it, with which Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet. Whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister by burning an offering made by fire to the LORD, they must wash with water, so that they will not die. Thus they are to wash their hands and feet, so that they will not die. This is to be a permanent statute for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come.'"

Significance in Rituals:
The ablution of priests was not merely a matter of physical cleanliness but held deep symbolic significance. It represented the removal of impurity and the readiness to serve in the presence of a holy God. The act of washing was a prerequisite for entering the sacred space of the Tent of Meeting and performing sacrificial duties at the altar.

The Bronze Basin:
The bronze basin, also known as the laver, was a critical component of the Tabernacle's furnishings. It was strategically placed between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, ensuring that the priests could perform their ablutions before engaging in their priestly functions. The basin was made of bronze, a material that symbolized strength and durability, and it was filled with water for the priests to wash their hands and feet.

Symbolism and Theological Implications:
The ablution of priests underscored the holiness required of those who served in the presence of God. It was a constant reminder of the need for purity and the separation from sin. The washing of hands and feet symbolized the cleansing of one's actions and walk, aligning with the broader biblical theme of holiness and consecration.

New Testament Context:
While the specific ritual of priestly ablution is not carried over into the New Testament, the concept of spiritual cleansing and preparation for service remains. The New Testament emphasizes the inner purification of believers through the blood of Christ and the washing of regeneration by the Holy Spirit.

· Hebrews 10:22 : "Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."

The ablution of priests in the Old Testament serves as a precursor to the spiritual cleansing available to all believers through faith in Jesus Christ, highlighting the continuity of God's desire for a holy people.Exodus 29:4
And Aaron and his sons you shall bring to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall wash them with water.
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Exodus 36:18-21
And he made fifty clasps of brass to couple the tent together, that it might be one.
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Exodus 40:12,31,32
And you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water.
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Leviticus 8:6
And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water.
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Leviticus 16:4,24,26,28
He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches on his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen turban shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.
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Numbers 19:7-10,19
Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean until the even.
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2 Chronicles 4:6
He made also ten lavers, and put five on the right hand, and five on the left, to wash in them: such things as they offered for the burnt offering they washed in them; but the sea was for the priests to wash in.
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Pagans.
... ablution, where she divested herself of all her ornaments. Her head was covered
with a piece of silk, and a cloth was tied round her body, in which the priests ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hayward/the book of religions/pagans.htm

Eucharistic Rites. Liturgy.
... another." In the Clementine Liturgy [221] the "Kiss of Peace" precedes the "Ablution.". ...
members, and may not cast the whole work upon the Priests, but ourselves ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/chapter v eucharistic rites liturgy.htm

The Theory of the Church, and the History of Its Perversion.
... Do you suppose that the priests of God are without His cognizance ordained in the ...
useless, and that the baptism he dispensed was worthless as the ablution of a ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter xiii the theory of.htm

Whether the Actions Performed in Celebrating this Sacrament are ...
... Now he was sold to the Priests, to the Scribes, and to the Pharisees: and to ... to
celebrate another mass on the same day, lest from taking the ablution-wine he ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the actions performed in.htm

Whether the Defects Occurring During the Celebration of this ...
... be fitting that when the sacred mysteries are consecrated by priests during the ...
carefully and washed thoroughly, then burned, and the "ablution," together with ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the defects occurring during.htm

The Third Part of the Articles.
... fraternities or colleges of priests], wished to be monks and priests, and by ... of the
divine will, Baptism washes away sins, and that this ablution occurs only ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/the smalcald articles/the third part of the.htm

The City of Benares.
... by Major Kittoe, who says, "All has been sacked and burned"priests, temples, idols,
all ... It is evident they are not engaged in mere ablution, so important for ...
/.../life and work in benares and kumaon 1839-1877/chapter vii the city of.htm

Christ's Connection with the Creator Shown from Several Incidents ...
... many things, and be rejected of the elders, and scribes, and priests, and be ... child
from her who bears him; [4303] never received the copious ablution, nor the ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter xxi christs connection with the.htm

The Lord's Day --The Worship of the Apostolic Church --Its ...
... offerings, and other observances of the temple, as well as the priests, the vestments ...
obvious that water may be applied, in many ways, as the means of ablution. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter i the lords daythe.htm

Of Baptism.
... The things which we have said, both of mortification and ablution, were adumbrated ...
not harm the Jews that they were circumcised by impure and apostate priests. ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 15 of baptism.htm

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