Definition and Cultural Context:
Ablution of the hands refers to the ceremonial washing of hands, a practice deeply rooted in ancient Jewish customs and religious rituals. This act is often associated with purification and sanctification, symbolizing the removal of impurity and the preparation for worship or sacred activities. In biblical times, handwashing was not only a matter of physical cleanliness but also held significant spiritual and symbolic meaning.

Biblical References:

1. Old Testament Practices:
· Exodus 30:17-21 : The Lord instructed Moses to make a bronze basin for washing, to be placed between the Tent of Meeting and the altar. Aaron and his sons were to wash their hands and feet with water from it before entering the Tent of Meeting or approaching the altar to minister. This was a perpetual statute for them, emphasizing the importance of purity in the priestly service: "Whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister by burning an offering to the LORD, they must wash with water, so that they will not die" (Exodus 30:20).

· Leviticus 15:11 : The law concerning bodily discharges also required washing: "Anyone whom the man with the discharge touches without rinsing his hands with water must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening." This highlights the broader application of handwashing in maintaining ritual purity.

2. New Testament Context:
· Mark 7:1-5 : The Pharisees and some of the scribes questioned Jesus about His disciples eating with unwashed hands, a tradition of the elders. This passage illustrates the emphasis placed on ceremonial handwashing in Jewish tradition: "The Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, and they saw some of His disciples eating with hands that were defiled—that is, unwashed" (Mark 7:1-2).

· Matthew 15:1-2 : Similarly, the Pharisees and scribes asked Jesus, "Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands when they eat." This reflects the tension between traditional practices and the teachings of Jesus, who emphasized inner purity over external rituals.

Symbolism and Theological Implications:
The act of handwashing in biblical times was not merely about hygiene but carried deep theological significance. It symbolized the need for spiritual cleanliness and readiness to approach God. The ritual underscored the holiness required of those who served in the temple and participated in worship. In the New Testament, Jesus' interactions with the Pharisees regarding handwashing highlight a shift from external rituals to the importance of inner purity and righteousness.

Rabbinic Traditions:
In addition to biblical mandates, rabbinic traditions expanded on the practice of handwashing. The Mishnah, a key Jewish text, details various instances and methods for ritual handwashing, underscoring its importance in daily life and religious observance. These traditions were well-established by the time of Jesus and were a point of contention between Him and the religious leaders of His day.

Conclusion:
The ablution of the hands, as depicted in the Bible, serves as a powerful symbol of purification and readiness to engage in holy service. While rooted in ancient customs, its spiritual implications continue to resonate, reminding believers of the call to purity and holiness in their approach to God.Exodus 30:18-21
You shall also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash with: and you shall put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and you shall put water therein.
Nave's Topical Index

Exodus 40:30-32
And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash with.
Nave's Topical Index

3538. nipto -- to wash
... wash. To cleanse (especially the hands or the feet or the face); ceremonially,
to perform ablution -- wash. Compare louo. see GREEK louo. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3538.htm - 7k

The Beginning of the Gospel.
... not such a lustration as was most familiar to the Mosaic law, administered by the
worshipper to himself, but an ablution at other hands, a confession that one ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 1 1-6 the beginning of.htm

Eucharistic Rites. Liturgy.
... reference to the words of the Psalmist, "I will wash mine hands in innocency ... perhaps
also at Jerusalem, the words were actually chanted during the ablution [220 ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/chapter v eucharistic rites liturgy.htm

Epistle xxv. To Gregoria.
... That woman who had been a sinner in the city, those hands which had been polluted ...
in that day the house of David shall be an open fountain for ablution of the ...
/.../gregory/the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle xxv to gregoria.htm

Whether the Actions Performed in Celebrating this Sacrament are ...
... lifted up his hands Israel overcame." That at times he joins his hands, and bows ...
celebrate another mass on the same day, lest from taking the ablution-wine he ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the actions performed in.htm

Baptism.
... the very day on which Peter denounced the Jews as having with wicked hands crucified
his ... as is the filth of the skin and body in the ordinary ablution of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter ii baptism.htm

Of Baptism.
... by the term repentance, regeneration, and by the remission of sins, ablution. ... For
the different hands by which baptism is administered do not make it a ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 15 of baptism.htm

But we are Called to Account as Harm-Doers on Another Ground...
... we owe to God, our Lord and Creator; we reject no creature of His hands, though
certainly we ... I can be rigid and pallid like you after ablution when I am dead. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/apology/chapter xlii but we are.htm

On Re-Reading My Protest, which I Honestly Think Much Needed...
... I honestly think much needed, against our heathen idolatry of mere ablution, I see ...
the many saints and heroes of the slums, whose unclean hands cleanse the ...
/.../chesterton/whats wrong with the world/chapter 48 on re-reading my.htm

Whether Exorcism Should Precede Baptism?
... person to be baptized); while the blessing, with the imposition of hands, bars the ...
from obtaining glory, is expelled from man by the baptismal ablution; but in ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether exorcism should precede baptism.htm

Whether the Defects Occurring During the Celebration of this ...
... to the cold that the host will slip from the priest's hands into the ... be caught carefully
and washed thoroughly, then burned, and the "ablution," together with ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the defects occurring during.htm

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