Topical Bible: Priest: The Time of Moses: Ablutions of

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In the time of Moses, the role of the priest was central to the religious life of the Israelites, and the practice of ablutions, or ritual washings, was a significant aspect of their duties. These ablutions were not merely for physical cleanliness but were symbolic of spiritual purity and readiness to serve in the presence of God.

The instructions for priestly ablutions are primarily found in the book of Exodus. God commanded Moses to establish a system of worship that included specific rituals for the consecration and purification of the priests. In Exodus 29:4 , God instructs, "Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting and wash them with water." This initial washing was part of the consecration ceremony, signifying the priests' purification and dedication to God's service.

The priests were required to perform regular ablutions as part of their daily duties. Exodus 30:17-21 details the construction and use of the bronze basin, or laver, which was placed between the Tent of Meeting and the altar. The passage states, "The LORD also said to Moses, 'You are to make a bronze basin for washing, with a bronze stand. 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 to the LORD, they must wash with water, so that they will not die.'" This command underscores the seriousness of approaching God with purity and the necessity of ritual cleansing.

The act of washing the hands and feet was a continual reminder of the holiness required of those who served in the tabernacle. It symbolized the removal of impurity and the preparation to perform sacred duties. The priests' ablutions were a physical manifestation of the inner purity and sanctification that God demanded from His chosen servants.

The emphasis on ablutions highlights the broader biblical theme of holiness and the separation from sin. The priests, as mediators between God and the people, were to exemplify this holiness in their service. Leviticus 8:6 further illustrates this, where Moses "brought Aaron and his sons forward and washed them with water" as part of their ordination.

In summary, the ablutions of the priests during the time of Moses were a critical component of their service, symbolizing the purity and sanctity required to minister before the Lord. These ritual washings were a constant reminder of the need for holiness and the serious nature of approaching the divine presence.

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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.
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Leviticus 16:24
And he shall wash his flesh with water in the holy place, and put on his garments, and come forth, and offer his burnt offering, and the burnt offering of the people, and make an atonement for himself, and for the people.
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Library

The Historical Situation
... the Sadducees, probably from Zadok, the high-priest in Solomon's ... have come down to
us from the time of Jesus ... and the fragment known as the Assumption of Moses. ...
/.../rhees/the life of jesus of nazareth/i the historical situation.htm

Intercourse of Jesus with the Pagans and the Samaritans.
... The priest, by his office, ever advocates public sacrifice, of ... to his co-religionists
from the time of Alexander ... of Noah, and not to those of Moses.[5] This ...
/.../renan/the life of jesus/chapter xiv intercourse of jesus.htm

The Social Test of Religion
... house of God when Abiathar was high priest, and ate ... But the strict religionists of
Jesus' time had made a ... For Moses said, Honor thy father and thy mother; and ...
/.../rauschenbusch/the social principles of jesus/chapter ix the social test.htm

Jesus Works his First Miracle at Cana in Galilee.
... mother of that in me which worketh miracles." Moses recognized that ... for a supreme
sign, but at that time only a ... infants, but said by the attending priest to be ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxii jesus works his first.htm

James the Brother of the Lord.
... church, and to lead the disciples of Moses gently to ... He turns James into a Jewish
priest and Nazirite saint ... hupo panton dikaios), from the Lord's time even to ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 27 james the brother.htm

The Law Given, not to Retain a People for Itself, but to Keep ...
... sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever ... the prophets were until John:
since that time the kingdom ... he says, "The law was given by Moses, but grace ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 7 the law given.htm

Funeral Oration on the Great S. Basil, Bishop of C??sarea in ...
... of philosophers: highest of all a priest among Christians ... [4463] These were the works
of Moses and Elijah ... also they were characteristic of their time and its ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xliii funeral oration on.htm