(17) The Eternal One spoke to Moses, saying: (18) Make a laver of copper and a stand of copper for it, for washing; and place it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar. Put water in it, (19) and let Aaron and his sons wash their hands and feet [in water drawn] from it. (20) When they enter the Tent of Meeting they shall wash with water, that they may not die; or when they approach the altar to serve, to turn into smoke an offering by fire to the Eternal, (21) they shall wash their hands and feet, that they may not die. It shall be a law for all time for them—for him and his offspring—throughout the ages.
(א) ורחצו אהרן ובניו וגו' הרחיצה הזו דרך כבוד שלמעלה, כי כל הקרב לשולחן המלכים לשרת וליגע בפת בג המלך וביין משתיו רוחץ ידיו בעבור היות הידים עסקניות. והוסיף כאן לרחוץ הרגלים בעבור היות הכהנים משרתים יחפים ויש בני אדם שיש ברגליהם זוהמא וכיעור:
(ב) וְלָמָה הֻצְרְכוּ לְכָךְ, שֶׁפַּעַם אַחַת עָלָה מְאוֹר הַלְּבָנָה וְדִמּוּ שֶׁהֵאִיר מִזְרָח, וְשָׁחֲטוּ אֶת הַתָּמִיד, וְהוֹצִיאוּהוּ לְבֵית הַשְּׂרֵפָה. הוֹרִידוּ כֹהֵן גָּדוֹל לְבֵית הַטְּבִילָה. זֶה הַכְּלָל הָיָה בַמִּקְדָּשׁ, כָּל הַמֵּסֵךְ אֶת רַגְלָיו טָעוּן טְבִילָה, וְכָל הַמַּטִּיל מַיִם טָעוּן קִדּוּשׁ יָדַיִם וְרַגְלָיִם:
(2) And why was all that necessary? Because once the light of the moon rose and they thought that the east was lit up and slaughtered the continual offering, [and afterwards] they had to take it out to the place of burning. They led the high priest down to the place of immersion. This was the rule in the Temple: whoever covers his feet required an immersion, and whoever passed water required sanctification [by washing] his hands and feet.
(33) On its hem make pomegranates of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, all around the hem, with bells of gold between them all around: (34) a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, all around the hem of the robe. (35) Aaron shall wear it while officiating, so that the sound of it is heard when he comes into the sanctuary before the Eternal One and when he goes out—that he may not die.
(1) ורחצו אהרן ובניו ממנו את ידיהם ואת רגליהם, “Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and their feet with the water from this basin.” This was a standard procedure, observed by people who ventured into the presence of their king’s table in order to perform valet services there. They would wash their hands and feet immediately before commencing their duties. The procedure was not a ritual, but was purely hygienic in nature. Hands and feet are by definition more likely than any other part of the body to touch matters which contaminate them. This is why the Rabbis insisted on our washing our hands before prayer.
(א) וירחץ בנקיון כפיו ויברך בא"י אמ"ה אקב"ו על נטילת ידים וידקדק לערות עליהם שלשה פעמים מפני שרוח רעה שורה על הידים קודם נטילה ואינה סרה עד שיערה עליהם ג"פ ועל כן צריך למנוע מהגיע בידו קודם נטילה לפה ולחוטם ולאזנים ולעינים מפני שרוח רעה שורה עליהם ואם אין לו מים יקנח ידיו בצרור או בכל מידי דמנקי ויברך על נקיות ידים:
(1) 4. He should wash his hands clean and recite the blessing ‘Blessed are you, Lord our God, king of the universe, who sanctified us with His mitzvot and commanded us concerning hand washing.’ He should be exacting in pouring over them three times on account of the evil spirit alighting upon the hands prior to washing, which is not vitiated until he has poured over them three times. Therefore, he needs to refrain from touching with his hand, prior to washing, to the mouth, to the nose, and to the ears and to the eyes, on account of the evil spirit alighting upon them. But if he has no water, he should wipe his hands with a stone chip or with any type of wiping implement and recite the blessing ‘concerning the cleaning of the hands.’
(9) I will also punish on that day everyone who steps over the threshold, Who fill their master’s palace With lawlessness and fraud.