[250] _Vide Drusium ad difficiliora loca, Exod. c. 12._
[251] _נשיקות פרקים Neshikoth pharukim, Oscula propinquorum._
[252] _נשיקות פרושות Neshikoth parusoth, Oscula separationis._
[253] _נשיקות גדולה Neshikoth gedola, Oscula magnitudinis._
The second _Ceremony preparatory_ was _washing their feet_.[254] And the man brought the men into _Joseph_’s house, and gave them water, and they did _wash their feet_, _Gen. 43. 34._ This office was commonly performed by servants, and the meanest of the family, as appeareth by our _Saviour Christ_, who to leave an example of humility behind him, _washed his Disciples feet_, _Joh. 13. 5._ And _Abigail_, when _David_ took her to wife, said Behold, let thine hand-maid be a servant to _wash the feet_ of the servants of my _Lord_, _1 Sam. 25. 41._ For this purpose they had certain Vessels in readiness for such imployments: that which our _Saviour_ used, we translate a _Basin_, _John 13. 5._ He poured out water into a _Basin_. The word νιπτὴς there used signifieth in general a _Washpot_, and is there used for that which in strict propriety of speeches, the _Grecians_ termed ποδόνιπτρον, (_i._) _A Washpot for our feet_; Some may here make the question, whence this water was poured? I see no inconvenience, if we say, that there were usually in their Dining-rooms greater vessels, from which they poured out into lesser, according as they needed; of which sort it is not improbably thought[255] that those Water-pots were mentioned, _John 2. 6._ There were set there _six Water-pots_ of stone, after the manner of the _purifying_ of the _Jews_. By _purifying_ there, understand this complemental _washing_ of which we treat: Now if we consider the washing of their hands, usual and commendable in it self, though superstitiously abused by _Scribes_ and _Pharisees_, and the washing of their feet, before and after meal, (for our _Saviour_ washed his Disciples feet after supper) which second washing, the _Hebrews_ say it was in use only at the _Passover_, there must needs be use of grate store of water in their greater Feasts; and therefore no marvel, if many and capacious vessels stood in readiness. Farther, we are to note, that as the office was servile and base, so the vessel: which observation giveth light to that, _Psal. 60. 8._ _Moab is my wash pot_; that is, the _Moabites_ shall be basely subject unto me, as the pot in which _I wash my feet_.