Clean?

"Wash you hands before you eat!"  How many of us have been told this? Or said it to others?  In case you thought it was a modern concept, think again.

As you know the Pharisees were very legalistic and held many rituals (some times called 'the tradition of the elders').  One ritual was washing the hands in a particular way before they would eat.  Not to mention the washing of cups, pitchers, jugs, copper vessels, pans, sleeping mats and couches. (See Mark7)

I use to think this strange that the Pharisees would be so particular.  Modern man might even call this OCD . . . having to have things just so before proceeding. But I recently learned that the Pharisees weren't the only ones that were so ritualistic. In fact, according to the Chronological Study Bible, the Romans were just as bad about rituals, maybe more so. If they skipped a step in a ritual process, they stopped and started all over again until it was done properly and completely.  That could take a while.

And as far as washing up goes, we know the Hebrews used large water pots for cleansing (like the wedding in Cana).  But what about soap?  Have you ever wondered about soap?  Again according to the Chronological Study Bible soap wasn't really known in Judea.  So how did they wash up?  Well, for cleaning clothes apparently they used either a sodium carbonate-like substance or ashes or a superfine clay called fuller's earth. And then they would beat the clothes on rocks or stones.  With no soap for the hands and questionable substances for clothes it makes you wonder, just how clean did things really get?