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From Prayer to Purity - Interpretations of Washing in the Second Temple Period

American Schools of Oriental Research 2002

In the Second Temple period, ritual washing was applied to new situations not found in the Hebrew Bible. For instance, where washing in the Hebrew Bible was focused around either ritual purity or symbolic imagery, Second Temple literature continues these uses and adds washing for prayer, repentance, and initiation. In addition, water itself becomes important, both in the discussion of what kinds of water may be used and as a symbol of its ritual uses.

During this same time period, miqva'ot, Jewish ritual bathing installations, were introduced and rapidly spread throughout Jerusalem, Judea, and the Galilee. Then at the end of this period Christian baptism was introduced, although structures for baptism did not appear for several centuries.

This paper will outline the various interpretations of washing in the Second Temple period and consider how expanded understandings of water and ritual washing help explain the development of structures for the related practices of ritual bathing and baptism.

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Copyright (c) 2002-2006 Jonathan D. Lawrence
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