Reference: Bath, Bathing
Hastings
The latter term is most frequently used in our English Version in connexion with purification from ceremonial defilement
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So then the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe by the river, and her, maidens, were walking by the side of the river, - when she saw the ark in the midst of the rushes, and sent her handmaid, and fetched it.
And it came to pass that, at eventide, David arose from his couch, and walked to and fro on the roof of the king's house, when, from the roof, he saw a woman bathing herself, - the woman being exceeding beautiful to look upon.
And, when the chariot was washed out at the pool of Samaria, the dogs lapped up his blood, also, the harlots, bathed there , - according to the word of Yahweh which he had spoken.
Is not this what thou wast certain to do for thyself, - in that thou didst forsake Yahweh thy God, when he was leading thee by the way?
For though thou wash thee with nitre, And take thee much soap, Yet is thine iniquity inscribed before me Declareth My Lord Yahweh.
Smith
Bath, Bathing.
This was a prescribed part of the Jewish ritual of purification in cases of accident, or of leprous or ordinary uncleanness,
Le 15; 16:28; 22:6; 19/7/type/emb'>Nu 19:7,19; 2Sa 11:2,4; 2Ki 5:10
as also after mourning, which always implied defilement.
The eastern climate made bathing essential alike to health and pleasure, to which luxury added the use of perfumes.
Judith 10:3; Susan 17. The "pools," such as that of Siloam and Hezekiah,
2Ki 20:20; Ne 3:15-16; Isa 22:11; Joh 9:7
often sheltered by porticos,
Joh 5:2
are the first indications we have of public bathing accommodation.
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And the priest shall wash his clothes and bathe his flesh in water, and afterwards come into the camp, - but the priest shall be unclean until the evening,
and the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean, on the third day, and on the seventh day, - so shall he cleanse himself from sin, on the seventh day, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe in water and be clean in the evening.
Thou wilt, therefore, bathe thee, and anoint thee, and put thine apparel upon thee, and go down to the threshing-floor, - do not make thyself known to the man, until he have done eating and drinking.
Now, the rest of the story of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool and an aqueduct, and brought water into the city, are, they, not written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?
And, the fountain-gate, did Shallun son of Col-hozeh ruler of the circuit of Mizpah, repair, he, built it, and covered it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, - also the wall of the pool of Shelah, by the garden of the king, even as far as the stairs that go down from the city of David; after him, repaired, Nehemiah son of Azbuk, ruler of the half-circuit of Beth-zur, - as far as over against the sepulchres of David, even unto the pool which had been made, and unto the house of heroes;
Now, when the turn of each maiden came, to go in unto King Ahasuerus, after it had been done to her according to the law of the women for twelve months, for, so, were filled the days of their purification, - six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfumes, and with things for the purification of the women,
And a reservoir, ye made between the two walls, for the waters of the ancient pool, - And had no regard unto him that made it, Nor unto him that formed it long ago, had ye respect.
Now there is in Jerusalem, at the Sheep-gate, a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethzatha, - having, five porches.
and said unto him - Withdraw! wash in the pool of Siloam, - which is to be translated, Sent. He went away, therefore, and washed, and came, seeing.