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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And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to the river to wash herself, and her maidens walked along by the river's side. And when she saw the basket among the flags, she sent one of her maids and caused it to be fetched.
And it chanced in an evening that David arose from his couch and walked upon the roof of the king's palace; and from the roof saw a very beautiful woman washing herself. And he sent to enquire what woman it should be.
And while they washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria, the dogs licked up his blood, and harlots washed him according to the word of the LORD which he spake.
Cometh not this unto thee, because thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, ever since he led thee by the way?
Yea, and that so sore, that though thou washest thee with Nitre and makest thyself to savour with that sweet smelling herb of Borith: yet in my sight thou art stained with thy wickedness, sayeth the LORD thy God.
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/mstc'>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 let the priest wash his clothes and bathe his flesh in water, and then come into the host, and the priest shall be unclean unto the evening.
And the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean the third day and the seventh day. And the seventh day he shall purify himself and wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at evening.
wash thyself therefore and anoint thee and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee to the threshing floor. But let not the man be aware of thee, until he have left eating and drinking.
The remnant of the deeds of Hezekiah and all his power, and how he made a pool and a conduit and brought the water into the city, are written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah.
But the Well gate builded Shallum the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of the fourth part of Mizphah; He builded it, covered it, and set on the doors, locks, and bars thereof, and the wall unto the pool of Siloam by the king's garden, unto the steps that go down from the city of David. After him builded Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of the half quarter of Bethzur, until the other side over against the sepulchers of David, and to the pool that was repaired, and unto the house of the mighty.
And when the appointed time of every damsel came that she should come to the king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months in the decking of the women - for their decking must have so much time, namely six months with Balm and Myrrh, and six months with good spices; so were the women beautified -
And ye shall make a pit betwixt the twain walls of the water of the old pool, and nothing regard him that took it in hand, and made it long ago.
And there is at Jerusalem, by the slaughterhouse, a pool called in the Hebrew tongue, Bethesda; having five porches,
and said unto him, "Go wash thee in the pool of Siloam" - which by interpretation, signifieth Sent. He went his way and washed, and came again seeing.