Exodus 30:18 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Thou shalt also make a laver of brass— See 2 Chronicles 4:2. A large font or bason, made of brass, for the priests to wash their hands and feet in, was to be placed at the entrance of the tabernacle; in the water of which, let out through cocks, they were constantly to wash on pain of death, when they ministered at the altar, Exodus 30:20 not only because neglect of doing so would have argued high presumption and profaneness against a positive command of God; but because this neglect would, most probably, have been involved with that greater one of mental impurity; see ch. Exodus 29:4.Psalms 26:6. 2 Timothy 3:5. Tit 3:5. From the command of washing their feet as well as their hands, as also from the omission of the mention of shoes or sandals in the description of the priests' vestments, it has been concluded, that they ministered bare-footed; see note on ch. Exodus 3:5. It is well known, how careful the heathens were in washing their hands before they sacrificed, or entered upon the performance of other religious duties; whence came the proverb of doing things illotis manibus, with unwashed hands; i.e. in a profane and indecent manner. See Saurin's 54th Dissertation, where will be found an ample and very judicious discussion of all things relating to the tabernacle.