All the elders of that city nearest to the slain one will wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the wadi.
May it whirl on Joab’s head and on all his father’s house. May the house of Joab never be without someone with discharge or tza'arat, lame or one fallen by the sword or one who lacks food.”
If I wash myself with melted snow and cleanse my hands with lye,
Moreover by them Your servant is warned. In keeping them there is great reward.
I will wash my hands in innocence, so I can walk around Your altar, Adonai,
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.
when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he went to Bathsheba.
Behold, I was born in iniquity and in sin when my mother conceived me.
Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure, and washed my hands in innocence.
Even though you wash with lye and use an abundance of soap, the stain of your iniquity is before Me.” It is a declaration of the Lord Adonai.
Then they will answer and say, ‘Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see.
These relate only to food and drink and various washings—regulations for the body imposed until a time of setting things straight.