Texts in Conversation
Deuteronomy 21 describes city elders washing their hands over a sacrificed animal to declare their innocence in the case of an unsolved murder. Psalm 73 uses similar language when the speaker insists that washing hands marks his purity and freedom from guilt.
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Deuteronomy 21:6
Hebrew Bible
4 and bring the heifer down to a wadi with flowing water, to a valley that is neither plowed nor sown. There at the wadi they are to break the heifer’s neck. 5 Then the Levitical priests will approach (for the Lord your God has chosen them to serve him and to pronounce blessings in his name, and to decide every judicial verdict) , 6 and all the elders of that city nearest the corpse must wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley. 7 Then they must proclaim, “Our hands have not spilled this blood, nor have we witnessed the crime. 8 Do not blame your people Israel whom you redeemed, O Lord, and do not hold them accountable for the bloodshed of an innocent person.” Then atonement will be made for the bloodshed.
Date: 6th Century B.C.E. (Final composition) (based on scholarly estimates)
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Psalm 73:13
Hebrew Bible
11 They say, “How does God know what we do? Is the Most High aware of what goes on?” 12 Take a good look. This is what the wicked are like, those who always have it so easy and get richer and richer. 13 I concluded, “Surely in vain I have kept my motives pure and washed my hands in innocence.25 14 I suffer all day long and am punished every morning.” 15 If I had publicized these thoughts, I would have betrayed your people.
Date: 6th-3rd Centuries B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... The psalmist declares that he has nothing in common with the worthless (literally “idol worshippers”), hypocrites, and the wicked (verses 4-5; 1:1, 4-5). If the speaker is a priest, this is a protest that he has not given in to idol worship. Verses 6-7 describe the ritual and oath of purification and the altar procession. Washing of hands symbolizes integrity (24:4) or innocence (Deuteronomy 21:6-7; Psalm 73:13; Matthew 27:24-26) ..."
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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