ceremonial washing of hands as part of the Jewish purification rites before and after meals (see Matthew 15:1–2). According to the Jews’ ceremonial law, people became symbolically unclean by touching objects of everyday life. Before eating, the Jews would pour water over their hands to cleanse themselves of any bad influences associated with what they had touched. When full, each jar would hold twenty to thirty gallons. The number six and the water jars have been allegorized by various commentators