And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the tabernacle of the testimony. And when thou hast washed the father and his sons with water,
וְאֶת־אַהֲרֹ֤ן וְאֶת־בָּנָיו֙ תַּקְרִ֔יב אֶל־פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד וְרָחַצְתָּ֥ אֹתָ֖ם בַּמָּֽיִם׃
2 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Initially, the high priest undergoes a cleansing ritual before offering incense. Thus, Aaron was first purified through washing, and afterward, he was appointed as high priest. How could he intercede for others if he hadn’t first been sanctified by water? The symbol of this baptism is represented by the laver that was situated in the tabernacle.
* See Ex. 30:18
An analysis of Leviticus 16:4 reveals that the act of cleansing involved more than just the washing of hands and feet, which every priest was required to perform prior to any sacred duty (Exodus 30:19); it mandated a thorough cleansing of the entire body. This comprehensive washing was also mandatory for the High Priest on the significant day of atonement (Leviticus, as referenced) to ensure he was purified from all impurities of flesh and spirit, thus enabling him to conduct holy rites with reverence for God (2 Corinthians 7:1).
The washing that the High Priest undertook before assuming his duties and annually before the atoning sacrifice reflects the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ, "the high priest blameless" (Hebrews 7:26), who, in order to "fulfil all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15), submitted to John's baptism.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS