Psalms 26:6

I will wash my hands in innocency,.... The Vulgate Latin version renders it, "among innocent persons"; men of a holy harmless life and conversation; with these he determined to converse in common,

I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD: Wash ... hands - in allusion to Deuteronomy 21:6, where is described the custom of washing the hands over a slain heifer,

In innocency, or, with integrity, or with a pure heart and conscience. I will not do as my hypocritical enemies do, who content themselves with those outward washings of their hands or bodies prescribed in the law, &c.; , whilst their hearts and lives are filthy and abominable; but I will wash, or I have washed, my hands, and withal purged my heart and conscience from dead works. Compare 16 . Compass thine altar, i.e. approach to thine altar with my sacrifices; which I could not do with any comfort or confidence, if I were conscious to myself of those crimes whereof mine enemies accuse me. By the phrase Of compassing the altar, either, 1. He alludes to some Levitical custom of going about the altar, as the priests did in the oblation of their sacrifices, and the people, especially those of them who were most devout and zealous, who possibly moved from place to place, but still within their own court, that they might discern what was done on the several sides of the altar, and so be the more affected with it. Or rather, 2. He implies that he would offer many sacrifices together, which would employ the priests round about the altar; and so he is said to compass it, because the priests did it in his name, and upon his account, as persons are very oft said in Scripture to offer those sacrifices which the priests offer for them.

Psalms 26:6 I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:Ver. 6. I will wash mine hands in innocency] As Exodus 40:32 1 Timothy 2:8; see Deuteronomy 21:6 Isaiah 1:15 James 5:8. If in our addresses to God we cannot wash our hands in innocency, yet we must wash them in tears: Quem poenitet peccasse, pens est innocens, saith Seneca, Penitence is well nigh as good as innocence; but one way or other be sure to come clean when you come to God’ s altar, when you draw nigh to him in holy duties. We wash our hands every day, and often, but when we are to sit with some great person we scour them with balls. Sic Egyptii sacerdotes apud Herod. in Euterpe, terrio quoque die corpus eradunt, &c.; so here, we must be always holy, but especially when we present ourselves to the holy eyes of our Creator. And hereby David differenciates himself from the wicked in the use of ordinances, wherein they were as forward as the best (Doeg may set his foot as far into the sanctuary as David, and cry, The temple of the Lord, &c.), but cared not to come clear thereunto; their hands were full of blood, their hearts full of wickedness. So will I compass thine altar, O Lord] i.e. I will cover it with sacrifices and oblations, and perform what is required of me diligently and cheerfully. The people might not touch the altar, but only see afar off what was done there by the priests. Howbeit, those that were more zealous among them, to the end that they might have a full view of the services, stood not still in one place, but stirred up and down on all sides of the altar; and some such thing David did when he is said to have danced before the Lord, 2 Samuel 6:14.

(6) I will wash.—First a symbolical action (Deuteronomy 21:6 seq.; Matthew 27:24), then a figure of speech (Job 9:30; Ezekiel 36:25). The Levitical authorship or, at all events, the Levitical character of the psalm appears from comparison of this with Exodus 30:17 seq.So will I.—Better, that I may, &c. There is no other reference in Jewish literature to the custom of pacing round the altar, but it was a very natural and obvious addition to a gorgeous ceremonial—like the processions in churches where a high ceremonial is adopted. It is, however, implied from the Talmud that it was part of the ceremonial of the Feast of Tabernacles for people to march round the altar with palms.

Verse 6. I will wash mine hands in innocency] Washing the hands was frequent among the Jews, and was sometimes an action by which a man declared his innocence of any base or wicked transaction. This Pilate did, to protest his innocence of the mal-treatment and death of Christ. I will maintain that innocence of life in which I have hitherto walked; and take care that nothing shall be found in my heart or life that would prevent me from using the most holy ordinance, or worshipping thee in spirit and truth. So will I compass thine altar] It is a mark of respect among the Hindoos to walk several times round a superior, and round a temple.

6. I will wash mine hands in innocency] “As the priests, before they came near to the altar to minister (Exodus 30:17-21). What the priest did in symbolical rite, that the priestly people were to do in spiritual reality.” Kay. Cp. Psalms 73:13 : and for the ceremony as symbolising innocence see Deuteronomy 21:6; Matthew 27:34. compass thine altar] Take my place in the ring of worshippers around it. A reference to solemn processions round the altar is questionable.

I will wash mine hands in innocency - The psalmist here refers, as another evidence of his piety, to the fact that it was a ruling purpose of his life to be pure, to worship and serve his Maker in purity.

6. Wash mine hands in innocency—As a sign of innocence. The symbol is explained Deuteronomy 21:6. Compare Psalms 27:24. Or, as approach to the altar immediately follows, it may refer to the custom of the priests.