[Avodah] How did the Bigdei Kehuna stay clean?

[Zev Sero]

On 11/07/18 08:44, Marty Bluke via Avodah wrote:
> Yesterday's daf (Zevachim 88b) states that the bigdei kehuna cannot be 
> laundered and that they cannot be worn if dirty. Considering that the 
> Kohanim spent their day in the Beis Hamikdash bringing korbanos, they 
> must have gotten dirty from the various avodas with the animals. Which 
> means that every day all the kohanim would have to wear new begadim. We 
> don't find anywhere that the bigdei kehuna were one use garments nor do 
> we find that they had to constantly switch them yet this is what comes 
> out of these dinim in the gemara. Any suggestions?

Standards for cleanliness would have been different then -- we see that 
it is considered k'vod beis hamikdash for the kohanim to be wading 
ankle-deep in blood, so presumably blood stains on the begadim would not 
preclude reusing them, which would mean that a beged might be worn two 
or three times before it became stained with other things and had to be 
discarded.  But they were certainly changed frequently.

Rambam Hil' Klei Hamikdash 8:4-6:

4. The mitzvah of bigdei kehuna is for them to be new, nice, and long, 
like the garments of important people, as it is said: "for honour and 
for glory". [...]

5. Any garment of bigdei kehuna that became dirty, it is not to be 
bleached or washed, but is left for wicks, and he puts on new ones. 
When the kohen gadol's garments wear out they are hidden away, and the 
white garments that he uses on Yom Kippur are never reused but are 
hidden away in the place where he removes them, as it is said "and he 
shall leave them there", and it is forbidden to derive benefit from them.

6. The worn trousers and belts of the ordinary kohanim were turned into 
wicks which were used for simchas beis hashoeva, while their tunics were 
always used for the menora's wicks.


-- 
Zev Sero            A prosperous and healthy 2018 to all
zev at sero.name       Seek Jerusalem's peace; may all who love you prosper