Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.
Water was used for two purposes (besides drinking): washing the feet upon entry into the house and the ceremonial washing of the hands before the meal and before each concourse. The method of cleansing the hands was to pour some water over one hand as it is pointed up until the water runs down to the wrist and then to reverse the direction until the water runs off the fingertips. The other hand was washed in the same manner and then each palm was cleansed by rubbing the other hand’s fist in it.
Notice that these jars could contain a total of 120 to 180 gallons.