Being Clean

Moshe Rabbeinu made a deal with the two and a half tribes of Reuven, Gad, and half of Menashe. They would be given land on the east side of the Jordan, if they would first help fight to conquer the land. Moshe uses the words, והייתם נקיים, and you will be clean, if their part of the bargain was fulfilled. The Gemara spoke of two families that were given important positions in the time of the Beit Hamikdash. They both took great care to be “clean” in their honored roles. The Beit Garmoo Family were charged with the task of baking the לחם הפנים, the showbread, in the Temple. They were very gifted in knowing how to prepare this bread. In their effort to be “clean”, no such bread was ever seen in their home. The same was true of the Beit Avtinus Family. They knew the secrets as to how to prepare the קטורת for Temple service. They, too, were “clean” in not having such קטורת in their home. This was a lesson for all people in high positions to make sure that they would not take what didn’t belong to them.