John 2:6

And there were set six water pots of stone ,.... To distinguish them from other vessels made of different matter: for the Jews had

"vessels made of dust, and the dung of beasts, כלי אבנים , "vessels of stone", vessels of earth, vessels made of shells, vessels of nitre, vessels made of the bones and skins of fishes F20 Misn. Celim, c. 10. sect. 1. & Maimon. & Bartenora in ib. .'

And as these vessels were very likely for washing of hands, such were used for that purpose: their rule is F21 Misn. Yadaim, c. 1. sect. 2. ,

"they may put water for the hands in all sorts of vessels; in vessels of dung, in stone vessels, and in vessels of earth.'

At a wedding were set vessels of various sizes to wash hands and feet in; there was one vessel called משיכלא , which the gloss says was a large pitcher, or basin, out of which the whole company washed their hands and their feet; and there was another called משיכלתא , which was a lesser and beautiful basin, which was set alone for the more honourable persons, as for the bride, and for any gentlewoman F23 Gloss in T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 77. 2. ; and such might be these six stone jars, or pots:

after the manner of the purifying of the Jews ; or "for the purifying either Jews", as the Syriac, Arabic, and Persic versions render it; that is, for the washing of them, their hands and feet, and their vessels, pots, and cups, according to the traditions of the elders; see Mark 7:2 ;

containing two or three firkins apiece . The Ethiopic version reads, "some held two measures, and some three"; how large the "metreta", or "measure" was, which we render a "firkin", is not certain; it is most likely it answered to the "Hebrew bath", which was a common measure of liquids with the Jews, and held four gallons and a half, or more; See Gill on Luke 16:6 ; so that such of these vessels, that held two of these measures, contained nine gallons, and such as held three of them, thirteen gallons and a half; and six of these contained a large quantity of wine, one with another: and which makes the following miracle the greater; and shows the liberality of Christ the more, in providing for the following days of the feast, for a marriage was kept seven days F24 Maimon. Hilchot Ishot, c. 10. sect. 12, 13. ; and for the family, some time after it was over.