God Requires Cleaniness

During their wilderness trek, the Israelites were instructed to take great care when disposing of human waste.
--- Deuteronomy 23:12-14

This must have been a tiresome chore in the view of the size of the camp, but it doubtless helped prevent such diseases as typhoid fever and cholera.

The people were commanded to wash or destroy any item that came in contact with a dead body.
Though they may not have understood the reason for this, the Israelites were thus helped to avoid infection and disease.
---- Levitcus 11:32-38

The priests were to wash both their hands and their feet before performing their duties at the tabernacle.
Filling the copper basin that contained the water for this purpose could not have been easy, but washing was a strict requirement.
--- Exodus 30:17-21