What is the ruling for a priest who served in the Temple without washing his hands and feet in the morning — what is his status and the status of his service?
Rambam (1-2) rules that a priest who serves without washing is liable for death by divine decree as it is stated 'And they shall wash and they shall not die', and his service is invalid like one who serves without priestly garments.
Question 2
What should a priest do if he washed his hands and feet in the morning and briefly stepped outside the courtyard without losing focus — how should he act when he returns to serve?
Halacha 4 establishes that if he left and did not lose focus — his service is valid retroactively, since losing focus is the disqualifying factor, not the leaving itself.
Question 3
What is the minimum amount of water that must be in the basin?
Halacha 13 learns from 'Aaron and his sons' — Aaron with Elazar, Itamar, and Pinchas — totaling four priests; therefore, there must be enough in the basin to wash four.
Question 4
How was the commandment of washing hands and feet performed in practice?
Halacha 16 describes: 'He places his right hand on his right leg and his left on his left and intends and washes' — standing, separately from the right and left.
Question 5
If a priest washed his hands and feet before dawn to remove the ash — must he wash again after sunrise for the rest of the day's service?
Halacha 9 rules that one who washes for the purpose of removing ash — even if he washed before dawn — does not need to return and wash again, because he washed at the beginning of that day's service.