Was there baptism before Christ?

Question:

In my Bible study we are in the book of John. The question is, was there baptism before Christ? And if so, where does this occur?

Answer:

The first time baptism is mentioned in Scripture, is when John the Baptist began his ministry. Matthew 3:4-6 says, “And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.”

Although some outside sources claim that the Jews practiced baptism before this, there is never a word mentioned of it in the entire Old Testament.