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Messiah Enters the Heavenly Holies

Now even the first one had regulations for worship and the earthly sanctuary. [a] For a tent was prepared: in the outer[b] part were the menorah, the table, and the presentation of the bread[c]—this is called the Holy Place. Beyond the second curtain[d] was a dwelling called the Holy of Holies. [e] It held a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant, completely covered with gold. In the ark was a golden jar holding the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant[f] and above it, cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat.[g] But it is not now possible to speak in detail about these things.

Now with these things prepared this way,

the kohanim
    do continually enter
        into the outer tent[h]
            while completing the services;
        but into the inner,[i]
    once a year,

the kohen gadol alone[j]—and not without blood which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins[k] of the people. By this the Ruach ha-Kodesh makes clear that the way into the Holies has not yet been revealed while the first tent is still standing. It is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly, gifts and sacrifices are being offered that cannot make the worshiper perfect with respect to conscience. 10 These relate only to food and drink and various washings[l]—regulations for the body imposed until a time of setting things straight.

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 9:2 cf. Exod. 25:8, 23-29.
  2. Hebrews 9:2 Lit. first.
  3. Hebrews 9:2 cf. Lev. 24:5-9.
  4. Hebrews 9:3 Heb. parokhet.
  5. Hebrews 9:4 cf. Exod. 26:31-33; 40:3.
  6. Hebrews 9:4 cf. Exod. 25:10-16; 1 Kings 8:7.
  7. Hebrews 9:5 cf. Exod. 25:18-19.
  8. Hebrews 9:6 Lit. first tent, i.e. the Holy Place; cf. Exod. 27:20-21.
  9. Hebrews 9:7 Lit. second, i.e. the Holy of Holies; cf. Lev. 16:2, 34.
  10. Hebrews 9:7 cf. Exod. 30:10; Lev. 16:15, 34.
  11. Hebrews 9:7 cf. Num. 15:22, 30.
  12. Hebrews 9:10 cf. Lev. 11; Num. 6:3; 19:13.