Hebrews 9:1-28

Hebrews 9:1-5:

^9:1Therefore indeed the first (covenant) used-to-have righteous-actions of rendering-service and the Holy-place (used-to-be) worldly – ^.2for a tent was fully-prepared, the first (tent) in which (were) both the lamp-stand and the table and the show-breads, the-one-which is said (as) “Holies”; ^.3but after the second veil a tent, the (tent) being said (as) “Holies of Holies” ^.4having a golden incense-altar and the ark of the covenant having been covered-around² from-every-side with gold in which (were) the golden jar having the manna and the rod of Aaron, the (rod) having sprouted, and the tablets of the covenant, ^.5but super-above it Cherubim of glory shadowing-down-on the propitiatory(-place) concerning which (Cherubim) it is not now to say particularly.

Following-on logically from what was just written (refer to Hebrews ‘chapter 8’) indeed the first covenant during a past time had righteous (just) actions of rendering-service (the performance of service to God) and the Holy-place was pertaining to the world (the ordered arrangement that has been thrown-down, see Hebrews 4:3).

A description of that worldly Holy-place (the area that God sanctified, set apart for the righteous actions of rendering service relative to the first covenant) is as follows:

A tent was fully-prepared (a covering or sheltering structure was made ready, as putting an implement, vessel, utensil down in the correct position so it is prepared for its appropriate use).

• The first tent (this tent area was the bigger portion within the whole tent, it was the first area that the chief priest entered into on his way into God’s presence) within which there were…
  • both the lamp-stand (that-which holds the lamp up above it so it can burn easily emitting light)
  • and the table (on which to put things)
  • and the show-breads (literally: the putting, placing, setting, purposing, proposing of breads, the presentation of the loaves before another, referring to the loaves of bread being placed in God's face, His presence; refer to Exodus 25:30, 40:23, and Leviticus 24:5-9),
• this is the tent which is called “Holies” (the area being holy, sanctified, set-apart to/for God, containing only who and what are holy);
• but after the second veil (behind the second heavy curtain which divided the whole tent area into two giving entrance, access to the smaller portion) there was a tent,
• emphatically and specifically the tent being called “Holies of Holies” (the area that is holy belonging-to and inside-of the whole area that is holy, double intensity, it is the innermost part where the only true God's presence was to be manifested-forth; this is usually translated “Holy of Holies” even though both nouns are plural form)
• having (holding, belonging to this tent was)…
  • a golden incense-altar (the golden place for burning incense; the altar overlaid with gold on which incense was burned on coals to produce its odor daily; the incense altar was physically placed immediately in front of the second veil which separated it from the ark of the covenant at that time – however, once a year on the Day of Atonement the chief-priest would take a vessel/censer containing hot coals in his right hand plus incense in his left hand, and go inside the second veil where he would burn the incense on the coals so that the cloud of incense smoke with its odor was directly in God’s presence, see Leviticus 16:12 and 13, and Hebrews 10:20; some translate this as “golden censer” which was to hold the incense instead of the “golden altar” where the incense was burned daily except on the Day of Atonement as described above)
  • and the ark of the covenant (the box, chest, vessel built to contain items pertaining to the covenant, the binding agreement) covered all around with gold, within which were
    • the golden jar (pot) having the manna
    • and the rod of Aaron, emphatically and specifically the rod which sprouted (germinated, budded),
    • and the tablets of the covenant (the broad and flat surfaces in which God wrote words pertaining to the covenant for Moses),
  • but super-above it (up-above, on-top, up-over the ark) there were Cherubim of glory shadowing down on the propitiatory-place (two Cherubs pertaining to the glory of God had their wings spread out shading the covering-place of propitiation, which is the gaining or re-gaining of favor, blessing, atonement, etc; the Greek word translated "propitiatory" comes from the Septuagint Greek translation in Exodus 25:17 as being the mercy-seat or cover of the ark on which the blood was sprinkled as the means of propitiation; refer to also Leviticus 16:15)
    • concerning which Cherubim it is not now to say particularly (at the present it is not the time to speak in detail about these two Cherubs).

It is interesting to note the following types (patterns):

• the smaller tent area, the Holies of Holies
  • God’s dwelling place
    • now Christ and his body of holy-people (I Corinthians 6:19; Ephesians 2:21 and 22)
• the ark of the covenant having the propitiatory-place on top of it and the Cherubim covering it with their shadow
  • God’s throne and glorious presence, making redemption available and covering the sins of the chief-priest and the people
    • salvation, the new covenant of spirit, new spiritual bodies having eternal life living in God’s presence (John 10:4; Romans 3:23-26; II Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:19-23; Hebrews 4:16, 11:7; I Peter 3:18-22; I John 2:2, 4:10)
• the golden jar having the manna, and the rod of Aaron which had sprouted, and the tablets of the covenant
  • God making available His full supply, ability, and binding agreement via Jesus the Christ (Matthew 5:6 and 17, 28:1-9; John 3:16, 6:32, 35 and 51, 11:25; Romans 10:4; I Corinthians 10:3, 15:25; II Corinthians 3:3; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 10:9)
• the incense-altar and the odor from burning the incense
  • the chief-priest who makes prayerful intercession to God  and the prayer itself (Exodus 30:7 and 8; Psalm 141:2; John chapter 17; Romans 8:26, 27 and 34; Hebrews 4:16, 5:7, 7:25; Revelation 5:8, 8:3 and 4)
• the second veil
  • man’s flesh, the separation between God and mankind following the fall of the first man Adam (Matthew 27:51; Hebrews 4:16, 6:19 and 20, 10:19 and 20)
• the show-breads
  • being in front of God’s face, in His presence
    • coming to fellowship with God via Jesus the Christ (Leviticus 16:2, 24:7; Matthew 2:11; John 6:51; I Corinthians 10:17; II Corinthians 2:14 and 15; Ephesians 3:11)
• the lamp-stand, which held the oil used for burning giving light to see; oil is from the same word meaning “anoint” and “Messiah”
  • Jesus the Christ (John 3:19, 8:12, 9:5; Colossians 1:27; I John 2:27; Revelation 21:23)

The word translated "covenant" refers to a binding agreement. It is used for the Hebrew word that basically means "to cut" because living animals were killed and sometimes cut in two shedding their blood in preparation of and showing agreement with making the covenant – either conditionally between two parties whereby both parties would walk between the killed victims confirming the covenant and demonstrating that each party bound himself to complete his commitments, and that he was worthy of death if he did not keep his side of the covenant – or unconditionally as by God with Abraham recorded in Genesis 15, the obligation being on God to fulfill this covenant. See also Genesis chapter 17; Jeremiah 34:18-20; Acts 3:25; Galatians 3:15-18, and Hebrews 6:13-15, and 12:24. A covenant does not always involve a sacrifice but may be demonstrated by a sign, e.g. Genesis 9:9-17.

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