Page 64 - Hebrews- Student Textbook

under the covenant of Moses. Christ was offered up in order to “bear [anenegkein] sin” (9:28; Isa 53).
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This greater cleansing power was “so that [the cleansed] may serve the living God” (9:14).
ANALYSIS of WORDS AND PHRASES

9:1 "the first covenant" This is not in the Greek text. Most English translations assume it. However, H. E.
Dana, believes that it should be translated "first ministry" because chapter 9 is presenting another
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evidence of Christ's superior ministry (cf. 8:6).

9:2 "a tabernacle" This refers to the portable tabernacle in the wilderness, which is described in detail in
Exod.25-27 and built in 36-38,40. The author of Hebrews refers to the inner tent as the first (outer)
tabernacle (the holy place) and the second (inner) tabernacle (the Holy of Holies).

"the lampstand" This refers to one lamp with seven containers burning olive oil, located in the holy
place. It is referred to in Exod.25:31-40 and Lev. 24:1-4. It was called the Menorah, which is the Hebrew
term for "lampstand." Solomon expanded the lamp to ten arms (cf. 1 Kings 7:49; 2 Chr. 4:7). It
symbolizes the light of truth and revelation.

"table and the sacred bread" This was a table located in the holy place holding twelve large (15 lb.)
loaves of bread. They were replaced weekly and became food for the Priests (cf. Exod.25:23-30; 37:10-
16; Lev. 24:5-9). They represented God's promised physical provision for the twelve tribes of Jacob.

"the holy place" This is the outer room of the tent in which the priests ministered daily. It measured 20
cubits by 10 cubits (cf. Exod.25-27). The author of Hebrews usually uses this term (hagia) with the
ARTICLE (cf. 9:8,25; 13:11) and uses it for the inner or second part of the sacred tent called the Holy of
Holies (cf. v. 3) where the Ark was placed, but in this verse the ARTICLE is absent and the term refers to
the outer two-thirds of the sacred tent, called the holy place.

9:3 "second veil" This divided the tent into two compartments (cf. Exod.26:31-35). The Hebrews had
two special names, one for the front curtain, which was usually partly open, and one for the inner
curtain, which was never open. Only the high priest entered (twice) on the Day of Atonement (cf. Lev.
16).

"the Holy of Holies" It was a perfect cube of 10 cubits. It contained the ark where YHWH symbolically
dwelt between the wings of the cherubim. This ark was the physical symbol of the invisible God.

9:4 "golden altar of incense" This was an altar-shaped piece of furniture where incense was placed in
large quantities on the Day of Atonement to produce thick smoke which concealed YHWH's presence
over the ark. Our author seems to place it inside the Holy of Holies. This has caused commentators to
take this phrase to refer to a "censer" because this is how the Septuagint translates this term (cf. Lev.
16:12; 2 Chr. 26:19; Ezek. 8:11; IV Mac. 7:11). However, Philo and Josephus use the same Greek word for
the incense altar. In the OT the altar is closely identified with the Holy of Holies (cf. Exod.30:1-10, 37; but
especially 1 Kgs. 6:22).

48 Kaiser, (p. 366).

49 Dana H. E., in his Jewish Christianity, (p. 255)
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