Hebrews 9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 9:1

The first covenant had also ordinances - Our translators have introduced the word covenant, as if διαθηκη had been, if not originally in the text, yet in the apostle's mind. Several MSS., but not of good note, as well as printed editions, with the Coptic version, have σκηνη tabernacle; but this is omitted by ABDE, several others, both the Syriac, Ethiopic, Armenian, Vulgate, some copies of the Itala, and several of the Greek fathers; it is in all probability a spurious reading, the whole... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 9:2

For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein - The sense is here very obscure, and the construction involved: leaving out all punctuation, which is the case with all the very ancient MSS., the verse stands thus: Σκηνη γαρ κατεσκευασθη ἡ πρωτη εν ᾑ ἡ τε λυχνια, κ. τ. λ. which I suppose an indifferent person, who understood the language, would without hesitation render, For, there was the first tabernacle constructed, in which were the candlestick, etc. And this tabernacle or... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 9:3

And after the second veil - The first veil, of which the apostle has not yet spoken, was at the entrance of the holy place, and separated the temple from the court, and prevented the people, and even the Levites, from seeing what was in the holy place. The second veil, of which the apostle speaks here, separated the holy place from the holy of holies. The tabernacle, which is called the Holiest of all - That is, that part of the tabernacle which is called the holy of holies. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 9:4

Which had the golden censer - It is evident that the apostle speaks here of the tabernacle built by Moses, and of the state and contents of that tabernacle as they were during the lifetime of Moses. For, as Calmet remarks, in the temple which was afterwards built there were many things added which were not in the tabernacle, and several things left out. The ark of the covenant and the two tables of the law were never found after the return from the Babylonish captivity. We have no proof... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 9:5

And over it the cherubims of glory - Cherubim is the plural of cherub, and it is absurd to add our plural termination (s) to the plural termination of the Hebrew. The glory here signifies the shechinah or symbol of the Divine presence. Shadowing the mercy-seat - One at each end of the ark, with their faces turned toward each other, but looking down on the cover or propitiatory, ἱλαστηριον , here called the mercy-seat. Of which we cannot now speak particularly - The apostle did not... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 9:6

When these thing were thus ordained - When the tabernacle was made, and its furniture placed in it, according to the Divine direction. The priests went always into the first Tabernacle - That is, into the first part of the tabernacle, or holy place, into which he went every day twice, accomplishing the services, τας λατρειας επιτελουντες , which included his burning the incense at the morning and evening sacrifice, dressing the lamps, removing the old show-bread and laying on the new,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 9:7

But into the second - That is, the holy of holies, or second part of the tabernacle, the high priest alone, once every year, that is, on one day in the year only, which was the day on which the general atonement was made. The high priest could enter into this place only on one day in the year; but on that day he might enter several times. See Lev. 16. Not without blood - The day prescribed by the law for this great solemnity was the tenth of the month Tisri, in which the high priest... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 9:8

The Holy Ghost this signifying - These services were divinely appointed, and by each of them the Holy Spirit of God is supposed to speak. The way into the holiest - That full access to God was not the common privilege of the people, while the Mosaic economy subsisted. That the apostle means that it is only by Christ that any man and every man can approach God, is evident from Hebrews 10:19-22 , and it is about this, and not about the tabernacle of this world, that he is here... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 9:9

Which - Tabernacle and its services, was a figure, παραβολη , a dark enigmatical representation, for the time then present - for that age and dispensation, and for all those who lived under it. In which, καθ ' ὁν , during which, time or dispensation were offered both gifts and sacrifices - eucharistic offerings and victims for sin, that could not make him that did the service, whether the priest who made the offering, or the person who brought it in the behalf of his soul, perfect... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 9:10

In meats and drinks, and divers washings - He had already mentioned eucharistic and sacrificial offerings, and nothing properly remained but the different kinds of clean and unclean animals which were used, or forbidden to be used, as articles of food; together with the different kinds or drinks, washings, βαπτισμοις , baptisms, immersions, sprinklings and washings of the body and the clothes, and carnal ordinances, or things which had respect merely to the body, and could have no moral... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 9:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 9:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 9:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 9:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 9:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 9:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 9:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 9:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 9:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 9:10

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