Hebrews 9-10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 9

INTRODUCTION TO HEBREWS 9 The apostle having, in the former chapter, taken notice of the first covenant, in this proceeds to show what belonged to it, that it had service performed under it, and a place in which it was performed, Hebrews 9:1 and he begins with the latter, which he distinguishes into two parts, and shows what was in each of them; in the first, which was the holy place, were a candlestick, table, and shewbread; in the second, which was the holiest of all, were a golden... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 9:1

Then verily the first covenant had ordinances of divine service ,.... The design of the apostle in this chapter, as it stands in connection with what goes before, is to show the pre-eminence of Christ, from the tabernacle, and the things in it; as well as from the priesthood and covenant; and as also the abrogation of the Levitical ceremonies in particular, as well as the first covenant in general; and that they were all types and figures of Christ, and had their fulfilment in him: the word... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 9:2

For there was a tabernacle made ,.... By the direction of Moses, according to the pattern showed him in the Mount: the first ; that is, the first part of the tabernacle, called the holy place, in distinction from the holy of holies, which was the second part of the tabernacle; for otherwise there were not a first and a second tabernacle; there never was but one tabernacle: wherein was the candlestick ; that this was in the tabernacle, and on the south side of it, and without the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 9:3

And after the second vail ,.... Were there more vails than one? the Scripture speaks but of one, Exodus 26:31 there was indeed an hanging for the door of the tent, but that is not called a vail; nor was there more than one vail in the tabernacle, nor in the temple of Solomon; but in the second temple, under which the apostle lived, there were two vails, which divided between the holy place, and the holy of holies; and the innermost of these the apostle means: and so the Jewish writers ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 9:4

Which had the golden censer ,.... There were various censers used by the priests in the daily service, but this was a peculiar one, which was used by the high priest on the day of atonement; on other days he used a silver censer, but on that day a golden one, and with it he entered into the holy of holies F25 Misn. Yoma, c. 4. sect. 4. Maimon. Yom Hacippurim, c. 2. sect. 5. ; and though Moses does not call it a golden one, Leviticus 16:12 yet Josephus does F26 Antiqu. l. 3. c. 8.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 9:5

And over it the cherubim of glory ,.... Or "glorious cherubim", where the Shechinah, or divine glory, dwelt, Psalm 80:1 . These were over the ark, and were in number two, as were the cherubim which God placed at the garden of Eden, Genesis 3:24 according to the opinion of the ancient Jews F21 Targum Jon. &. Hieros. in Gen. iii. 24. ; and very likely these were made after the form of them. Some have thought them to be birds of a very terrible aspect, which were set there to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 9:6

Now when these things were thus ordained ,.... Or prepared and got ready; that is, when the tabernacle was finished, and set up, and provided with all its vessels and furniture: the priests went always into the first tabernacle ; the first part of the tabernacle, which was called the holy place, Hebrews 9:2 here the common priests went continually every day, morning and evening; the Syriac and Ethiopic versions read, "the outward tabernacle", in distinction from the innermost part of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 9:7

Though this is not expressed in so many words in Leviticus 16:2 only it is said that "Aaron came not at all times into the holy place within the vail"; yet it is the constant and generally received sense of the Jewish writers, in agreement with the apostle here, that the high priest went into the holy of holies but once a year F17 T. Hieros. Yoma, fol. 42. 4. & 43. 1. Bab. Pesachim, fol. 86. 1. , on the day of atonement, which was on the tenth of the month Tisri, and answers to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 9:8

The Holy Ghost this signifying ,.... This shows that the Holy Ghost existed under the Old Testament; that he is a distinct person in the Godhead, a personal act being here ascribed to him; that he is truly and properly God, the God whose service the priests accomplished in the tabernacle; and by whom Moses was admonished to make all things in it according to the pattern, and by whom the high priest was warned not to come at all times within the vail; moreover, that the Levitical ordinances... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 9:9

Which was a figure for the time then present ,.... The tabernacle in general was a figure of Christ's human nature, Hebrews 8:2 and the most holy part of it was a figure of heaven itself, Hebrews 9:24 the whole service of it was typical and shadowy; but it was but a temporary figure; it was for that present time only; the things of it were suited to that dispensation, and are now abolished, and ought not to be revived, the ordinances of the Gospel being greatly preferable to them; and... read more

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