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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hebrews 9:1-7

Here, I. The apostle gives an account of the tabernacle, that place of worship which God appointed to be pitched on earth; it is called a worldly sanctuary, wholly of this world, as to the materials of which it was built, and a building that must be taken down; it is called a worldly sanctuary, because it was the court and palace of the King of Israel. God was their King, and, as other kings, had his court or place of residence, and attendants, furniture, and provision, suitable thereto. This... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hebrews 9:8-14

In these verses the apostle undertakes to deliver to us the mind and meaning of the Holy Ghost in all the ordinances of the tabernacle and legal economy, comprehending both place and worship. The scriptures of the Old Testament were given by inspiration of God; holy men of old spoke and wrote as the Holy Ghost directed them. And these Old-Testament records are of great use and significancy, not only to those who first received them, but even to Christians, who ought not to satisfy themselves... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Hebrews 9:1-5

9:1-5 So, then, the first tabernacle, too, had its ordinances of worship and its holy place, which was an earthly symbol of the divine realities. For the first tabernacle was constructed and in it there was the lampstand and the table with the shewbread, and it was called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain there was that part of the tabernacle which was called the Holy of Holies. It was approached by means of the golden altar of incense, and it had in it the ark of the covenant, which... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Hebrews 9:6-10

9:6-10 Since these preparations have been made, the priests continually enter into the first tabernacle as they perform the various acts of worship. But into the second tabernacle the High Priest alone enters, and that once a year and not without blood, which he offers for himself and for the errors of the people. By this the Holy Spirit is showing that the way into the Holy Place was not yet opened up so long as the first tabernacle stood. Now the first tabernacle stands for this present... 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

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