See the Bible Through Jewish Eyes BIBLE STUDY WITH DR. RICH FREEMAN
Hebrews 9:1-5 | The Earthly vs. the
Heavenly Sanctuary: Part One
In our last study in Hebrews chapter 8, we focused
on the superiority of Messiah’s priestly ministry
and ultimately the superiority of the New
Covenant. Chapter 9 begins with a statement referring
to that discussion: “Now even the first covenant
had regulations of divine worship and the earthly
sanctuary” (Hebrews 9:1). In essence, the argument
here is that the earthly sanctuary had real value
as a teaching tool for the Israelites
even though it is a mere copy of the
heavenly one. The writer of Hebrews
uses the tabernacle in the wilderness
instead of the Temple as his example
because the tabernacle is associated
with the giving of the law at Mount
Sinai. Beginning in chapter 9, verse 2,
the writer describes the tabernacle in
detail. He divides the tabernacle into
two areas—an inner tabernacle and
an outer tabernacle.
The outer tabernacle contained
the lampstand, or seven-branched
menorah, and the table with the sacred
bread. The menorah’s purpose was to
provide perpetual light in the dark,
windowless tabernacle. The priests
tended to it morning and evening
to make sure the light was never
extinguished. In essence, the menorah
was a representation of the presence
of God among the people of Israel.
The table with the sacred bread, or
showbread, consisted of a table made
of acacia wood overlaid with gold leaf.
On the table were twelve loaves of
bread representing each of the tribes
of Israel. Each week, the loaves would
be eaten by the ministering priests
and replaced with new loaves on the
Sabbath. The outer tabernacle was
called the “holy place” and these two
articles of light and bread pointed to
the one who would come as the “Light
of the World” and the “Bread of Life.”
The inner tabernacle was behind the second veil
and it is called the “holy of holies.” The second veil
was there to separate the people from the presence
of God, but it was torn from top to bottom when
Yeshua (Jesus) was crucified. The writer of Hebrews
describes the inner tabernacle as “having a golden
altar of incense and the ark of the covenant…”
(Hebrews 1:4). The golden altar of incense was not
in the inner tabernacle but in front of the veil leading
into the holy of holies. A common question asks why
NOVEMBER 2017 / THE CHOSEN PEOPLE - 6
the golden altar of incense is listed
as though it were inside the holy of
holies rather than outside. The most
likely answer is that the golden altar
of incense related functionally to the
ministry within the holy of holies even
though it was not physically inside
it. In the morning and evening, the
priests would burn incense to God
which allowed it to burn continuously.
This altar represented the worship and
prayers of God’s people and pointed
to His presence in the holy of holies.
The ark of the covenant was the
one piece of furnishing inside the
holy of holies. The ark, like the table
containing the sacred bread, was made
of acacia wood. It was an opened-top
chest covered inside and out with gold.
The writer of Hebrews says it contains
“…a golden jar holding the manna, and
Aaron’s rod which budded, and the tables
of the covenant” (Hebrews 1:4). The lid
of the ark, which is the mercy seat, was
made of solid gold. The mercy seat
was overshadowed by the “cherubim
of glory.” Two cherubs on each side,
with wings spread out toward one
another, were either attached to the
mercy seat or perhaps constructed as
one piece with it. While these present
some incredible furnishings in the
tabernacle, the writer of Hebrews
simply describes what was there rather
than going into detail. His intent is to continue
building a case for the superiority of Messiah’s priestly
ministry over the Levitical priesthood.
Dr. Rich Freeman, D. Min.
serves as the Vice
President for Church
Ministries and
Conferences with
Chosen People Ministries
and lives in South Florida
with his wife, Julia.
Dr. Freeman works with
churches, throughout the
country and abroad,
helping to equip God’s
people to share the
Gospel with their Jewish
neighbors, friends, and
co-workers and grow in
their understanding
of the Scriptures.
Read Hebrews 9:1-5 NASB
1 Now the first
covenant had
regulations for worship
and also an earthly
sanctuary. 2 A
tabernacle was set up.
In its first room were
the lampstand and the
table with its
consecrated bread; this
was called the Holy
Place. 3 Behind the
second curtain was a
room called the Most
Holy Place, 4 which had
the golden altar of
incense and the
gold-covered ark of the
covenant. This ark
contained the gold jar
of manna, Aaron’s staff
that had budded, and
the stone tablets of the
covenant. 5 Above the
ark were the cherubim
of the Glory,
overshadowing the
atonement cover.
But we cannot
discuss these things in
detail now.