¹The first promise had rules for the priests’ service. It also had a holy place on earth. ²A tent was set up. The first part of this tent was called the holy place. The lamp stand, the table, and the bread of the presence were in this part of the tent. ³Behind the second curtain was the part of the tent called the most holy place. ⁴It contained the gold incense burner and the ark of the Lord’s promise. The ark was completely covered with gold. In the ark were the gold jar filled with manna, Aaron’s staff that had blossomed, and the tablets on which the promise^awas written. ⁵Above the ark were the angels^bof glory ⸤with their wings⸥ overshadowing the throne of mercy. (Discussing these things in detail isn’t possible now.)

⁶That is how these two parts of the tent were set up. The priests always went into the first part of the tent to perform their duties. ⁷But only the chief priest went into the second part of the tent. Once a year he entered and brought blood that he offered for himself and for the things that the people did wrong unintentionally. ⁸The Holy Spirit used this to show that the way into the most holy place was not open while the tent was still in use.

⁹The first part of the tent is an example for the present time. The gifts and sacrifices that were brought there could not give the worshiper a clear conscience. ¹⁰These gifts and sacrifices were meant to be food, drink, and items used in various purification ceremonies. These ceremonies were required for the body until God would establish a new way of doing things.

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Footnotes

a 9:4 Or “covenant.”
b 9:5 Or “cherubim.”