old arrangement were that the priests kept on dying (Heb. 7:23) and had to keep on making atonement for their own sins (Heb. 7:27). In contrast, the covenant basis is now new, for the sacrificer (Heb. 7:15-17) and the sacrifice (Heb. 7:25; 9:25-27) are forever. The historical sequence of covenants is more fully expressed in Hebrews 8, which is built around Jeremiah 31:31-34 (also quoted in Heb. 10:16-17). Jesus “is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted through better promises” (Heb.