Hebrews 9

Hebrews 9:1-28 . INFERIORITY OF THE OLD TO THE NEW COVENANT IN THE MEANS OF ACCESS TO GOD: THE BLOOD OF BULLS AND GOATS OF NO REAL AVAIL: THE BLOOD OF CHRIST ALL-SUFFICIENT TO PURGE AWAY SIN, WHENCE FLOWS OUR HOPE OF HIS APPEARING AGAIN FOR OUR PERFECT SALVATION.

1. Then verily--Greek, "Accordingly then." Resuming the subject from Hebrews 8:5 . In accordance with the command given to Moses, "the first covenant had," &c.
had--not "has," for as a covenant it no longer existed, though its rites were observed till the destruction of Jerusalem.
ordinances--of divine right and institution.
service--worship.
a worldly sanctuary--Greek, "its (literally, 'the') sanctuary worldly," mundane; consisting of the elements of the visible world. Contrasted with the heavenly sanctuary. Compare Hebrews 9:11 Hebrews 9:12 , "not of this building," Hebrews 9:24 . Material, outward, perishing (however precious its materials were), and also defective religiously. In Hebrews 9:2-5 , "the worldly sanctuary" is discussed; in Hebrews 9:6 , &c., the "ordinances of worship." The outer tabernacle the Jews believed, signified this world; the Holy of Holies, heaven. JOSEPHUS calls the outer, divided into two parts, "a secular and common place," answering to "the earth and sea"; and the inner holiest place, the third part, appropriated to God and not accessible to men.

2. Defining "the worldly tabernacle."
a tabernacle--"the tabernacle."
made--built and furnished.
the first--the anterior tabernacle.
candlestick . . . table--typifying light and life ( Exodus 25:31-39 ). The candlestick consisted of a shaft and six branches of gold, seven in all, the bowls made like almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch. It was carried in Vespasian's triumph, and the figure is to be seen on Titus' arch at Rome. The table of shittim wood, covered with gold, was for the showbread ( Exodus 25:23-30 ).
showbread--literally, "the setting forth of the loaves," that is, the loaves set forth: "the show of the bread" [ALFORD]. In the outer holy place: so the Eucharist continues until our entrance into the heavenly Holy of Holies ( 1 Corinthians 11:26 ).
which, &c.--"which (tabernacle) is called the holy place," as distinguished from "the Holy of Holies."

3. And--Greek, "But."
after--behind; within.
second veil--There were two veils or curtains, one before the Holy of Holies (catapetasma), here alluded to, the other before the tabernacle door (calumma).
called--as opposed to "the true."