Hebrews Chapter 9


The Tabernacle offers many Types and Figures pertaining to the Person and Work of the LORD Jesus Christ

Introduction

This chapter continues what preceded it, emphasizing the various earthly (“worldly”) and therefore “temporal” features and furniture of the Tabernacle, along with the repetitive earthly priestly services and practices that were established as “types” and “figures” to point us to the “heavenly” and “eternal” Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

This chapter can therefore be viewed as consisting of three parts:

  1. To show the pre-eminence of Jesus Christ over the Tabernacle, the furniture, its priesthood, and its sacrifices.
  2. To show how all that had gone before as officiated by the Levitical covenant were all “Types” and figures/pictures of Jesus and His Office, thereby they had no power in themselves to save.
  3. To mark an end to all Levitical ceremonies, sacrifices, and the first covenant, and to provide a more complete understanding of the Gospel of Salvation through the Atoning Sacrifice for sins by Jesus Christ our LORD.

Jesus is both the eternal High Priest offering the eternal Sacrifice (Himself), and by Him the believers also can enter the eternal Holy of Holies, Heaven, having been “typified” behind the vail (veil) before the Mercy Seat (where God is on His Throne in Heaven) and not die, but have everlasting life. Jesus Is the believer’s eternal Intercessor, High Priest, and Advocate before the Father. Hallelujah!

Ordinances are the priestly ceremonies outside the Holy of Holies.

Exodus 25:8&9, “And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, [after] the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make [it].“ Note the word “pattern” (and also “worldly” sanctuary in the first verse above).

Note to the reader: The person (artisan) assigned to the work of fashioning the furniture and instruments of the Tabernacle was named Bezaleel. Exodus 31:1-5, “¶And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, And in cutting of stones, to set [them], and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.“So Bezaleel, was from the tribe of Judah, not Levi, and he was the grandson of Hur and the son of Uri. Bezaleel בְּצַלְאֵל (bᵊṣal’ēl)H1212 , which means “Under the Shadow or Protection of God” reminiscent of Psalm 17:8. Uri אוּרִי (‘ûrî)H221, which means “Fiery” from the root word אוּר (‘ûr)H217 , which means “Light of Fire“. Hur חוּר (ḥûr)H2354, which is the same as חוּר (ḥûr)  H2353 meaning “White, like white linen” was the man who went with Moses and Aaron up the mount when Joshua fought with the Amalekites and with Aaron upheld Moses’ arms leading to Joshua’s victory. Jesus, from the Tribe of Judah, Is Righteous and his righteousness is imputed to His Saints (His Bride) as we read in Revelation 19:8, “And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Four things are listed: 1) the tabernacle, 2) the candlestick, the 3) table, and 4) the shewbread.

Note to the reader: For far more detailed information regarding the various pieces of furniture and holy vessels found in the Tabernacle and the spiritual implications of each, please see: The Holy Vessels and Furniture of the Tabernacle by Henry W. Soltau

The Tabernacle (Made with hands, pointing to the Heavenly Tabernacle made by God)

Exodus 26:1, “¶Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle [with] ten curtains [of] fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: [with] cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them.

The Tabernacle (a two room tent) was another “Type” pointing to God tabernacling (dwelling) with mankind:

  1. John 1:14, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt (σκηνόω (skēnoō))G4637 among us,(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
  2.  Revelation 7:15, “Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell (σκηνόω (skēnoō))G4637 among them.”
  3. 2 Corinthians 5:1, “For we know that if our earthly house of [this] tabernacle (σκῆνος (skēnos))  G4636 were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
  4. 2 Corinthians 5:4, “For we that are in [this] tabernacle (σκῆνος (skēnos))G4636 do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.”

And we should also remember once again what the martyred disciple, Steven, said in his very last words of testimony, about the Tabernacle (and the Temple): Acts 7:44-50, “¶Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen. Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus (Joshua) into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David; Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. But Solomon built him an house. ¶Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven [is] my throne, and earth [is] my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what [is] the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things?

The “prophet” that Stephen mentioned here was Isaiah, referring back to Isaiah 66:1&2, “Thus saith the LORD, The heaven [is] my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where [is] the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those [things] hath mine hand made, and all those [things] have been, saith the LORD: but to this [man] will I look, [even] to [him that is] poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

Finally we have Revelation 21:3, “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle σκηνή (skēnē)G4633 of God [is] with men, and he will dwell (σκηνόω (skēnoō)) G4637 with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God.

The Three Colors of the Curtains (Blue, Purple, Scarlet)

Blue seems to relate to Heaven per Genesis 1:8, Purple seems to relate to royalty per John 19:2&5, and Scarlet definitely relates to the shedding of blood for the remission of sin per Isaiah 1:18 and Hebrews 9:22, and therefore ultimately the shed Blood of the LORD Jesus Christ. And please note how blue and purple (and white, “Hur”) show up in this verse in the Book of Esther, Esther 8:15, “And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, H2353 and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.

The Candlestick or Golden Lampstand with Seven Lamps Represents the Eternal Light of Christ

Exodus 25:31(–40) and Exodus 37:17–24, “¶And thou shalt make a candlestick [of] pure gold: [of] beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.

Exodus 27:20, “And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.”

Leviticus 24:1-4, “¶And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually. Without the vail of the testimony, in the tabernacle of the congregation, shall Aaron order it from the evening unto the morning before the LORD continually: [it shall be] a statute for ever in your generations. He shall order the lamps upon the pure candlestick before the LORD continually.

Numbers 8:2-4, “Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick. And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as the LORD commanded Moses. And this work of the candlestick [was of] beaten gold, unto the shaft thereof, unto the flowers thereof, was beaten work: according unto the pattern which the LORD had shewed Moses, so he made the candlestick.

Zechariah 4:2, “And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all [of] gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which [are] upon the top thereof:

Revelation 4:5, “And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and [there were] seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

The Light of Jesus Christ

2 Corinthian 4:4, “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 1:10, “But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

1 John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

The Table (smaller than the ark in length and width, but the same height)

Exodus 26:35, “And thou shalt set the table without the vail, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.

Exodus 25:23–30 and Exodus 37:10–16 , “¶Thou shalt also make a table [of] shittim wood: two cubits [shall be] the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about…”

The Shewbread

Leviticus 24:5-9, “¶And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes thereof: two tenth deals shall be in one cake. And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before the LORD. And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon [each] row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, [even] an offering made by fire unto the LORD. Every sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD continually, [being taken] from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant. And it shall be Aaron’s and his sons’; and they shall eat it in the holy place: for it [is] most holy unto him of the offerings of the LORD made by fire by a perpetual statute.”

Exodus 25:30, “And thou shalt set upon the table shewbread before me alway.

Numbers 4:7, “And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover withal: and the continual bread shall be thereon:

Inside The “Holy of Holies” (A “Type” of the Throne Room of God in Heaven)

The Veil

Exodus 26:31, “¶And thou shalt make a vail [of] blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:

We again see the same three colors presented as with the curtains of the Tabernacle.

Ark of the Covenant

Exodus 25:10–22 , and Exodus 37:1–9¶And they shall make an ark [of] shittim wood: two cubits and a half [shall be] the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about….

The Pot of Manna

Exodus 16:33, “And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the LORD, to be kept for your generations.”

Aaron’s Rod that Budded

Numbers 17:8-10, “¶And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds. And Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD unto all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod. ¶And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron’s rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.

Exodus 25:16, “And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee.” and

Deuteronomy 10:15, and Exodus 34:1–9,”¶At that time the LORD said unto me, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto me into the mount, and make thee an ark of wood. And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark.“ 

See also: 1 Kings 8:9 and 2 Chronicles 5:10 which indicate that at that time only the Ten Commandments were still left in the Ark of the Covenant. The pot of manna and Aaron’s rod could have been removed by the Philistines after they captured in 1 Samuel 4:11 or later by the men of Beth Shemesh “because they had looked into the ark of the LORD1 Samuel 6:19. Another possibility is that whenever the Ark was moved, then the pot and rod were placed inside during transport, but removed and placed in front of the Ark when the Ark was settled in the Holy of Holies.

The Mercy Seat

Exodus 25:18-22, “And thou shalt make two cherubims [of] gold, [of] beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat. And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: [even] of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof. And the cherubims shall stretch forth [their] wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces [shall look] one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be. And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which [are] upon the ark of the testimony, of all [things] which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.

Leviticus 16:2, “And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy {place] within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.”

Laws of Continual Offerings Outside the Vail

Please See Exodus 29:38–46 and Numbers 28:1–8

Exodus 30:10, “And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations: it [is] most holy unto the LORD.” and Hebrews 7:27, “Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

This is the key to this verse: Hebrews 10:19&20, “¶Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;” and John 14:6, “¶Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.“ Remembering also what we read in John 6:44 where Jesus also said, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Note the use of the word “figure”…again it is saying that these temporal earthly things in the sanctuary and performed within in the sanctuary of the tabernacle for the time then present are “Types” (symbols, pictures) of heavenly eternal accomplishments via the Person and Work of the LORD Jesus Christ. (This is also a segue to Hebrews 10:1-4)

Galatians 3:21, “¶[Is] the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

Meat and Drinks

Colossians 2:16, “¶Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath [days]:

Washings

Numbers 19:7, ”Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean until the even.”

Ordinances (rights or ceremonies)

Ephesians 2:15, “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, [so] making peace;”

Please again see the points made earlier for Hebrews 9:2

We know that when the appointed time came, Jesus Christ, the Great High Priest of God things to come (peace, righteousness, reconciliation, grace and mercy) came in a body prepared for Him by God the Father and Who Was ordained by God the Father.

Galatians 4:4&5, “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Hebrews 3:1, “¶Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

Hebrews 10:1, “¶For the law having a shadow of good things to come, [and] not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.”

Hebrews 8:2, “A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

Hebrews 10:4, “For [it is] not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

Psalm 69:30&31, “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. [This] also shall please the LORD better than an ox [or] bullock that hath horns and hoofs.

Ephesians 1:7, “¶ In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” and Colossians 1:14, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, [even] the forgiveness of sins:

Zechariah 3:9, “For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone [shall be] seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

Daniel 9:24, “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sinsand to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

Leviticus 16:11-14, “¶And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which [is] for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which [is] for himself: And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring [it] within the vail: And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that [is] upon the testimony, that he die not: And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle [it] with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.

Numbers 19:2-4, “This [is] the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein [is] no blemish, [and] upon which never came yoke: And ye shall give her unto Eleazar the priest, that he may bring her forth without the camp, and [one] shall slay her before his face: And Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle of her blood directly before the tabernacle of the congregation seven times: And [one] shall burn the heifer in his sight; her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, with her dung, shall he burn: And the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast [it] into the midst of the burning of the heifer.

1 John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Romans 1:3&4, “Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

Hebrews 10:22, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Hebrews 6:1, “¶Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

Luke 1:74, “That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,”

1 Timothy 2:5, “For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Hebrews 7:22, “By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.”

Romans 3:25, “Whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;” (propitiation is another word for atonement and appeasement)

Hebrews 3:1, “¶Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

This is fairly straightforward.

Galatians 3:15, “¶Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though [it be] but a man’s covenant, yet [if it be] confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

Exodus 24:6, “And Moses took half of the blood, and put [it] in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.

Exodus 24:8, “And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled [it] on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.

And does not this at least bring to mind that Jesus, as He was going to the cross was robed with purple and out of His side came blood and water? John 19:34, “But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. and John 19:2, “And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put [it] on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,”

Matthew 26:27, “¶And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave [it] to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

Exodus 29:12, “And thou shalt take of the blood of the bullock, and put [it] upon the horns of the altar with thy finger, and pour all the blood beside the bottom of the altar.

Leviticus 8:15, “And he slew [it]; and Moses took the blood, and put [it] upon the horns of the altar round about with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured the blood at the bottom of the altar, and sanctified it, to make reconciliation upon it.”

Leviticus 17:11, “For the life of the flesh [is] in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it [is] the blood [that] maketh an atonement for the soul.

Hebrews 8:5, “Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, [that] thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.

Hebrews 6:20, “Whither the forerunner is for us entered, [even] Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Hebrews 8:2, “A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

Hebrews 9:7, “But into the second [went] the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and [for] the errors of the people:

Hebrews 7:27, “Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

1 Corinthians 10:11, “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Romans 15:4, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Genesis 3:19, “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou [art], and unto dust shalt thou return.

Ecclesiastes 3:20, “All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

2 Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad.”

Romans 6:10, “For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

1 Peter 3:18, “¶For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

1 Peter 2:24, “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

1 John 3:5, “And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.”

Matthew 26:28, “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Romans 8:1, “[There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 5:15, “But not as the offence, so also [is] the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, [which is] by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

Romans 8:33&34, “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? [It is] God that justifieth. Who [is he that condemneth? [It is] Christ that died, yearather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Titus 2:13, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. ¶These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.”

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