Leviticus 16:2

King James Version (KJV)

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.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

That he come not at all times into the holy place - By the holy place we are to understand here what is ordinarily called the Holy of Holies, or most holy place; that place within the veil where the ark of the covenant, etc., were laid up; and where God manifested his presence between the cherubim. In ordinary cases the high priest could enter this place only once in the year, that is, on the day of annual atonement; but in extraordinary cases he might enter more frequently, viz., while in the wilderness, in decamping and encamping, he must enter to take down or adjust the things; and on solemn pressing public occasions, he was obliged to enter in order to consult the Lord: but he never entered without the deepest reverence and due preparation. That it may appear that the grand subject of this chapter, the ordinance of the scape-goat, typified the death and resurrection of Christ, and the atonement thereby made, I beg leave to refer to Hebrews 9:7-12, and Hebrews 9:24-26, which I shall here transcribe, because it is a key to the whole of this chapter. "Into the second [tabernacle] went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people. The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. But Christ being come, a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the Blood of Goats and Calves, but by his Own Blood; he entered into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with the blood of others; (for then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world); but now once in the end of the world, hath he appeared To Put Away Sin By The Sacrifice Of Himself."

Was this helpful?

Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

The holy place within the vail - See Exodus 26:33-34; Hebrews 9:3.

The cloud - Compare Exodus 16:10 note.

The mercy seat - See Exodus 25:17 note.

Was this helpful?

Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

Without entering into particulars of the sacrifices on the great day of atonement, we may notice that it was to be a statute for ever, till that dispensation be at an end. As long as we are continually sinning, we continually need the atonement. The law of afflicting our souls for sin, is a statue which will continue in force till we arrive where all tears, even those of repentance, will be wiped from our eyes. The apostle observes it as a proof that the sacrifices could not take away sin, and cleanse the conscience from it, that in them there was a remembrance made of sin every year, upon the day of atonement, Heb 10:1,3. The repeating the sacrifices, showed there was in them but a feeble effort toward making atonement; this could be done only by offering up the body of Christ once for all; and that sacrifice needed not to be repeated.

Was this helpful?

SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

2. That he come not. This was soon after the death of the two sons of Aaron, recorded in ch. 10. Though there were yet some months until the Day of Atonement, God instructed Aaron relative to it, that he might have sufficient time to become acquainted with the ritual.

The vail. There were two veils in the sanctuary, one leading from the court into the first apartment, the other separating the two apartments. The veil here referred to is the second veil (Heb. 9:3), the one before the mercy seat (Ex. 26:31, 32). It was before this veil that the priests stood as they offered incense upon the altar of incense, before the mercy seat. Their sight could not pierce the veil, but they knew that on the other side of it was the ark with its mercy seat, where God had promised to meet with His people (Ex. 25:22). The figures of cherubim embroidered on the veil represented to them the angels that stand before the throne of Deity. The veil shielded them from the consuming glory, and at the same time it permitted them to approach closely.

The cherubim must have brought vividly to their minds the cherubim stationed at the gate of Eden (see on Gen. 3:24). After Adam and Eve had sinned they could not pass the cherubim; neither could the priests in the sanctuary pass the symbolic cherubim and enter into the presence of God. This must have deeply impressed upon them the holiness of God. None but the high priest could enter the holy of holies to minister, and he but briefly one day in the year.

Throughout the year the blood of the victims was brought into the sanctuary and sprinkled “seven times before the Lord, before the vail of the sanctuary” (Lev. 4:6, 17), in instances where the anointed priest or the whole congregation had sinned. Immediately behind the veil was the ark containing the tables of the law. It was with reference to the law that the blood was sprinkled, for in sinning, men had broken that law, and their transgressions demanded atonement. The sprinkling of the blood was an acknowledgement of the authority of the law and a symbolical token payment of its demand, either for perfect obedience or for the life of the disobedient. Obey and live, disobey and perish, was its dictum.

However, the sprinkled blood never reached the law, for the veil intervened. And even on the Day of Atonement, when the veil was drawn aside and the blood sprinkled in the holiest, the blood did not reach the law. The mercy seat covered the law, and there the blood rested. The mercy seat was a type of Christ. According to Rom. 3:25 God set forth Christ “to be a propitiation,” literally, a “mercy seat.” Christ is our “mercy seat.” By His death on the cross and His ministry in the courts above, Christ saves us by taking our place on the cross and pleading our case over the broken law. He stands between us and the law and saves us from its penalty, not by ignoring or abolishing it, but by paying its just demands, and thus acknowledging its authority and honoring it.

The priests entered the sanctuary with the blood of a slain animal, and by virtue of it. Christ, “by the power of an indestructiblelife” (Heb. 7:16, RSV), entered, not with “the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood Ã¢â‚¬Â¦ once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us” (Heb. 9:12). We are invited to follow Him there by faith (Heb. 4:16). The new and living way He has opened for us and He Himself has trod, is the way of the cross, the way of obedience. There is no other way.

This gives point to the expression often usedâ€”and at times thoughtlesslyâ€”of going “all the way” with Christ. He has gone into the holiest of all, and is now there ministering for us. He went by way of the cross, the way of Gethsemane and Golgotha. And again He invites us to follow Him (Matt. 20:22, 23). Those who accept His invitation must be willing to go with Him by way of the cross. And it is those who thus follow Him here that will, in a better world, have the privilege of living in His presence.

The same lesson is presented to us in the breaking of the bread and the drinking of the cup. Says Christ, “This is my body, which is broken for you. Ã¢â‚¬Â¦ This cup is the new testament in my blood” (1 Cor. 11:24, 25). As we take the cup, as we take the broken bread, we enter into a solemn covenant with God that we will go all the way, even though this may mean a broken body and the shedding of our blood in martyrdom.

It seems eminently fitting that God’s remnant church should be “time’s noblest offspring.” On them shines the light of all past ages; they have inherited not only the weaknesses of past generations but also the accumulated Biblical knowledge of the ages. To them has come light on Scripture such as has been given to no other people. They have light on the sanctuary; they have the more sure word of prophecy; to them have been entrusted the oracles of God. They understand the work that Christ is now doing in the courts above. They have been given the inestimable privilege of heralding to the world that the hour of God’s judgment is come, and that the end of all things is at hand. What manner of men ought they to be “in all holy conversation and godliness” (2 Peter 3:11)!

The ark. In the ark, below the mercy seat, were the Ten Commandments, the very foundation of the throne of God. Here, at the ark, justice and mercy met; here, righteousness and peace “kissed each other” (Ps. 85:10); here God revealed Himself; here was the secret place of the Most High. The ark and the mercy seat were the center of the entire sacrificial service.

That he die not. The caution given Aaron is reminiscent of the disaster that had come upon his sons because of their disobedience (Lev. 10:1, 2).

In the cloud. God promised Moses to meet with him at the “door of the tabernacle” (Ex. 29:42), at the altar of incense before the veil (Ex. 30:36; Num. 17:4), and, as here, directly before the mercy seat (Ex. 25:22; 30:36). The presence of the “cloud” above the mercy seat in no way implies that the holy of holies was dark, for with the “cloud” was the glory of the Lord (1 Kings 8:10, 11; 2 Chron. 5:13, 14; Rev. 15:8). The Shekinah, the visible evidence that God was indeed with His people, abode above the mercy seat (Ex. 25:22; Ps. 80:1; Isa. 37:16). To man it might appear that God dwells in “darkness” (1 Kings 8:12; Ps. 18:11). But “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). He dwells “in the light which no man can approach unto” (1 Tim. 6:16). In revealing Himself to His people, God ever veiled His glory with a cloud, so that mortal beings might be aware of His presence, yet able to endure it (Ex. 16:10; 19:9; 24:16; 34:5; 40:34, 38).

Was this helpful?

Ellen G. White
Spiritual Gifts, vol. 4a, 9-10

These sacred apartments had no windows to give light. The candlestick was made of purest gold, and was kept burning night and day, and gave light to both apartments. The light of the lamps upon the candlestick reflected upon the boards plated with gold, at the sides of the building, and upon the sacred furniture, and upon the curtains of beautiful colors with cherubims wrought with threads of gold and silver, which appearance was glorious beyond description. No language can describe the beauty and loveliness, and sacred glory, which these apartments presented. The gold in the sanctuary reflected the colors of the curtains, which appeared like the different colors of the rainbow. 4aSG 9.1

Only once a year could the high priest enter into the most holy place, after the most careful and solemn preparation. No mortal eye but that of the high priest could look upon the sacred grandeur of that apartment, because it was the especial dwelling-place of God's visible glory. The high priest always entered it with trembling, while the people waited his return with solemn silence. Their earnest desires were to God for his blessing. Before the mercy-seat God conversed with the high priest. If he remained an unusual time in the most holy, the people were often terrified, fearing that because of their sins, or some sin of the priest, the glory of the Lord had slain him. But when the sound of the tinkling of the bells upon his garments was heard, they were greatly relieved. He then came forth and blessed the people. 4aSG 9.2

Read in context »

Was this helpful?

Ellen G. White
The Great Controversy, 420

Important truths concerning the atonement are taught by the typical service. A substitute was accepted in the sinner's stead; but the sin was not canceled by the blood of the victim. A means was thus provided by which it was transferred to the sanctuary. By the offering of blood the sinner acknowledged the authority of the law, confessed his guilt in transgression, and expressed his desire for pardon through faith in a Redeemer to come; but he was not yet entirely released from the condemnation of the law. On the Day of Atonement the high priest, having taken an offering from the congregation, went into the most holy place with the blood of this offering, and sprinkled it upon the mercy seat, directly over the law, to make satisfaction for its claims. Then, in his character of mediator, he took the sins upon himself and bore them from the sanctuary. Placing his hands upon the head of the scapegoat, he confessed over him all these sins, thus in figure transferring them from himself to the goat. The goat then bore them away, and they were regarded as forever separated from the people. GC 420.1

Such was the service performed “unto the example and shadow of heavenly things.” And what was done in type in the ministration of the earthly sanctuary is done in reality in the ministration of the heavenly sanctuary. After His ascension our Saviour began His work as our high priest. Says Paul: “Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” Hebrews 9:24. GC 420.2

The ministration of the priest throughout the year in the first apartment of the sanctuary, “within the veil” which formed the door and separated the holy place from the outer court, represents the work of ministration upon which Christ entered at His ascension. It was the work of the priest in the daily ministration to present before God the blood of the sin offering, also the incense which ascended with the prayers of Israel. So did Christ plead His blood before the Father in behalf of sinners, and present before Him also, with the precious fragrance of His own righteousness, the prayers of penitent believers. Such was the work of ministration in the first apartment of the sanctuary in heaven. GC 420.3

Read in context »

Was this helpful?

Ellen G. White
The Ministry of Healing, 437-8

In the sanctuary of the wilderness tabernacle and of the temple that were the earthly symbols of God's dwelling place, one apartment was sacred to His presence. The veil inwrought with cherubim at its entrance was not to be lifted by any hand save one. To lift that veil, and intrude unbidden into the sacred mystery of the most holy place, was death. For above the mercy seat dwelt the glory of the Holiest—glory upon which no man might look and live. On the one day of the year appointed for ministry in the most holy place, the high priest with trembling entered God's presence, while clouds of incense veiled the glory from his sight. Throughout the courts of the temple every sound was hushed. No priests ministered at the altars. The host of worshipers, bowed in silent awe, offered their petitions for God's mercy. MH 437.1

Read in context »

Was this helpful?

Ellen G. White
Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, 284-5

Again, consider the judgment that fell upon Uzzah. As in David's reign, the ark was being carried to Jerusalem, Uzzah put forth his hand to keep it steady. For presuming to touch the symbol of God's presence, he was smitten with instant death. 8T 284.1

At the burning bush, when Moses, not recognizing God's presence, turned aside to behold the wonderful sight, the command was given: 8T 284.2

“Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.... And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.” Exodus 3:5, 6. 8T 284.3

“And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a Man over against him with His sword drawn in His hand: and Joshua went unto Him, and said unto Him, Art Thou for us, or for our adversaries? And He said, Nay; but as Captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto Him, What saith my Lord unto His servant? And the Captain of the Lord's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.” Joshua 5:13-15. 8T 284.4

In the sanctuary and the temple, that were the earthly symbols of God's dwelling place, one apartment was sacred to His presence. The veil inwrought with cherubim at its entrance was not to be lifted by any hand save one. To lift that veil and intrude unbidden into the sacred mystery of the most holy place was death. For above the mercy seat and the bowed, worshiping angels dwelt the glory of the Holiest, glory upon which no man might look and live. On the one day of the year appointed for ministry in the most holy place, the high priest with trembling entered God's presence, while clouds of incense veiled the glory from his sight. Throughout the courts of the temple every sound was hushed. No priests ministered at the altars. The hosts of worshipers, bowed in silent awe, sent up their petitions for God's mercy. 8T 284.5

Read in context »

Was this helpful?

Cross References

he come not