Hebrews 9th - Verse 1 – Verse 5 – The Earthly Holy Place
Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness.
2 For a tent was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence. It is called the Holy Place.
3 Behind second curtain was a second Section Called the Most Holy Place,
4 having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant5 Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.
What was Ark of Covenant ?
Ark of Covenant was an Earthly Place of Holiness Where God Showed his Presence among Israelites.
Where was Ark of Covenant ?
Exodus 26:33
33 And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there
within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy.
Why Ark of Covenant was made ?
Ark of Covenant was Ordered by God as a meeting Place on Earth.
Exodus 25:22
There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim
that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in
commandment for the people of Israel.
Who took the Ark of Covenant from Israelites ?
Ark of Covenant was taken away By Philistines During the Battle Between Israelites and Philistines because of Israelites unfaithfulness and Wickedness of Hophni and Phinehas
1st Samuel 4th Chapter :
1And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek.
2And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.
3And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.
4So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
5And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.
6And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp.
7And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.
8Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.
9Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.
10And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.
11And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.
12And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head.
13And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out.
14And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What meaneth the noise of this tumult? And the man came in hastily, and told Eli.
15Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see.
16And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to day out of the army. And he said, What is there done, my son?
17And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.
18And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.
19And his daughter in law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her.
20And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it.
21And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.
22And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken.
What Happened to Philistines after they took the Ark of Covenant ?
1st Samuel 5th Chapter
The Philistines and the Ark
5 When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.
2 Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it up beside Dagon.
3 And when the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and put him back in his place.
4 But when they rose early on the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the LORD, and the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off on the threshold. Only the trunk of Dagon was left to him.
5 This is why the priests of Dagon and all who enter the house of Dagon do not tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.
6 The hand of the LORD was heavy against the people of Ashdod, and he terrified and afflicted them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territory.
7 And when the men of Ashdod saw how things were, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for his hand is hard against us and against Dagon our god.”
8 So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?” They answered, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be brought around to Gath.” So they brought the ark of the God of Israel there.
9 But after they had brought it around, the hand of the LORD was against the city, causing a very great panic, and he afflicted the men of the city, both young and old, so that tumors broke out on them.
10 So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. But as soon as the ark of God came to Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, “They have brought around to us the ark of the God of Israel to kill us and our people.”
11 They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, that it may not kill us and our people.” For there was a deathly panic throughout the whole city. The hand of God was very heavy there.
12 The men who did not die were struck with tumors, and the cry of the city went up to heaven.
Who Brought the Ark of Covenant Back from Philistines ?
During the Reign of David , Jerusalem was the Center for all the Israelites to Offer the Sacrifices and Worship God.
2nd Samuel 6th Chapter Verse 12
12 And it was told King David, “The LORD has blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom to the city of David with rejoicing.
Where was Ark of Covenant Kept after Bringing back from Philistines ?
1st Chronicles 17th Chapter - The Lord's Covenant with David
17 Now when David lived in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, “Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under a tent.”
2 And Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.”
3 But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan,
4 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: It is not you who will build me a house to dwell in.
5 For I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up Israel to this day, but I have gone from tent to tent and from dwelling to dwelling.
6 In all places where I have moved with all Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ 7 Now, therefore, thus shall you say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people Israel,
8 and I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.
9 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall waste them no more, as formerly,
10 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover, I declare to you that the LORD will build you a house.
11 When your days are fulfilled to walk with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom.
12 He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever.
13 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you,
14 but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.’”
15 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.
Why King David was not allowed to Build a Temple ?
1st Chronicles 22nd Chapter Verse 8 – Verse 10
8 But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and have waged great wars. You shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed so much blood before me on the earth.
9 Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies. For his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. 10 He shall build a house for my name. He shall be my son, and I will be his father, and I will establish his royal throne in Israel forever.’
Who was Given Charge to Build the Temple ?
1st Chronicles 22nd Chapter Verse 10
10 He shall build a house for my name.
2nd Chronicles 5th Chapter Verse 1
5 Thus all the work that Solomon did for the house of the LORD was finished. And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, and stored the silver, the gold, and all the vessels in the treasuries of the house of God.
Finally the Ark of Covenant was brought into the Temple Build by Solomon and as commanded it was kept in Most Holy Place Separated by Veil and Only Person to Enter the Most Holy Place was the High Priest once in a Year as Commanded by God.
This was all about the history of the Ark of Covenant how it was made and how it travelled from Camp of Israelites to the Temple Built by Solomon.
What was the Connection Between the Death of the Jesus Christ on the Cross and the Veil in the Solomon Temple ?
Mathew 27th Chapter Verse 51
51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.
By the Death of Jesus Christ on the Cross the Veil/Curtain which was torn is the significance that now people have direct access to God , No more offerings required.
Jesus Christ as High Priest has given himself as sacrifice , Today We don’t require Levitical high priest as in Solomon’s Temple because Jesus Christ has removed that Veil through his Sacrifice.
Today the Veil has been removed , You have direct access to God , No more priests required.
Jesus Christ is our High Priest Today.
Hebrews 8th Chapter Verse1-Verse7
Jesus, High Priest of a Better Covenant.
8 Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,
2 a minister in the holy places, in the true tent1 that the Lord set up, not man.
3 For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer.
4 Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law.
5 They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.”
6 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.
Veil in Solomon’s Temple was a constant reminder that Sinners were unfit for the presence of the God. Jesus Christ has entered the True Holy Place Being an Advocate for All of Us in the Real Holy Place.
The Connection Between the Death of Jesus Christ and the Torn Veil is not just about the Power of God but it’s the Mercy of Jesus Christ the Son of God who Showed his Mercy for all the Sinners and opening us a way to the Holy Place where He is Sitting Right now.
Today Examine Yourself , If you are still living without salvation remember that the veil has been removed through the Sacrifice which Jesus Christ has made for all the Sinners.
If you are already saved make sure you are not putting on the Veil Between You and God.
Putting Veil Between You and God is Nothing but Sinning again and again.
Remember , Christ has already opened the Veil to the Most Holy Place where you have eternal life.
Don’t Close it , If you try to close it sinning day by day or not accepting the salvation which god gave us through his son Jesus Christ you will Definitely find yourself in Hell.
