Hebrews 9:4

Censer. Greek thumiaterion, literally, “a place [or “vessel”] for the burning of incense,” hence, either a censer or the altar of incense. For examples of the latter meaning see Josephus War 5.5 [216]; Antiquities iii. 6. 8;8.3 [147; 198]; cf. Herodotus 2. 162. In Hebrews the altar of incense is probably meant. This altar was the most important object in the holy place. It seems unlikely that the author would omit mentioning it, especially since he is enumerating the articles which each apartment contains.

However, the translation “altar of incense” introduces a problem, since this altar seems here to be represented as situated in the most holy place, whereas in the ancient tabernacle it stood in the first apartment (Exodus 30:6). It is to be noted that the author does not state that the altar of incense stood in the second apartment; but only that the most holy “had” the altar. The word translated “had” may be rendered “contain,” but this is not its only or necessary meaning.

The connection between the altar and the most holy place here indicated may be that its function was closely connected with the most holy place. The incense offered daily on this altar was directed to the mercy seat in the most holy. There God manifested His presence between the cherubim, and as the incense ascended with the prayers of the worshipers, it filled the most holy place as well as the holy. The veil that separated the two apartments did not extend to the ceiling but reached only part way. Thus incense could be offered in the holy place — the only place where ordinary priests might enter — and yet reach the second apartment, the place to which it was directed. In 1 Kings 6:22 the altar of incense of Solomon’s Temple is described as being “by the oracle,” that is, related to the most holy place, or belonging to the most holy place.

Ark. See Exodus 25:10-16.

Of the covenant. The ark is so designated because it contained “the tables of the covenant,” the two tables of stone on which God had written the Ten Commandments. In Deuteronomy 4:13 the Ten Commandments are declared to be the covenant that God commanded His people to perform.

The golden pot. See Exodus 16:33, 34. The idea of “golden” comes from the LXX, which in Exodus 16:33 reads “golden pot.” The Hebrew simply reads “pot.”

Aaron’s rod. See Numbers 17:1—11. The pot and Aaron’s rod are here seemingly declared to be in the ark. In the OT they are said to be “before the Lord,” or “before the Testimony” (Exodus 16:33, 34; Numbers 17:10). There is no necessary discrepancy here, for these latter expressions may also designate a position inside the ark. The statement in 1 Kings 8:9 that “there was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there” may imply that at one time there were other articles in the ark such as those mentioned here (see comment there).

Some have tried to resolve the apparent discrepancy by making “wherein” refer back to “the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all” (Hebrews 9:3). Though this is grammatically possible, the general construction is against such a relationship. Furthermore, the fact that the tables of the covenant are included in the list of items following “wherein” strongly suggests that it is the ark and not the most holy place that is referred to.

Tables of the covenant. See Exodus 25:16; 32:15, 16; Deuteronomy 9:9; see above under “of the covenant.”