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Heb 9:4. Χρυσοῦν, golden) The apostle uses such words as signify something precious and glorious, as δόξης, of glory, Heb 9:5.-θυμιατήριον) censer. So the LXX. express מקטרת, a censer for frankincense; not the ALTAR of incense, which had no more need to be mentioned than the altar of whole burnt-offering, which is not mentioned. But the censer alone, along with the ark of the covenant, is named in this verse, because it was the principal part of the furniture which the high priest used on the day of expiation; and although it was on that day alone that he both carried in and again carried out the censer, yet the participle ἔχουσα, having, is consonant with the fact.[49] Further, this is put first, because a description of the ark follows at greater length.-ἐν ᾗ, in which) namely, κιβωτῷ, the ark; for to it also is to be referred αὐτῆς, over it, Heb 9:5.-στάμνος χρυσῆ ἔχουσα τὸ μάννα, the golden pot that had manna) μάννα, manna, has the article, not στάμνος, the pot; for the thing contained was of more importance than the golden vessel which contained it. Exo 16:33, צנצנת אחת; LXX. ΣΤΆΜΝΟΝ ΧΡΥΣΟῦΝ ἝΝΑ. Some suspect that this pot and rod of Aaron, two most remarkable memorials, which were furnished with a perpetual miracle, had been taken out of the ark before the building of the temple; others, that they were put in not until afterwards, because in 1Ki 8:9 mention is only made of the tables laid up in the ark. But in the same passage it is distinctly affirmed, that Solomon acted according to the example of Moses; and the apostle refers to the times of Moses, Heb 9:6, at the beginning; ch. Heb 8:5 : comp. ch. Heb 13:11, where there is no mention made of the city, as here none of the temple. What then shall we say? The tables were alone in the ark itself, but the pot and the rod לפני העדות, before the testimony, and therefore before the ark, Exo 16:34; Num. 17:25, in the Hebr., very near the ark, as appendages to it; in the same way that the book of the law and the deposits of the Philistines [the five golden emerods and mice] were put on the side of the ark: Deu 31:26; 1Sa 6:8. Therefore ἐν in this passage is used with some latitude, as Luk 9:31, etc.-τὸ μάννα, the manna) A memorial of God’s providential care of Israel.-Ἡ ῬΆΒΔΟς, the rod) A memorial of a lawful priesthood, Num. 17:16, etc., in the Hebr.-αἱ πλάκες τῆς διαθήκης, the tables of the covenant) Deu 9:9. These are put in the last place by gradation.
[49] The Holy of Holies continually had the censer; though it was only on the day of atonement that the high priest used it.-ED.