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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Heb_9:15-22
15 For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. 16For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it. 17 For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives. 18Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood. 19For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20saying, "This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you." 21And in the same way he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. 22And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Heb_9:15 "mediator" See note at Heb_8:6 (cf. Heb_12:24; 1Ti_2:5).
▣ "a new covenant" This term is first used in Heb_8:8; Heb_8:13, but alluded to in Heb_7:22. This shocking term is found in only one OT text (cf. Jer_31:31-34) and described in Eze_36:22-38. Heb_9:15-18 are a play on the word "covenant," with its two meanings of legal contract or agreement (Hebrew) and last will and testament (Greek and Latin).
▣ "for the redemption of transgression that were committed under the first covenant those who have been called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance" Remember that Hebrews is a comparison of the Old and New Covenants. The Mosaic Covenant became a death sentence (cf. Eph_2:14-16; Col_2:14) to God's highest creation (mankind) because after Genesis 3 they were unable to obey and perform God's commands. The first covenant said "do and live," but no one could fully conform to its requirements. The Old Covenant stated "the soul that sins will die" (cf. 2Ki_14:6; Eze_18:4; Eze_18:20). God's answer was a sinless, ideal Israelite who would pay the price for all, for all time (cf. Isa_52:13 to Isa_53:12).
The phrase "those who have been called" refers to God's initiating call to know Him (cf. Heb_3:1; Joh_6:44; Joh_6:65; Rom_8:28; Rom_8:30; Rom_9:24). See full note at Heb_3:1.
The concept of "inheritance" is linked to the Levites' unique relationship to YHWH. They were His inheritance and He was theirs (not land like the other tribes). The new covenant believers are now like OT priests (cf. 2Pe_3:5; 2Pe_3:9; Rev_1:6). Believers have an eternal inheritance, which is provided by Christ, guarded by God (cf. 1Pe_1:3-5).
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▣ "inaugurated" See note at Heb_10:20.
Heb_9:19 "goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop" The author seems to have combined the cleansing by sprinkling blood on a leper in Lev_14:6-7 with the consecration of the Tem Commandments at Sinai in Exo_24:1-9. The tabernacle was not in existence in chapter 24 (cf. Exodus 40). Josephus tells us that sprinkling with blood was part of the ritual of Exodus 40.
This word "goats" is missing in several ancient Greek manuscripts (P46, à c, K, L) as well as the Syriac translation and the Greek text used by Origen. Goats were usually used for sin offerings, not covenant ratifications (although not exclusively, cf. Gen_15:9). Goats are omitted in the ratification of the "ten words" (Torah) in Exo_24:1-8. Possibly "goats" is another allusion to the Day of Atonement, Leviticus 16, where goats are an integral part of the ritual.
It is difficult from our modern perspective to claim that Acts 7 (Stephen's sermon) and the author of Hebrews (chapter 9's description of the ancient tabernacle) are inaccurate. There is so much that is unknown about the ancient rituals themselves and the ever-changing rabbinical traditions associated with them.
Heb_9:20 This is a quote from Exo_24:8.
Heb_9:22 "almost say all things" Some things were cleaned without blood in the OT system: (1) Lev_5:11; (2) Num_16:46; (3) Num_31:22-23; (4) Exo_19:10; Exo_32:30-32; Lev_15:5; Lev_16:26; Lev_16:28; Lev_22:6; (5) Psalms 51. See note below.
▣ "without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" In the OT cleansing required (1) fire, (2) water, or (3) blood. This author takes sin seriously. Forgiveness involves a life forfeited (cf. Lev_17:11; Lev_17:14). The OT sacrificial system (cf. Leviticus 1-7) sets the stage for our understanding of Christ's substitutionary death (cf. Mat_26:28; Mar_10:45; 1Co_11:25; 2Co_5:21).
In the OT there were several ways things/people were cleansed without blood.
1. by fire (cf. Lev_13:52; Lev_13:55; Lev_16:27; Num_31:23)
2. water (cf. Exod. 19:30; Lev_15:5; Lev_16:26; Lev_16:28; Lev_22:6; Num_31:24)
3. flour sacrifice (cf. Lev_5:11-13)
4. incense (cf. Num_16:46-48)
5. intercession (cf. Exo_32:30-32)
6. prayer of confession and contrition (cf. Psalms 32, 51)