Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Hebrews 9:4

"having a golden altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein [was] a golden pot holding the manna, and Aaron`s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;" — Hebrews 9:4 (ASV)

The author now says some things about the furnishings of the Most Holy Place, beginning with the golden “altar of incense” (GK 2593). There is a problem in that the author seems to locate this altar inside the Most Holy Place, though its place was really “in front of the curtain” (Exodus 30:6). Indeed, it had to be outside the Most Holy Place, for it was used daily (Exodus 30:7–8). Most likely he has in mind the intimate connection of the incense altar with the Most Holy Place; it “belonged to the inner sanctuary” (1 Kings 6:22), as is shown by its situation “in front of the curtain that is before the ark of the testimony—before the atonement cover [mercy seat] that is over the Testimony” (Exodus 30:6). The writer does not say that this altar was “in” the Most Holy Place but only that that Place “had” it. It is true that the same verb covers the ark that was undoubtedly inside the veil, but the indefinite term may be significant.

On the Day of Atonement, the high priest offered incense, using coals of fire from this altar, “so that he will not die” (Leviticus 16:12–13). The incense was indeed important.

There is no question that the “gold-covered ark of the covenant” was in the Most Holy Place of the tabernacle (Exodus 25:10ff.; 26:33; 40:21). The ark contained “the golden jar of manna” (cf. Exodus 16:33–34) and Aaron’s rod that had budded (Numbers 17:1–11). Neither of these is said in the OT to be “in” the ark; rather, they were “in front of” it (Exodus 16:34; Numbers 17:10). We are told in 1 Kings 8:9 that in Solomon’s temple there was nothing in the ark but the tablets of stone. But the author is not concerned with the temple. He is writing about the tabernacle, and it is possible that a different arrangement held there. Also in the ark were “the stone tablets of the covenant” (cf. Exodus 25:16; 31:18; Dt 9:9ff.; 10:3ff.). They represented the permanent record of the terms of the old covenant and were kept in the most sacred place.