Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Hebrews 9:6

"Now these things having been thus prepared, the priests go in continually into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the services;" — Hebrews 9:6 (ASV)

From the sanctuary the author moves to the ritual, notably what was done on the Day of Atonement. He uses the limitations attached to the high priest’s entry into the Most Holy Place to bring home the inferiority of the whole Levitical system. But he begins with the ministry of the lower priests. When the tabernacle system was established, the priests did their work in “the first tent” (NIV “outer room”). This included such things as burning incense (Exodus 30:7–8), setting out the holy loaves (Leviticus 24:8–9), and trimming the lamps (Exodus 27:20–21; Leviticus 24:3–4). There was a sharp distinction between the duties of the priests and those of the Levites (Numbers 18:1–7).