John Calvin Commentary Hebrews 9:1

"Now even a first [covenant] had ordinances of divine service, and its sanctuary, [a sanctuary] of this world." — Hebrews 9:1 (ASV)

Then verily the first, and so on. After having spoken generally of the abrogation of the old covenant, he now refers specially to the ceremonies. His object is to show that there was nothing practiced then to which Christ’s coming has not put an end. He says first, that under the old covenant there was a specific form of divine worship, and that it was peculiarly adapted to that time. It will later appear by the comparison what kind of things were those rituals prescribed under the Law.

Some copies read, πρώτη σκηνὴ, the first tabernacle; but I suspect that there is a mistake regarding the word “tabernacle.” Nor do I doubt that some unlearned reader, not finding a noun for the adjective, and in his ignorance applying to the tabernacle what had been said of the covenant, unwisely added the word σκηνὴ, tabernacle. I indeed greatly wonder that the mistake had become so prevalent that it is found in the Greek copies almost universally. But necessity constrains me to follow the ancient reading. For the Apostle, as I have said, had been speaking of the old covenant; he now comes to ceremonies, which were, as it were, additions to it. He then intimates that all the rites of the Mosaic Law were a part of the old covenant, and that they shared the same antiquity, and were therefore to perish.

Many take the word λατρείας as an accusative plural. I agree with those who connect the two words, δικαιώματα λατρείας, as meaning institutes or rites, which the Hebrews call חוקים, and the Greeks have rendered by the word δικαιώματα, ordinances. The sense is that the whole form or manner of worshipping God was annexed to the old covenant, and that it consisted of sacrifices, ablutions, and other symbols, together with the sanctuary.

And he calls it a worldly sanctuary, because there was no heavenly truth or reality in those rites. For though the sanctuary was the effigy of the original pattern which had been shown to Moses, yet an effigy or image is a different thing from the reality, especially when they are compared, as here, as things opposed to each other. Hence, the sanctuary in itself was indeed earthly and is rightly classed among the elements of the world, yet it was heavenly in what it signified.