Priestly covenant - is the biblical covenant that God gave to Aaron and his descendants

Priestly covenant 

The priestly covenant[1] (Hebrew: ברית הכהונה‎‎ brith ha-kehuna) is the biblical covenant that God gave to Aaron and his descendants, the Aaronic priesthood, as found in the Hebrew Bible and Oral Torah.

The covenant is portrayed as everlasting and Halachically applicable notwithstanding the removal of the "five articles of honor" (see Jerusalem Talmud to Sotah 35b for the complete list) prior to the destruction of the First Temple, and most priestly duties, including Korban offerings- with the destruction of the Second Temple.

In the Torah, the covenant is cited as being compared to salt and is called "a covenant of salt forever" [2] (Hebrew brith melach olam ברית מלח עולם), or "a statute forever" (Hebrew chukat olam".[3] In Midrashic sources the priestly covenant is one of five everlasting covenants.[4]

Hebrew Bible

Priests in Genesis

The first person listed in the Hebrew Bible as a "priest" (Hebrew kohen) is Melchizedek. Midrashic literature details that due to Melchizedek preceding the name of Abraham to God, the priesthood was taken from him and given to Abraham[5] who passed it on to his son Isaac who in turn passed it on to his son Jacob.

Jacob's deathbed blessing of Levi

Maimonides, in his Mishna Torah compilation, explains that Jacob separated his son Levi from his other sons and appointed him to instruct and teach the ways of service to God, specifically the methods used by his forefather Abraham, to his brothers. He also instructed his sons to perpetuate this status of the tribe of Levi for eternity (Maimonides, On Idolatry 1:15). For the prelude of this choice see Targum Jonathanto Genesis 32:25, and Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer ch. 37. In midrash it is written that Amram the son of Kohath the son of Levi was the spiritual leader of the sons of Jacob during their Egyptian Bonadage. Following his death, his post was assumed by his firstborn Aaron.

Exodus

At the time of the erection of the Tabernacle, God commanded Moses to appoint Aaron and his sons to the priestly service as a precondition to God revealing hisshechinah glory amongst the nation of Israel;

And Ahron and his sons I will sanctify to serve me and I will dwell amidst the sons of Israel and I will be to them a God, and they will know that I (am) God their Master that took them out from the land of Egypt (in order that) I (will) dwell in their midst

— Exodus 29:44-46

With the appearance that Aaron -by his own right- was worthy of the privilege of priesthood, the midrash clarifies that in fact it was due to the support and guidance of Moshe that afforded him the necessary qualifications for the Kohanic duties.

The priestly duties prior to Aaron

Prior to the appointing of Aaron and his sons to function as priests it was customary amongst the congregation of Israel that, just as all professions attract certain character types who excel therein, the duty of priesthood was best served by the firstborn of each household. As it is the firstborn who is, by nature, inclined and qualified to be an "emissary of the congregation" in the eyes of God. According to the Targum Yosef to Books of Chronicles, individuals from the Tribe of Reuben (the firstborn of Jacob) where leading as the High priest, up until the establishment of Aaron to the same (Targum Joseph to Books of Chronicles 1 5:1-2).

The Golden Calf, and sin of the firstborn

Based on Hebrew Bible narrative, the consequence of the sin of the golden calf was the desire by God to annihilate the entire congregation. It was due to the successful prayer of Moses and the retribution meted out by the tribe of Levi from the inciters of the sin that appeased the anger of God. Obadiah ben Jacob Sforno on Deuteronomy 10:8 writes that Moses attempted to convince God that the priesthood should remain with the firstborn but was not successful.[6]

However, the negative consequence of arousing God's anger was that no longer would the priestly service be maintained by the firstborn of each individual family. As quoted by the Jerusalemn Talmud Yerushalmi to Esther 1:11; "Said Rabbi Levi, "God broke the staff of evildoers (Isaiah 14)" - these are the firstborn who sacrificed to the Calf first (and foremost)", but will be concentrated in one family as a form of inheritance from father to son.[7]

According to Nahmanides and other Torah commentators, the decision to appoint Aaron and his sons to priestly duty was a unilateral act of God, without the agreement or disagreement being asked of the congregation.[8]

This decision was not readily accepted by the large majority of the congregation of Israel, and quickly enough began the rebellion led by Korah and followed by the leaders of the tribe of Reuben. Indeed, so powerful was the rebellion that even after the divine punishment of Korah and his followers, other came forth who further demonstrated disagreement and likewise met with divine retribution until saved by Aaron himself, who arrested the plague.

Shlomo Ephraim Luntschitz writes that the priesthood was taken from Reuben due to his sinning against his father Jacob.[9]

Based on the Talmudic rule that "God and heaven give goodness but do not retract it once given" (Zohar Chadash to Ruth[10] ) it is explained that the priesthood was never bestowed by God and Heaven to the Bechorim but it was the decision of man to appoint the firstborn to those duties, it is thus applicable that God himself could choose who amongst his creatures are most fitting in his eyes for the priestly service.

The firstborn (bechorim) retain their sanctity

Albeit the sin of idolatry (Hebrew avodah zarah) committed by the firstborns,bechorim, according to some rabbinical commentators it is clear from the Torah that the firstborn still retained their sanctity. According to Midrash Rabba this is based on the firstborn being referred to by God by the term "to me" (Hebrew לי). TheMidrash Rabba states that all five places where the word "to me" (לי) is mentioned (in context with God speaking), stays sanctified forever, both in this world and the next. Of the firstborn it is written "to me all firstborn" (Hebrew לי כל בכור ; Medrash rabbah to Leviticus 2:2). The commentators to the midrash point out that even though the firstborn where disqualified from priestly duties, their sanctity was not canceled since they still retain the need to be redeemed from their sanctified state at birth.[11]In addition, there are some Torah commentarians that explain the firstborn retains a state of sanctity in terms that it is required of him, even after being redeemed, to be more knowleadgable in Torah law and nuances than the average Jew, and to be diligent in engaging in Torah study.[12]

God's reason for choosing Aaron

Jewish commentaries on the Bible give various reasons to the logic behind the divine choice of Aharon and his sons for the priesthood.

Hezekiah ben Manoah explained that it was the desire of God that the priesthood rest with one specific family in order that the father of the household instill in his children the duties of the priesthood, and have his children exposed to those ideas, as a family way of life, from birth and throughout life, in order to be successful at their priestly duties. This not being the case with the firstborn (as each family could produce only one firstborn) as it is likely that the father of the firstborn not be a firstborn himself, making his knowledge of priesthood minimal and thus not being able to teach priesthood to his child.

Maimonides explained that Levi (grandfather of Aaron, was already chosen and sanctified by Jacob himself to service in duties relating to priesthood, and Aaron's appointment being a divine affirmation of Jacob's choice.

David Pardo explained that in Tosefta it is explained that selectively choosing one group of servants to the King (God) exemplifies and portrays the grandeur of the King by showing that not all could merely "show up" and begin serving.[13]

The Jerusalem Targum attributes the choosing of Aaron due to the meritorious actions of Jochebed, who saved the male Jewish infants from the infanticide decree laid forth by Pharaoh (Jerusalem Targum to Exodus 2:21). The Medrash Rabbah explains that since Kehoth, the son of Levi, merited to carry the Ark of the Covenantand Aaron himself being the firstborn from amongst his grandchildren, thus Aaron merited the priesthood along with the title "Holy of Holys" (1 Chronicles 23:13) by way of patrilineal inheritance (Bamidbar Rabbah 6:2). From a more abstract Kabbalahpoint of view, there are some Torah commentarians, such as Elazar Shach, that explain the priesthood as belonging to Aaron from the six days of creation.[14]

Obadiah ben Jacob Sforno, on the verse "and to stand before the congregation and serve them" comments that one of the reasons for God's choosing of the tribe of Levi in general was to cause envy to the congregation for partaking in the sin of the Golden Calf.[15]

In the written Torah

The written Law (Torah SheBichtav) which Maimonides called the "everlasting Torah"[16] forbids "the foreigner who is not from the offspring of Aaron" to offer the Ketoretoffering on the inner altar of burnt offering. The Law also instructs the children of Aaron to scrupulously guard the sanctity of the altar and not allow a foreigner from bringing an offering thereon (Numbers 18:7), and describes the priestly covenant as an "eternal covenant."

In the book of Malachi, a prophetic vision is put forth portraying the sudden appearance of God in Jerusalem and the Temple, and his immediate busying with purifying his servants, the children of Levi;

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

— Malachi 3:1 KJV

The destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, 70 CE

The destruction of Jerusalem by the army of Titus in 70 CE caused the cessation of animal sacrifices and other aspects of the priesthood's function in Judaism.

The cessation of the priesthood's work in the Second Temple

At the destruction of the First Temple, the Talmud narrates how the young priests went atop the Heichal with the keys to the Heichal in hand and called out "master of the universe, since we were not fortunate to be reliable caretakers, let the keys be given to you" upon completion they heaved the keys upward -towards heaven, when a hand came forth from heaven and took the keys. Following, those young priests jumped into the inferno below.

Following this destruction of the temple, the arrest of priestly activities therein, along with the of the Davidic line, came forth verbatim from the masses that announced the God became disgusted with "the two family dynasties" -The houses of Aaron and David;

Have you not seen what this nation has spoke?.. (the) two families that God chose them -and (has) forsaken them

— Jeremiah 33:20

The Jewish priesthood in the Third Temple

Vision of Jeremiah

As a response to the verbatim that God permanently retracted his preference to these two dynasties, the prophet Jeremiah prophesied that the priesthood, as being the lot of Aaron, is everlasting and will not cease forever, and the priests will return to the priestly service with greater grandeur;

So says God, if you will cease my covenant the day and my covenant the night -that there be no more day and night in their times.. so too my covenenant will cease.. the Levites and the priests my servants

— Jeremiah 33:20

This vision, Jeremiah goes on to intertwine with the central existence of the nation of Israel; "if these covenants cease from before me, says God, so too the seed of Israel will cease to be a nation before me all of the days (Jeremiah 31:35). The commentators point out that these particular visions of Jeremiah did not come forth in the days of the Second Temple, since therein the Davidic line was not established and the priesthood was not in a state of splendor, but the vision of Jeremiah is one destined for the priestly service in the Third Temple, and the kingdom of the kingMessiah - as Jeremiah finishes; "than will rejoice the virgin in dance and young men and elders together.. and I will infatuate the souls of the priests with abundance and my nation ; my best they will be satiated with (Jeremiah 31:12-13)".

The Third temple in Ezekiel

The prophet Ezekiel introduced a prophecy not recorded in any other book of theHebrew Bible. Ezekiel writes that in the Third Temple the priestly family of the sons of Zadok will officiate all services involving the sacrifice of fats and blood on the altar. They will also enjoy an exclusive chamber in the courtyard of the House from amongst the multiple chambers therein; specifically, their chamber will have its entrance facing the North whereas all others chamber entrances face South. These privileges are cited as being given to the priests of the sons of Zadok due to their staunch non-involvement with any form of idol worship, while other families, including the priests, submitted to those forbidden services.

The Third temple in the Zohar

The Zohar Chadash describes the priesthood as one of five covenants listed in the Law (Zohar Chadash 4b), in the Aramaic Compendium on the Book of Exodus it is also listed as one of six unique blessings that God is destined to return to the nation of Israel.[17] According to Sifra it is likewise listed as one of five items that God calls "to me" (Hebrew לי) a term that connotes an eternal choice as God himself is eternal (Sifri 167a). Sifra teaches that following the coming of the Messiah, Aaron and his sons will not require holy anointing oil to serve as the anointing done by Moses in the Tabernacle will be considered as being in effect (Sifra 1.343).

The Sifra and Talmud Yerushalmi explain that it is not applicable to say that just as the priesthood was removed from the priesthood and given to Aaron it is possible, in the future, that it will be removed from Aaron and returned to the firstborn, but the priesthood is and will remain the lot of Aaron and his sons for eternity.[18] TheBabylonian Talmud presents that the eternity of the priesthood belonging to Aaron is exemplified by the notion that Ahron himself will be present to accept terumahfollowing the coming of the Messiah.[19]

The Tosefta narrates that at the time of the concealment of the Ark of the Covenant, the Aaron's rod, with its flowering almond sprouts, was included, thus symbolizing the flowering of Aaron's priesthood once the Ark will be revealed.[20] In addition to the title "an eternal covenant of priesthood," the tractate Animal Sacrifices explains that when God contributes an authoritative position to an individual it is for eternity.[21] Furthering the notion that it is not plausible that the priesthood will be revoked from the tribe of Levi as it was revoked from the firstborn.[22]

The Third Temple in Torah Commentaries

Jacob ben Asher on the threefold repetition of the words "and they will serve me" explains this as symbolic that the priests will in the future serve a third time, in the Third Temple. He also opines that the priesthood will not return to Aaron's sons in the Messianic age.[23]

The aggadic compilation Yalkut Shimoni relates an occurrence where a Kritis queries Rabbi Yossi as to the destruction of the second temple and cessation of sacrifices (Korbanot) which seemingly disprove the words of the prophet Jeremiah describing the Kohanim of serving God "all of the days". Rabbi Yossi replied that the prophetic vision of the Kohanim serving "all of the days" is in reference to the physical sacrifices in the temple, but to the Torah study by the Kohen of Torah Lawsdelving on the sacrifices (Mishnayot Kodoshim laws).[24]

The priesthood in the Messianic era

With the priesthood being portrayed in the Hebrew Bible and Chazalic writings as being the eternal lot of the "Home of Aaron" (בית אהרן"), the written recordings of Rabbi Chaim Vital of his master Rabbi Yitzchok Luria (the Arizal) introduce an idea that in the Age to Come (Hebrew LeAtid Lavoh "the Messianic era") the soulsbelonging to the spiritual rootsource of Kayin, which are essentially the souls of the firstborn and Levites, will become clear and purified and will thus merit to serve in the Third Temple. This idea is exegesized from the verse "אם תטיב שאת" (if you will better yourself you will be uplifted) explained as when you will better yourself you will merit to the priesthood which is titled "שאת" (uplifted).[25]

This idea is echoed by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi in his book The Tanya,[26] as by his son and successor The Mitteler Rebbe[27] In Numbers col. 2 p. 976 the Rebbe brings the standard concept of Aaron and sons serving in the times of Messiah. And his successor, the third Lubavitch Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneersohn.[28]

Likewise, Chaim ibn Attar in his commentary to Jacob's blessing to his son Reuben ("בכורי אתה" you are my firstborn) writes that in the Age to Come the firstborn will work alongside the priests in the Third Temple[29] Of note is Chaim ibn Attar's subsequent writing to Numbers 3:45, where he emphasizes that the tribe of Levi will eternally never be demoted from their duties. The idea is further quoted by Ithamar HaKohen with the explanation that in the Age to Come the sin of the Golden Calf will be rectified thus allowing the firstborn to work alongside the priests in the Third Temple.[30] According to the commentary of Jonathan Eybeschutz on the Haphtorahthe priests descending from Zadok will function as high priests, and the firstborn will function as standard priests.[31]

Encompassing explanation

This seeming contradiction to numerous verses and chazalic discourses specifically detailing the service of the Aaron and his sons in the times of the Messiah was explained by Menachem Schneerson, the seventh Lubavitch Rebbe succeeding Rabbi Schneur Zalman, in his Holy Letters of the Rebbe. There, Rabbi Schneerson explains that the future change as presented in Hasidic Judaism and Kabbalah will appear purely on a spiritual level, with the soul of the Levi (i.e. those souls stemming from the rootsource of Cain) being born into the physical bodies of the sons of Aaron. Thus, allowing the spiritual qualities of the Levi, in the days of the Messiah being of extra-fine character, to be housed in the body of the son of Aaron the Priest[32]

See also

• 613 Mitzvot
• Halacha l'Moshe m'Sinai

References

1. Qumran and Jerusalem: studies in the Dead Sea scrolls p248 Lawrence H. Schiffman - 2010 This priestly covenant is also echoed in the poem in 1QM 17:2-3 that re- fers to the eternal priestly covenant. ... Num 18:19).57 That the priestly “covenant of salt,”a biblical expression denoting a permanent covenant,58 is to be ...
2. Numbers 18:19
3. (Exodus 29:9, 1 Chronicles 23:13)
4. Midrash ha-Gadol Medrash HaNe'elam to Zohar Chadash p. 4b _____ edition? ____________ year?
5. Leviticus Rabbah maintains that God intended to permanently bring forth the priesthood (Hebrew kehuna) through Melchizedek’s patrilineal descendants, but since Melchizedek preceded Abram's blessing to that of God,(in Gen. 14:19-20, a precedence not befitting a priest who is to be of total service to God (Eitz Yosef to Leviticus Rabbah 25:6) God instead chose to bring the priesthood ("kehuna") forth from Abram’s descendants (Rabbi Zechariah, quoting Rabbi Ishmael; Leviticus Rabbah 25:6, Babylonian Talmud to Nedarim 32b. Zohar vol. 1 p. 86b.) As the text states in regard to Melchizedek "and he is a priest" (Hebrew; "והוא כהן" Genesis 14____) meaning himself in the exclusive sense and not his patrilineal descendants.(Ohr HaChayim to Genesis 14:18 (first explanation). Eitz Yosef commentary to Leviticus Rabbah 25:6. Zohar vol. 1 p. 86b) Chaim ibn Attar says that God was not angered by Melchizedek's preceding Abram's blessing to that of God, since Abram was rightfully deemed worthy of precedence for independently coming to recognize God amidst a world of paganism, but Melchizedek willingly gave the priesthood to Abram upon recognizing his outstanding uniqueness and G-dly character traits (Ohr HaChaim to Genesis 14:18)
6. Obadiah ben Jacob Sforno to Deuteronomy 10:8
7. Sifra to Leviticus 7:34 (vol. 1 p. 343 of the "Torah VeHamitzvah" edition)
8. Nahmanides on Numbers 16:16, Sifsei Koehin (al HaTorah) vol. 1 p. 546 _____date
9. Shlomo Ephraim Luntschitz on Genesis Kli Yakkar to Bereishit 49:4 __________year ________edition.
10. Zohar Chadash to Rut p. 88b. _________year __________edition, likewise quoted by Talmud Bavli "משמיא יהבי יהבי, מישקל לא מישקלי",
11. Etz Yosef and Mahari to Leviticus Rabba 2:2 _______edition? ________date?
12. Sforno to Exodus 22:28, Elazar Shach to the Torah vol. 1 p. 280 _____date?
13. David Pardo Chasdei Dovid commentary to Tosefta to bava Batra 2:4
14. Elazar Shach on the Torah vol. 2 p. 355
15. Sforno on Numbers 16:9 _____ date
16. Maimonides - 13 Principles of faith of the Rambam _____date
17. Mechilta on Yitro (parsha) ch. 1
18. Sifra vol. 1 p. 343, Talmud Yerushalmi to Sisters in Law 8:6
19. Talmud Bavli to Sanhedrin and Rashi (תחיית המתים מן התורה שנאמר והרמיתם ממנו תרומת ה' לאהרן הכהן וכי אהרן לעולם קיים? ..עתידים ליתן לו תרומה..)
20. Tosefta Sotah 13:2, Likkutei Sichot vol. 23 p. 122
21. Tractate Zevachim p. 102a ( רבי אלעזר אמר רבי חנינא בשעה שפוסקים גדולה לאדם פוסקים לו ולזרעו עד סוף כל הדורות שנאמר "לא יגרע מצדיק עיניו ואת מלכים לכסא" (איוב לו:נא - .)
22. Numbers Rabbah 4:8 and "Eshed HaNechalim" commentary thereof
23. Baal HaTurim on Leviticus 16:14
24. Yalkut Shimoni vol. 8 (ha'maor edition) p.545
25. Rabbi Isaac Luria (1534-1572) vol. 7 p. 240, vol. 10 (Shaar Hagilgulum) p. 104 and 153, Gate of Reincarnations "Sefer HaGilgulim" ch. 23 p 19 ________edition? ________year?
26. Tanya, page 50 (in parenthesis)________edition? ________year?
27. Mamarei Admur Ho'emtzai - to Genesis p. 307, to Exodus vol. 2 p. 631, to Deuteronomy P. vol. 2 p. 812 and 316
28. See Sefer HaLikkutim vol. 2 p. 304
29. Chaim ibn Attar on Genesis 49:28.
30. Ithamar HaKohen "Semuchim L'ad" p. 10a ________?
31. Ahavath Jonathan: Homiletic commentary on the haftaroth (Prophetic portions read after the sidroth) by the Talmudist and Cabalist R. Jonathan Eybeschutz, 1690-1764 Ahavath Yonathan to Haphtorah Parshat Emor _________edition?
32. Menachem Schneerson Igrot Koden vol. 23 p. 274 _______edition? ________year?

 Holy of Holies 

The Holy of Holies (Tiberian Hebrew: קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים Qṓḏeš HaQŏḏāšîm) is a term in the Hebrew Biblewhich refers to the inner sanctuary of theTabernacle where God dwelt. This area is defined by the four pillars which held up the veil of the covering and under which the Ark of the Covenant was held off the floor by its two staves and 300 years later the Temple in Jerusalem where the Ark of the Covenant was kept during the First Temple, which could be entered only by the High Priest on Yom Kippurafter sanctifying himself. The Ark is said to have contained the Ten Commandments, which were given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. It is currently thought to be located under theDome of the Rock.

Hebrew terminology and translation

The construction "Holy of Holies" is a literal translation of a Hebrew idiom which is intended to express a superlative. Examples of similar constructions are "servant of servants" (Gen 9:25), "Sabbath of sabbaths" (Ex 31:15), "God of gods" (Deut 10:17), "Vanity of vanities" (Eccl 1:2), "Song of songs" (Song of Songs 1:1), "king of kings" (Ezra 7:12), etc.

In the Authorized King James Version, "Holy of Holies" is always translated as "Most Holy Place". This is in keeping with the intention of the Hebrew idiom to express the utmost degree of holiness. The King James Version of the Bible has been in existence for over four hundred years. For most of that time, it was a primary reference in much of the English speaking world for information about Judaism. Thus, the name "Most Holy Place" was used to refer to the "Holy of Holies" in many English documents.

A Jewish High Priest wearing Hoshenand Ephod. The Holy of Holies is in the background.

A related term is the debir (דְּבִיר) transliterated in the Septuagint as dabir (δαβιρ),[1] which either means the back (i.e. western) part of the Sanctuary,[2] or derives from the verb stem D-V-R, "to speak", justifying the translation in the Latin Vulgate as oraculum, from which the traditional English translation "oracle" (KJV, 1611) derives.[3]

Ancient Israel

layout of the tabernacle with the holy and holy of holies

Tabernacle

The Holy of Holies was covered by a veil, and no one was allowed to enter except the High Priest, and even he could only enter once a year onYom Kippur (the day of atonement), to offer the blood of sacrifice and incense before the mercy seat. In the wilderness, on the day that thetabernacle was first raised up, the cloud of the Lord covered the tabernacle. There are other times that this was recorded, and instructions were given that the Lord would appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat (kapporet ), and at that time the priests should not enter into the tabernacle (Leviticus 16:2). According to the Hebrew Bible, the Holy of Holies contained the Ark of the Covenant with representation of Cherubim. Upon completion of the dedication of the Tabernacle, the Voice of God spoke to Moses "from between the Cherubim". (Numbers 7:89).

Solomon's Temple

The Holy of Holies, the most sacred site in Judaism, is the inner sanctuary within theTabernacle and Temple in Jerusalem when Solomon's Temple and the Second Temple were standing. The Holy of Holies was located in the westernmost end of the Temple building, being a perfect cube: 20 cubits by 20 cubits by 20 cubits. The inside was in total darkness and contained the Ark of the Covenant, gilded inside and out, in which was placed the Tablets of the Covenant. According to Hebrews 9:4 in the New Testament, Aaron's rod and a pot of manna were also in the ark. The Ark was covered with a lid made of pure gold (Exodus 37:6), known as the "mercy seat" for the Divine Presence.

Second Temple

When the Temple was rebuilt after the Babylonian captivity, the Ark was no longer present in the Holy of Holies; instead, a portion of the floor was raised slightly to indicate the place where it had stood. In 63 BCE, Josephus records that Pompeyprofaned the Temple by insisting on entering the Holy of Holies.

Day of Atonement

The Holy of Holies was entered once a year by the High Priest on the Day of Atonement, to sprinkle the blood of sacrificial animals (a bull offered as atonement for the Priest and his household, and a goat offered as atonement for the people) and offer incense upon the Ark of the Covenant and the mercy seat which sat on top of the ark in the First Temple (the Second Temple had no ark and the blood was sprinkled where the Ark would have been and the incense was left on theFoundation Stone). The animal was sacrificed on the Brazen Altar and the blood was carried into the most holy place. The golden censers were also found in the Most Holy Place.

Instructions for the Tabernacle

According to the Hebrew Bible, in order that God may dwell among the Israelites,God gave Moses instructions for erecting a sanctuary. The directions provide for:

1. A wooden ark, gilded inside and outside, for the Tablets of the Covenant, with a pure gold cover as the "mercy seat" for the Divine Presence;
2. A gilt table for the "Table of Showbread";
3. A golden menorah, lampstand of 7 oil lamps for a light never to be extinguished;
4. The dwelling, including the curtains for the roof, the walls made of boards resting on silver feet and held together by wooden bolts, the purple curtainveiling the Holy of Holies, the table and candlestick, and the outer curtain;
5. A sacrificial altar made of bronzed boards for its korban;
6. The outer court formed by pillars resting on bronze pedestals and connected by hooks and crossbars of silver, with embroidered curtains;
7. Recipe and preparation of the oil for the Lampstand.

In ancient Judaism

The Magdala stone, is thought to be a representation of the Holy of Holies carved before the destruction of the Temple in the year 70.[4]

In Rabbinical Judaism

Women praying in the tunnel at the closest physical point not under Islamic Waqf jurisdiction to the Holy of Holies

Traditional Judaism regards the location where the inner sanctuary was originally located, on the Temple Mount in Mount Moriah, as retaining some or all of its original sanctity for use in a future Third Temple. The exact location of the Kodesh Hakodashim[under discussion] is a subject of dispute.

Traditional Judaism regards the Holy of Holies as the place where the presence of God dwells. The Talmud gives detailed descriptions of Temple architecture and layout. According to the Babylonian Talmud Tractate Yoma, the Kodesh Hakodashim is located in the center North-South but significantly to the West from an East-West perspective, with all the major courtyards and functional areas lying to its east.

The Talmud supplies additional details, and describes the ritual performed by the High Priest. During the ritual, the High Priest would pronounce the Tetragrammaton, the only point according to traditional Judaism that it was pronounced out loud. According to Jewish tradition, the people prostrated themselves fully on the ground when it was said. According to the Talmud, the High Priest's face upon exit from the Holy of Holies was radiant.

While under normal circumstances, access to the Holy of Holies was restricted to the High Priest and only on Yom Kippur, the Talmud suggests that repair crews were allowed inside as needed but were lowered from the upper portion of the room via enclosures so that they only saw the area they were to work on.[5] [6]

Synagogue architecture

Judaism regards the Torah ark, a place in a synagogue where the Torah scrolls are kept, as a miniature Holy of Holies.

Modern location

The Foundation Stone under the Dome of the Rock, a possible historical location for the Kodesh Hakodashim.

At present it is conjectured that it is located under the Dome of the Rock which stands on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, though the exact location of the Most Holy Place is not known with absolute certainty. Most Orthodox Jews today completely avoid climbing up to Temple Mount, to prevent them from accidentally stepping on the Most Holy Place or any sanctified areas. A few Orthodox Jewish authorities, following the opinion of the medieval scholar Maimonides, permit Jews to visit parts of the Temple Mount known not to be anywhere near any of the sanctified areas. Orthodox Jewish visitors to the Temple Mount, who come especially from those groups associated with the Temple Institute and its efforts to rebuild a Temple, seek to conform to the minimal requirements for coming near the Temple, such as immersing in a mikvah, not coming during or followingmenstruation or immediately following a seminal emission, not showing their back towards its presumed location, and other structures.

To avoid religious conflict, Jewish visitors caught praying or bringing ritual objects are usually expelled from the area by police.[7]

Christianity

New Testament

The Greek New Testament retains the pre-Christian Septuagint phrase "Holy of the Holies" hágion (sg n) tōn hagíōn (ἅγιον τῶν ἁγίων)[8] without the definite article as "Holies of Holies" hágia (pl n) hagíōn (ἅγια ἁγίων)[9] in Hebrews 9:3. In the Vulgate, these are rendered as sanctum sanctorum and sancta sanctorum, respectively.

Christian traditions

Certain branches of Christianity, including the Eastern Orthodox Church, and theEthiopian Orthodox Church continue to have a tradition of a Holy of Holies which they regard as a most sacred site. The ciborium, a permanent canopy over the altar in some churches, once surrounded by curtains at points in the liturgy, symbolizes the Holy of Holies.

Eastern Orthodox Church

The Greek phrase refers to the Tabernacle or Temple. The name in Greek for the Sanctuary of a Church is Ἱερόν Βῆμα (Hieron Vema, see bemah), in Russian it is called Святой Алтарь (Svyatoy Altar), and in Romanian it is called Sfântul Altar.

Ethiopian Orthodox Church

A cognate term in Ge'ez is found in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church: Qidduse Qiddusan, referring to the innermost sanctuary of an Orthodox Christian church, where the tabot is kept and only clergy may enter. This is also called the "Bete Mekdes. Every Ethiopian Orthodox Church has one, and it is covered with a Curtain. There are Three ways to enter (most of the time) and those three doors are also a way to reveal the Holy Trinity. In the middle there is always an Altar where the Church's Tabot is kept. There can be multiple altars based on the amount of Tabots.".[10]

Malabar Nasrani tradition

A church of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in Kerala, South India still following the Jewish Christian tradition of keeping the Holy of Holies veiled by a red curtain in the tradition of theAncient Temple of Jerusalem much like their Orthodox counterparts viz. (Jacobite Syrian Church and Indian Orthodox Church)

The Saint Thomas Christians (also known as Nasrani or Syrian Christians) from Kerala, South India still follow a lot of Jewish Christiantradition.[11] In Nasrani tradition the Holy of Holies is kept veiled for much of the time. The red veil covers the inner altar or the main altar. It is unveiled only during the central part of the main Nasrani ritual. The main ritual of the Saint Thomas Christians is the Qurbana (derived from the Syriac word Qurobo meaning sacrifice).[11]

Roman Catholic Church

The Latin Vulgate Bible translates Qṓḏeš HaqQŏḏāšîm as Sanctum sanctorum (Ex 26:34). Reproducing in Latin the Hebrew construction, the expression is used as a superlative of the neuter adjective sanctum, to mean "a thing most holy". It is used by Roman Catholics to refer to holy objects beyond the Holy of Holies, particularly in religious feast day processions in Southern Germany.

The Vulgate also refers to the Holy of Holies with the plural form Sancta sanctorum (2 Chr 5:7), arguably a synecdoche referring to the holy objects hosted there. This form is also used more broadly in Catholic tradition with reference to sanctuaries other than the Temple in Jerusalem. A notable example is for the Chiesa di San Lorenzo in Palatio ad Sancta Sanctorum, a chapel in the complex of St John Lateranin Rome.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) contains a Holy of Holies wherein the church's president—acting as the Presiding High Priest—enters to fulfill the relationship between the High Priest of Israel and God in accordance with the LDS interpretation of the Book of Exodus(Exodus 25:22) and Mormon religious texts.

See also

• Solomon's Temple
• Warren's Gate, in Jerusalem
• Foundation Stone
• Most Holy Place, in various religions
• Sanctum sanctorum, among German Catholics
• Honden

References

1. Strong's Concordance, Gesenius devir
2. The Solomonic Debir according to the Hebrew Text of I Kings 6 J. Ouellette -Journal of Biblical Literature, 1970 - JSTOR "The immediate implication of this reading is that the holy of holies was built "from within the debir," that is ... The LXX simply transliterates dabir, while the Vulgate has "oraculum", thus suggesting a derivation from dbr "to speak."
3. The Damaged "blueprints" of the Temple of Solomon. L. Waterman - Journal of Near Eastern Studies, 1943 - JSTOR "The term "holy of holies" has long been accepted as a later descriptive term applied to the debir. The Hebrew word debir, rendered "oracle" in the versions, is a mistranslation based on a false etymology. The term itself signifies only the back or part behind, for example."
4. Kershner, Isabel (8 December 2015). "A Carved Stone Block Upends Assumptions About Ancient Judaism". New York Times. Retrieved 9 December2015.
5. Talmud Mas. Pesachim 26a
6. Talmud Mas. Eiruvin 105a
7. Three Jews expelled from Temple Mount for praying - Haaretz - Israel News
8. "Ezekiel". google.com.
9. "NEW ADVENT BIBLE: Hebrews 9". newadvent.org.
10. Stuart C. Munro-Hay, Ethiopia, the unknown land: a cultural and historical guide, (London: I.B.Tauris, 2002). p. 50
11. Ross, Israel J. (1979) "Ritual and Music in South India: Syrian Christian Liturgical Music in Kerala." Asian Music. 11 (1): 80–98