Topical Bible: Holy of Holies: Contained: Aaron's Rod

Bible > Topical > Holy of Holies

◄ Holy of Holies: Contained: Aaron's Rod ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

The Holy of Holies, also known as the Most Holy Place, is the innermost and most sacred area of the ancient Tabernacle and later the Temple in Jerusalem. It is here that the presence of God was believed to dwell, and it was separated from the rest of the Tabernacle or Temple by a veil. Only the High Priest was permitted to enter the Holy of Holies, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), to offer blood sacrifices for the atonement of the sins of Israel (Leviticus 16:2-34).

Within the Holy of Holies, the Ark of the Covenant was housed. The Ark was a sacred chest that contained the tablets of the Ten Commandments, a golden pot of manna, and Aaron's rod that budded (Hebrews 9:4). Each of these items held significant historical and spiritual importance for the Israelites, serving as tangible reminders of God's covenant, provision, and authority.

Aaron's Rod

Aaron's rod is a symbol of God's chosen leadership and divine authority. The rod, originally a simple staff, became a powerful sign of God's selection of Aaron and his descendants for the priesthood. The most notable event involving Aaron's rod is recorded in Numbers 17. In response to a challenge against the leadership of Moses and Aaron by the Israelites, God instructed Moses to collect a rod from the leader of each of the twelve tribes of Israel, with Aaron's rod representing the tribe of Levi. These rods were placed in the Tent of Meeting before the Ark of the Covenant.

The next day, Aaron's rod had miraculously budded, blossomed, and produced almonds, while the other rods remained unchanged. This miraculous event confirmed God's choice of Aaron and his descendants for the priesthood and served as a warning against rebellion (Numbers 17:8-10):

"On the next day, Moses entered the Tent of the Testimony and saw that Aaron’s staff, representing the house of Levi, had sprouted, put forth buds, blossomed, and produced almonds. Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the LORD’s presence to all the Israelites. They saw them, and each man took his own staff. The LORD said to Moses, 'Put back Aaron’s staff in front of the Ark of the Testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebellious, so that you may put an end to their grumbling against Me and prevent their death.'"

Aaron's rod, therefore, became a perpetual reminder of God's sovereign choice and the legitimacy of the Levitical priesthood. It was kept in the Holy of Holies as a testimony to the divine authority granted to Aaron and his lineage, underscoring the sacredness of the priestly office and the importance of obedience to God's established order.

The presence of Aaron's rod in the Holy of Holies, alongside the other sacred items, highlights the centrality of God's covenant and His ongoing relationship with His people. It serves as a powerful symbol of God's faithfulness, authority, and the miraculous ways in which He confirms His will to His chosen people.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Numbers 17:10
And the LORD said to Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and you shall quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Hebrews 9:4
Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Ark of his Covenant
... Reflect also, beloved brethren, that the promises contained in the covenant change
not. ... no temple, no holy court, no inner shrine, the holy of holies. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 41 1895/the ark of his covenant.htm

Letter Xlvi. Paula and Eustochium to Marcella.
... reverenced the Holy of Holies, because of the things contained in it"the cherubim,
the mercy-seat, the ark of the covenant, the manna, Aaron's rod, and the ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter xlvi paula and eustochium.htm

Interpretation of Holy Scripture. --Inspired Interpretation. --The ...
... once a year, into the Holy of Holies, not without ... have but to weigh well what the
Holy Spirit hath ... Priesthood, from the very brief narrative contained in the ...
/.../burgon/inspiration and interpretation/sermon v interpretation of holy.htm

What is the Sanctuary?
... Besides the outer court, which contained the altar of burnt-offering, the tabernacle ...
676) and he looked within the inner veil, upon the holy of holies. ...
/.../the great controversy between christ and satan /23 what is the sanctuary.htm

What is the Sanctuary?
... Besides the outer court, which contained the altar of burnt offering, the tabernacle ...
11:19), and he looked within the inner veil, upon the holy of holies. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the great controversy/chapter 23 what is the.htm

The New Covenant.
... which is called the Holy of holies; having a ... in once for all into the holy place,
having ... it necessary to enumerate in detail what the tabernacle contained. ...
/.../chapter viii the new covenant.htm

The Immaculate Conception
... The casket contained some of Sarah's hair (Anna had a great veneration for her ... 238)
has a passing reference to the heavenly mystery of the Holy of Holies. ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/ii the immaculate conception.htm

part ii
... Lady, the Mother of God, was sanctified from Her early childhood, from Her mother's
womb, and afterwards the Lord sanctified Her in the Holy of Holies with the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part ii.htm