The Holy of Holies, also known as the Most Holy Place, was the innermost and most sacred area of the ancient Tabernacle and later the Temple in Jerusalem. It was here that the Ark of the Covenant was kept, symbolizing the very presence of God among His people. Access to this sacred space was highly restricted, with only the High Priest permitted to enter, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).

Biblical Context and Regulations

The regulations concerning the High Priest's entry into the Holy of Holies are detailed in the Book of Leviticus. Leviticus 16:2 states, "The LORD said to Moses: 'Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud over the atonement cover.'" This underscores the gravity and sanctity of the High Priest's role and the solemnity of the occasion.

Priestly Garments

On the Day of Atonement, the High Priest was required to enter the Holy of Holies in a specific set of garments, distinct from his usual ornate attire. Typically, the High Priest wore elaborate garments, including the ephod, breastplate, and turban, as described in Exodus 28. However, on this day, he was to don simple linen garments, symbolizing purity and humility. Leviticus 16:4 specifies, "He is to put on the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments next to his body; he is to tie the linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are sacred garments; so he must bathe himself with water before he puts them on."

Significance of the Ordinary Dress

The wearing of ordinary priestly dress by the High Priest when entering the Holy of Holies is significant for several reasons. Firstly, it emphasizes the humility required before God, stripping away the grandeur and status symbolized by the High Priest's usual attire. This act of humility is a powerful reminder of the need for repentance and purity when approaching the divine presence.

Secondly, the simplicity of the linen garments underscores the solemnity and seriousness of the atonement process. The High Priest, acting as the mediator between God and the people of Israel, must approach with a heart of contrition and a focus on the sacred duty of atonement for the sins of the nation.

The Role of the High Priest

The High Priest's entry into the Holy of Holies was a pivotal moment in the religious life of Israel. It was a time when the sins of the people were symbolically transferred to the scapegoat and removed from the community, as described in Leviticus 16:21-22 : "He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins. He shall put them on the goat’s head and send it away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness."

The High Priest's actions within the Holy of Holies, including the sprinkling of blood on the atonement cover, were central to the process of reconciliation between God and His people. This sacred duty, performed in ordinary priestly dress, highlights the profound nature of atonement and the necessity of approaching God with humility and reverence.Leviticus 16:4
He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches on his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen turban shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Presentation of the Blessed virgin in the Temple
... so tall among the priests that she stood high above them ... Ark of the Covenant entering
the Holy of Holies in the ... Then I saw only the holy child Mary filled with ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/iii the presentation of the.htm

The Prophet Amos.
... altar, and not the altar of incense before the holy of holies, which received ...
17:17, where [Hebrew: melh] occurs with the signification "high place"), is put ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophet amos.htm

The Immaculate Conception
... by the Church to Mary: I came out of the mouth of the Most High, the first-born ... 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

Society Soon Learned the News of the Countess Hermenstein's ...
... At the door of this "Holy of Holies" stood a Guarda ... passed into the room, which was
exceedingly high and narrow ... it to be within call when the Holy Father should ...
/.../corelli/the master-christian/xxvii society soon learned the.htm

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
... worshippers looked to the west toward the holy of holies. ... he makes them meet for
his holy habitation.[2 ... Let none but Christ be the high-priest and sacrifice for ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/solomons temple spiritualized.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... lives unto the death,"and Naphtali upon the high places of ... of the ancients, could
not have been entered by the ... He was a priest of Bamah, Samuel, the son of ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

part ii
... the Lord sanctified Her in the Holy of Holies with the ... dignity as man, live worthily
of the high calling to ... that, after the Communion of the Holy Sacrament or ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part ii.htm

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