Hebrews 9:4

HEBREWS—NOTE ON Hebrews 9:4 having the golden altar of incense. The altar of incense was not in the Most Holy Place; it was in the Holy Place, “in front of the veil” that separated it from the Most Holy Place. The author of Hebrews 1:1 was quite familiar with the OT tabernacle and its sacrifices, so he would not mistakenly think this altar was inside the Most Holy Place. Thus it is better to understand “having” to mean that this altar of incense was closely tied in its function to the Most Holy Place. It “belonged to” the Most Holy Place. The text also says that a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s staff that budded were in the ark of the covenant. However, the OT says the urn and the staff were placed in front of the ark (Exodus 16:32; Numbers 17:10), not in it. Only the two tablets of the covenant were within the ark at that time (Exodus 25:16; Deuteronomy 10:1). The two tablets contained the Ten Commandments (Exodus 34:1, Exodus 34:28). It is possible that the urn and the rod were later stored in the ark. Or, the author of Hebrews 1:1 may have been depending on information no longer available.