Holy Place

AI summary: The Holy Place is not a town or region but a sacred interior space in Israel's worship. It marks the chamber where priests minister regularly before the veil leading to the most holy place, making it central to the structure of tabernacle and temple service. Its furnishings and restricted access communicate ordered worship, mediated holiness, and nearness to God's presence without full entry into the innermost chamber. The cross references present this Holy Place as a liturgical location whose significance is architectural, priestly, and theological.¹

One of the two portions into which the tabernacle was divided (Ex. 26:31; 37:17-25; Heb. 9:2). It was 20 cubits long and 10 in height and breadth. It was illuminated by the golden candlestick, as it had no opening to admit the light. It contained the table of showbread (Ex. 25:23-29) and the golden altar of incense (30:1-11). It was divided from the holy of holies by a veil of the most costly materials and the brightest colours. The arrangement of the temple (q.v.) was the same in this respect. In it the walls of hewn stone were wainscotted with cedar and overlaid with gold, and adorned with beautiful carvings. It was entered from the porch by folding doors overlaid with gold and richly embossed. Outside the holy place stood the great tank or “sea” of molten brass, supported by twelve oxen, three turned each way, capable of containing two thousand baths of water. Besides this there were ten lavers and the brazen altar of burnt sacrifice. ³