Heb 9:4 | RWP | e4.org | Having a golden censer ( χρυσουν εχουσα θυμιατηριον ). The present active participle εχουσα (feminine singular) agrees with σκηνη (the Holy of Holies). It is not certain whether θυμιατηριον here means censer or altar of incense. In the LXX ( ; ; IV Macc. 7:11) it means censer and apparently so in the inscriptions and papyri. But in Philo and Josephus it means altar of incense for which the LXX has θυσιαστηριον του θυμιατος ( ). Apparently the altar of incense was in the Holy Place, though in it is left quite vague. B puts it in verse . So we leave the discrepancy unsettled. At any rate the altar of incense was used for the Holy of Holies ("its ritual associations," Dods). The ark of the covenant ( την κιβωτον της διαθηκης ). A box or chest four feet long, two and a half broad and high ( .). The Scotch have a "meal-ark." Wherein ( εν η ). In the ark. There were three treasures in the ark of the covenant (a pot of manna, Aaron's rod, the tables of the covenant). For the pot of manna (golden added in the LXX) see . For Aaron's rod that budded ( η βλαστησασα , first aorist active participle of βλαστανω ) see . For the tables of the covenant see .; ; ; . Not definitely clear about these items in the ark, but on front, except that states that it did contain the tables of the covenant. For πλακες (tables) see (only other N.T. example).

‏ Hebrews 9:4

Having a golden censer ( χρυσουν εχουσα θυμιατηριον ). The present active participle εχουσα (feminine singular) agrees with σκηνη (the Holy of Holies). It is not certain whether θυμιατηριον here means censer or altar of incense. In the LXX (2Ch 26:19; Ex 8:11; IV Macc. 7:11) it means censer and apparently so in the inscriptions and papyri. But in Philo and Josephus it means altar of incense for which the LXX has θυσιαστηριον του θυμιατος (Ex 30:1-10). Apparently the altar of incense was in the Holy Place, though in Ex 30:1-10 it is left quite vague. B puts it in verse 2. So we leave the discrepancy unsettled. At any rate the altar of incense was used for the Holy of Holies ("its ritual associations," Dods).

The ark of the covenant ( την κιβωτον της διαθηκης ). A box or chest four feet long, two and a half broad and high (Ex 25:10f.). The Scotch have a "meal-ark."

Wherein ( εν η ). In the ark. There were three treasures in the ark of the covenant (a pot of manna, Aaron's rod, the tables of the covenant). For the pot of manna (golden added in the LXX) see Ex 16:32-34. For Aaron's rod that budded ( η βλαστησασα, first aorist active participle of βλαστανω ) see Nu 17:1-11. For the tables of the covenant see Ex 25:16f.; 31:18; De 9:9; 10:5. Not definitely clear about these items in the ark, but on front, except that 1Ki 8:9 states that it did contain the tables of the covenant. For πλακες (tables) see 2Co 3:3 (only other N.T. example).