Leviticus 16:2-4

Amplified Bible, Classic Edition

²The Lord said to Moses, Tell Aaron your brother he ^[a]must not come at all times into the Holy of Holies within the veil before the mercy seat upon the ark, lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud on the mercy seat.^(A)

³But Aaron shall come into the holy enclosure in this way: with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.

⁴He shall put on the holy linen undergarment, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his body, and be girded with the linen girdle or sash, and with the linen turban or miter shall he be attired; these are the holy garments; he shall bathe his body in water and then put them on.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

Leviticus 16:2 Since the priests have been warned by the death of Nadab and Abihu to approach God with reverence and godly fear, directions are here given how the nearest approach might be made ... Within the veil none must ever come but the high priest only, and he but one day in the year. But see what a blessed change is made by the Gospel of Christ; all good Christians now have boldness to enter into the Holy of Holies, through the veil, every day (Heb. 10:19, 20); and we come boldly (not as Aaron must, with fear and trembling) to the throne of grace, or mercy seat (Heb. 4:16)... Now therefore we are welcome to come at all times into the Holy Place “not made with hands.” In the past Aaron could not come near “at all times,” lest he die; we now must come near “at all times,” that we may live. It is [keeping our] distance only that is our death (Matthew Henry, A Commentary).