Hebrews 9:4

Which had the golden censer,— Some have started a difficulty here; "Whence is it that the holy of holies is said to have this golden censer, as part of the things deposited in it, whereas Moses mentions only the ark, the pot of manna, Aaron's rod, the two tables of the law, laid up in or near the ark, the propitiatory, or cover of the ark, and the cherubims?" This difficulty has been increased, in their judgment, from the observation that is made 1 Kings 8:9. There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone which Moses put there in Horeb: compare 2 Chronicles 5:10. But let it be observed, that the apostle is speaking of what was put into the holy of holies by Moses, and not of what was placed there by Solomon in after times: nor is it any objection to what the apostle says, that all those things which Moses put there, were not replaced when Solomon built his temple. His professed design is, to speak of the tabernacle in the wilderness, not of the temple in Jerusalem; and therefore he is concerned only with the furniture of the holy of holies, as it was in the days of Moses. Now it is true, that in the books of Moses, no mention is made of this golden censer, as deposited within the veil, and thence to be taken out on the great day of expiation; yet, supposing it to be put within the veil, within easy reach, so that the priest could take it, without going within the veil to get at it,—this would answer all that the apostle says. It is certain that the high-priest was not allowed to enter into the holy of holies but with a censer, or dish of burning coals from off the altar before the Lord; and he was obliged to put incense upon the fire, that the cloud of the incense might cover the mercy seat, that he die not. Leviticus 16:12. He could not therefore enter into the holy of holies without incensing it; and he must have had this golden censer to put the incense on. It lay, therefore, most probably, behind the curtain, and within the high-priest'sreach, without his entering the place to get at it. Now this golden censer, and the other things enumerated were all κοσμικα, utensils, or furniture, suited to the customs and practices of this world. It matters little to inquire, whether all these things were laid up in the ark, or whether they were put in proper places near the ark,—as the Greek which we render wherein, will well express;—by which, or near which, or where;—that is, in the tabernacle. They made up the furniture of the holy of holies, and they were all made of gold, and stone, and wood; just as the goods of this world are;—and this is what the apostle was to shew. See Numbers 17:10.