The Worship of the First Covenant.^* 1Now [even] the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. 2For a tabernacle was constructed, the outer one,^* in which were the lampstand, the table, and the bread of offering; this is called the Holy Place.^a 3^* Behind the second veil was the tabernacle called the Holy of Holies,^b 4in which were the gold altar of incense^* and the ark of the covenant entirely covered with gold. In it were the gold jar containing the manna, the staff of Aaron that had sprouted, and the tablets of the covenant.^c 5^* Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the place of expiation. Now is not the time to speak of these in detail.^d

6With these arrangements for worship, the priests, in performing their service,^* go into the outer tabernacle repeatedly,^e 7but the high priest alone goes into the inner one once a year, not without blood^* that he offers for himself and for the sins of the people.^f 8In this way the holy Spirit shows that the way into the sanctuary had not yet been revealed while the outer tabernacle still had its place. 9This is a symbol of the present time,^* in which gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the worshiper in conscience 10but only in matters of food and drink and various ritual washings: regulations concerning the flesh, imposed until the time of the new order.^g

Sacrifice of Jesus. 11^* But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come to be,^* passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation,^h