Hebrews 9:1-10 (NKJV) Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; 3 and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, 4 which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; 5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.
6 Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. 7 But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance; 8 the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience— 10 concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.
V1 “Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary.” This is mainly found in the Book of Leviticus.
V2 “For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary…” The Tabernacle had to be erected in order to do the required divine service. There is the Holy Place (the first room). The second, behind the veil, is the Holy of Holies where the Ark of the Covenant with the mercy seat is located. This is the pattern Moses saw in the vision. See Exodus 25:9, Exodus 25:40, Exodus 26:30, and Exodus 27:8.
V3 “…and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All…” This is the innermost chamber.
V4 “…which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant…” The contents of the Ark of the Covenant that later had only the tablets. See 2 Chronicles 5:10. When Moses placed the Ark into the Holy of Holies, it had all three. The Greek word for “censer” is (G2369) θυμιαστήριον thumiastḗrion, which means something to offer incense. So, it is a place where incense is offered that is made of gold.
Some quotes:
(NKJV Study Notes Full Color, 3rd Edition) On top of the ark was the mercy seat, the place where God made His presence known. golden censer: In this passage, it sounds as if the censer was placed in the Most Holy Place, when in fact it was just outside the veil that separated the Most Holy Place from the holy place. Because of its function, the censer was commonly associated with the Most Holy Place (see Ex. 30:6; 40:6).”
(Zondervan Bible Commentary (1 Vol.)) It must be noted that the writer says there is a tent called the Most Holy Place, which had the golden altar of incense (3–4). He does not say ‘in which is the golden altar’ as he did in describing the position of the furniture mentioned above in v. 2. The substitution of ‘having’ for ‘in which’ ‘itself points clearly to something different from mere position’. It was probably intended to mean that the altar properly belonged to the holy of holies. ‘The ark and the altar of incense typified the two innermost conceptions of the heavenly sanctuary, the manifestation of God and the spiritual worship of man. And thus they are placed in significant connection in the Pentateuch: Exod. 30:6; 40:5; cf. Lev. 4:7; 16:12, 18 (before the Lord)’ (Westcott, Comm., p. 247, cf. also 1 Kg. 6:22).”
V5 “…and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.” Describing the Ark of the Covenant. See Exodus 25:17-22 and Exodus 37:6-9. One description of the cherubim is found in Ezekiel 10:1-17.
V6 “Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services.” This was entered daily by the priests who need to attend to the Menorah and Table of Showbread.
A chart to duties: https://www.biblecharts.org/oldtestamentoldtestamentpriestsandpriesthood.pdf
Old Testament Overview of OT priesthood: https://essential40.com/ot_overviewot_priesthood.html
V7 “But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance…”
The duties and responsibilities of the High Priest: https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4195084/jewish/The-High-Priest-in-Jewish-Tradition.htm
Also: https://bible.org/seriespage/10-day-atonement-leviticus-16
The Day of Atonement was the most important day of the Jewish Calendar. The procedure is described in Leviticus 16.
V8 “…the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing.” Only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies and then only once a year with a very carefully following the Scriptures, or he would die. Since the Lord Jesus enter the Heavenly Temple, we who believe can also pray directly to God, for our old sin nature has been replaced by the new nature created by the Holy Spirit. Holiness is necessary to be a priest. Today only those who have placed their faith, believing the Gospel, are holy. We sin but we ask for forgiveness. See Ephesians 4:24, 1 Thessalonians 4:7, and Hebrews 12:10-14. Believers in Jesus have the Holy Spirit living in them (1 Corinthians 3:16).
V9 “It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience…” The earthly sacrifices only cover sin but do not cleanse the conscience. The blood of sacrificial animals do not cleanse from sin (Hebrews 7:19 and Hebrews 10:4) only the blood of the Lord Jesus (Hebrews 9:14) our Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7). A note about the conscience: (Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary) “Believers are to work to maintain pure consciences. They also must be careful not to encourage others to act against their consciences. To act contrary to the urging of one’s conscience is wrong, for actions that go against the conscience cannot arise out of faith (1 Cor. 8:7–13; 10:23–30).”
We are 1) born with a conscience (Romans 2:14-14, which 2) can be seared (1 Timothy 4:2), 3) becomes guilty (John 8:7-11), 4) can be cleansed by the death of Jesus (Hebrews 9:9), 5) some can feel guilty that another might not as in Romans 14:1-5, etc., 6) honor God in everything is important (Romans 14:6, and 7) strive to have a blameless conscience (Acts 24:16).
V10 “…concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.” This is the reason that the service of the High Priest cannot cleanse the conscience. The “Time of Reformation” refers to the years of Jesus’s ministry on earth especially his death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. The Old Covenant is gone and the New Covenant is in operation today.