The Holy of Holies, also known as the Most Holy Place, was the innermost chamber of the ancient Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. It was located within the Temple’s central sanctuary and housed the Ark of the Covenant, which contained the original stone tablets of the Ten Commandments.
The Holy of Holies was a perfect cube, 20 cubits in length, breadth and height (approx. 30 feet or 9 meters on each side). Thick curtains separated it from the rest of the Temple. According to the Hebrew Bible, the Holy of Holies was only entered once a year, on Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), by the High Priest. Access was forbidden to all others. The Holy of Holies was the earthly dwelling place of God’s presence and His Shekhinah glory.
Significance and Symbolism
The Holy of Holies was considered the most sacred site in Judaism, as it housed the very presence of God and was a foreshadowing of the Messiah. Its significance and symbolism include:
- It represented heaven, God’s dwelling place, with the veil separating it from the rest of the Temple symbolizing the separation between God and humanity.
- It was shrouded in mystery, accessible only by the High Priest, symbolizing the hiddenness of God.
- The Ark of the Covenant represented God’s mercy seat and His divine throne.
- God’s presence appeared in a cloud over the mercy seat.
- Its perfect cubic dimensions represented complete righteousness.
- It was oriented along a precise east-west axis, indicating God’s absolute authority over time and space.
- The Day of Atonement rituals enacted within it brought about spiritual cleansing and restoration for God’s people.
Thus, the Holy of Holies represented the inner sanctum of God’s divine presence and holiness made accessible to humankind.
History and Construction
The Holy of Holies originated in the wilderness Tabernacle built by the Israelites from God’s instructions to Moses (Exodus 26:31-33). It was a perfect cube separated from the rest of the tent-sanctuary by a veil.
Later, in Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem, the Holy of Holies occupied the small, windowless, west end of the structure. It contained the Ark of the Covenant with its mercy seat and golden cherubim. The Holies was separated on the east from the rest of the Temple by a wall of cedar and a veil or curtain (2 Chronicles 3:14).
In the Second Temple built after the Babylonian exile, the Holy of Holies again contained only the Ark. It was separated from the outer sanctuary by closed double doors as well as a veil.
The Holy of Holies was lined with fine gold and shrouded in mystery. Thick stone walls and separation curtains blocked all light from the chamber except on rare occasions like Solomon’s dedication of the First Temple (1 Kings 8:10-12).
The High Priest was permitted to enter only once a year on the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur, making a blood offering behind the veil on behalf of himself and the people of Israel. The cloud of God’s glory would fill the space above the mercy seat as God’s presence entered the Holy of Holies (Leviticus 16:2).
Destruction by Invaders
The Holy of Holies was violated and pillaged by foreign invaders on several occasions:
- The Philistines captured the Ark in battle during the time of Eli (1 Samuel 4:11). They later returned it because of afflictions.
- The Babylonians broke into Solomon’s Temple, carried off temple treasures and likely destroyed the Ark (2 Kings 24:13).
- The Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes desecrated the Second Temple in 167 BC by erecting an altar to Zeus inside the Holy of Holies.
- The Roman commander Pompey in 63 BC barged into the Holy of Holies but did not remove anything.
- The Roman general Titus entered the Holy of Holies after destroying the Second Temple in 70 AD.
These acts outraged the Jews and were seen as desecration of something holy and forbidden to any but the High Priest. The Holy of Holies lay exposed and empty after 70 AD with no Ark in the Temple.
Significance for Christians
The Holy of Holies carries important symbolism and typology for Christians:
- It prefigures Christ as the perfect high priest who passed through the greater tabernacle in heaven, offering his own blood once for all (Hebrews 9:11-12).
- Its veil torn at Christ’s death indicates that through his sacrifice we have free access to God (Matthew 27:51; Hebrews 10:19-20).
- It foreshadows Christ himself as God’s dwelling place among humanity (John 1:14).
- As the earthly throne room of God, it points to Christ now enthroned in the heavenly Holy of Holies (Hebrews 8:1-2).
While the earthly Holy of Holies was central to Jewish Temple worship, the heavenly holy places have now been purified and opened by Christ’s atoning work for believers (Hebrews 9:23-28). He is our true mercy seat and lugar cubierto, throne of grace.
Thus, for Christians, the Holy of Holies signifies God’s redemptive presence now accessible to all through Christ – the “great high priest over the house of God” (Hebrews 10:21).
References to the Holy of Holies in the Bible
Here are some key passages referring to the Holy of Holies in Scripture:
- Exodus 26:31-33 – Instructions for the Tabernacle Holy of Holies
- 1 Kings 6:19-20 – The Holy of Holies in Solomon’s Temple
- 1 Kings 8:1-13 – The Ark installed in the Temple Holy of Holies
- 2 Chronicles 3:8-14 – Construction of the First Temple Holy of Holies
- 2 Chronicles 5:7 – Placement of the Ark in Solomon’s Temple
- Leviticus 16:1-34 – The Day of Atonement ritual
- 1 Samuel 21:1-6 – Unlawful bread taken from the Holies
- Matthew 27:50-51 – The veil torn at Jesus’ death
- Hebrews 9:1-14 – The earthly and heavenly tabernacle
These key passages provide details on the original Tabernacle Holy of Holies, its design in Solomon’s Temple, the Day of Atonement rituals conducted there, and ultimately its foreshadowing of Christ’s redemptive work and heavenly high priesthood.
The Holy of Holies and the Presence of God
Central to the significance of the Holy of Holies was that it represented the dwelling place of God’s presence. Multiple examples in Scripture reveal God’s glory and holiness made manifest in this inner sanctuary:
- God’s glory filled the Tabernacle after its construction (Exodus 40:34-38).
- When Solomon dedicated the Temple, God’s glory filled the Holy of Holies (2 Chronicles 7:1-3).
- The High Priest saw God’s presence as a cloud above the Ark’s mercy seat (Leviticus 16:2).
- Psalms speak of God enthroned on the cherubim in the Holy of Holies (Psalms 80:1, 99:1).
- The Holy of Holies contained reminders of God’s covenants like the tablets of the Ten Commandments.
- Only by blood sacrifices could sinful humanity approach a holy God.
Thus the Holy of Holies represented the meeting place between God and humans, between the sacred and profane. His localized presence in the Temple Holy of Holies foreshadowed His incarnation in Christ.
Contrast With the Holy Place
The Holy Place or outer sanctuary was just outside the Holy of Holies within the ancient Jewish Temples. The two areas contrasted in purpose:
- Only priests could enter the Holy Place for rituals and duties.
- Only the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies, and only once a year.
- The Holy Place housed sacred objects of worship like the menorah.
- The Holy of Holies housed only the Ark of the Covenant.
- The Holy Place represented God’s people serving Him.
- The Holy of Holies contained His localized presence.
- The Holy Place was illuminated.
- The Holy of Holies was shrouded in darkness.
The two sanctuaries together represented the theological concept of God’s nearness yet separation for sinful humans. The inner Holy of Holies was the most sacred space, inhabited solely by God’s glory.
Purpose and Functions
The key purposes and functions of the Holy of Holies included:
- Housing the presence and glory of God on earth
- Serving as the earthly throne room of God surrounded by angelic attendants
- Holding the Ark of the Covenant and Ten Commandments as a sign of God’s covenant
- Representing heaven itself, God’s celestial dwelling place
- Allowing communication between God and the High Priest
- Permitting sacrifice for the sins of the High Priest and Israel
- Foreshadowing the Messiah as a future High Priest and sacrifice
- Manifesting the Shekhinah glory of God visually through light, fire and cloud
- Fulfilling God’s presence among His people on the Day of Atonement
As the place where God’s presence uniquely dwelt on earth, the Holy of Holies served as a meeting point between the divine and human, the infinite and finite. It represented the paradox of God’s unapproachable holiness and His desire to commune with His chosen people.
Conclusion
The Holy of Holies was central to both Jewish religious life and to God’s revelation of Himself to His people. This small, concealed sanctum within the Temple was revered as the symbolic throne room of God Almighty, who chose to make His presence manifest there. For Christians today, its veil torn and inner mysteries revealed, the Holy of Holies points directly to Christ as the perfect sacrifice and mediator, the eternal High Priest and tabernacle of God’s glory.
