Once a year

For 51 years I have known, of course, because I am so smart of course,

that the high priest would go in once a year to the holy of holies.

… into the [Holy of Holies] only the high priest goes, and he but once a year,

and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself

and for the unintentional sins of the people. 

Hebrews 9.7

Cool.

Except…

I am not so smart as I thought.

Today I read he actually would go in twice yearly.

And [Aaron] shall take a censer full of coals of fire

from the altar before the Lord,

and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small,

and he shall bring it inside the veil 

and put the incense on the fire before the Lord,

that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is over the testimony,

so that he does not die. 

Lev 16.12-13

I’ve never been into the Holy of Holies,

but I can relate to the part about the air being filled with incense.

We did that back in my hippie days,

with George Harrison singing “My Sweet Lord” in the background.

Anyways,

The high priest goes into the Holy of Holies to create a smokey cloud.

Then he apparently exits.

Because in 12.15, he enters in again, this time with the blood of a sacrificial goat.

Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people

and bring its blood inside the veil…sprinkling it over the mercy seat

and in front of the mercy seat. 

Lev 12.15

Count ‘em: 1, 2.

Case closed.