And after the second curtain there was a tent called the holy of holies.

By faith, when he grew up, Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,

And no one assumes this honor ¹  on his own initiative, ²  but only when called to it by God, ³  as in fact Aaron was.

But exhort one another each day, as long as it is called “Today,” that none of you may become hardened by sin’s deception.

For a tent was prepared, the outer one, ¹  which contained ²  the lampstand, the table, and the presentation of the loaves; this ³  is called the holy place.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place he would later receive as an inheritance, and he went out without understanding where he was going.

But as it is, ¹  they aspire to a better land, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

And so he is the mediator ¹  of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the eternal inheritance he has promised, ²  since he died ³  to set them free from the violations committed under the first covenant.

God had told him, “Through Isaac descendants will carry on your name,” ¹ 

and he was designated ¹  by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek. ² 

As it says, ¹  “Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks! ²  Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” ³ 

In fact, if they had been thinking of the land that they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.

So if perfection had in fact been possible through the Levitical priesthood – for on that basis ¹  the people received the law – what further need would there have been for another priest to arise, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in Aaron’s order?

It contained the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered entirely with gold. In this ark ¹  were the golden urn containing the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.