And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.
No one else should be in the tent of meeting when the high priest goes into the Holy Place to make atonement, until he comes back out. He must complete the atonement for himself, his family, and all the people of Israel.
This verse describes how the high priest must be completely alone when he enters God's most sacred space to perform the special ceremony that covers sins for everyone.
📚 Historical Context
In ancient Israel, the Day of Atonement was an annual ritual commanded by God through Moses, where the High Priest alone entered the Most Holy Place in the Tabernacle to make atonement for the sins of the people and the nation. This verse emphasizes the exclusivity and holiness of the ceremony, requiring that no one else be present in the Tabernacle to prevent any defilement and to underscore the priest's role as the sole mediator between God and Israel. It reflects the broader cultural understanding of God's holiness and the need for separation due to human sinfulness.
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