Most Holy Place

The Tabernacle
in the Wilderness

The Most Holy Place also known as the Holiest of Holies is a location within the inner tabernacle of Moses. In the Bible it is referred to as the holiest of all (Hebrews 9:3), the most holy (Exodus 26:33), and the most holy place (Exodus 26:34). The Most Holy Place is said to be the place where the presence of God dwelt. In the wilderness, on the day that the tabernacle was first raised up, the cloud of the Lord covered the tabernacle. There are other times that this was recorded, and instructions were given that the Lord would appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat, and at that time the priests should not enter into the tabernacle (Leviticus 16:2).

Ultilization

The Most Holy Place was a place where the high priest would go in, once a year, on the Day of Atonement, to sprinkle the blood of an animal upon the Ark of the Covenant and the mercy seat which sat on top of the ark. The animal was sacrificed on the Brazen Altar and the blood was carried into the most holy place. The golden censers were also found in the most holy place.

Sanctuary

Tabernacle's floorplan\n
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\nThe
\nMost Holy Place\n----\nThe Ark of the Covenant\n
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\nThe Holy Place\n
\nGolden Candlestick\n
\nGolden Altar \n
\nTable of Shewbread\n
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\nThe Outer Court \n
\nBrazen Altar | Brazen Laver\n
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Description

In order that God may dwell permanently among the Israelites, they are given instructions for erecting a sanctuary. The directions provide for: (1) a wooden ark, gilded inside and outside, for the Tables of the Covenant, with a cover similarly gilded as "mercy seat" for the Divine Presence; (2) a gilt table for the so-called "shewbread" ( ); (3) a golden candlestick for a light never to be extinguished; (4) the dwelling, including the curtains for the roof, the walls made of boards resting on silver feet and held together by wooden bolts, the purple curtain veiling the Holy of Holies, the table and candlestick, and the outer curtain; (5) a sacrificial altar made of bronzed boards; (6) the outer court formed by pillars resting on bronze pedestals and connected by hooks and crossbars of silver, with embroidered curtains; (7) preparation of the oil for the candlestick.

Modern location

Presently it is conjuectured that it is located near the Muslim mosque Dome of the Rock which stands on the Temple Mount, though the exact location of the Most Holy Place is not known with any certainty. Orthodox visitors to the Temple Mount, especially those associated with the movement to rebuild the Temple, seek to conform to the minimal requirements for entering the holy place, such as only wearing linen and not showing their back towards its presumed location out of reverence

Mormon Variant

It should also be noted that some Mormon Temples contain a section in their religious sites that they call a "Holy of Holies".