And when the priests came out of the Holy Place (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, without regard to their divisions), — The priests exited from the outer sanctuary (the holy place) after completing their initial service. The note that 'all the priests...had sanctified themselves' (הִתְקַדְּשׁוּ, made themselves holy) indicated ritual purification. The phrase 'without regard to their divisions' (לֹא־נִשְׁמַר־קָדִים לַמַּחְלְקוֹת) suggests that priests from all customary divisions participated together—normal rotation divisions were suspended for this extraordinary event. The shared sanctification and unified participation communicated the event's significance: this transcended ordinary temple routines.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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