“But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:”
But into the second section 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 — the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16) becomes the supreme example of priestly limitation and the shadow of Christ's superior sacrifice. Once a year (hapax tou eniautou) marked the single annual opportunity for covenant renewal; the blood (haima) was necessary for entry into God's presence. The restriction to the high priest alone and the necessity of blood underscore the seriousness of approaching the holy God.
Church Fathers on Hebrews 9:7
Hebrews 9:7 “But into the second the High Priest went alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people.” You see that the types were already laid down beforehand? For, lest they should say, “how is there [but] one sacrifice?” he shows that this was so from the beginning, since at least the more holy and the awful [sacrifice] was [but] one. And how did the High Priest offer once for all? Thus were they wont [to do] from…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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