Holy Place: One of the two portions into which the tabernacle was divided
(Exodus 26:31; 37:17-25; Hebrews 9:2) It was 20 cubits long and 10 in height
and breadth. It was illuminated by the golden candlestick, as it had
no opening to admit the light. It contained the table of showbread
(Exodus 25:23-29) and the golden altar of incense
(Exodus 30:1-11) It
was divided from the holy of holies by a veil of the most costly
materials and the brightest colours. The arrangement of the temple
(q.v.) was the same in this respect. In it the walls of hewn stone
were wainscotted with cedar and overlaid with gold, and adorned with
beautiful carvings. It was entered from the porch by folding doors
overlaid with gold and richly embossed. Outside the holy place stood
the great tank or "sea" of molten brass, supported by twelve oxen,
three turned each way, capable of containing two thousand baths of
water. Besides this there were ten lavers and the brazen altar of
burnt sacrifice.
