Heb 9:16-22 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Heb 9:16-22: 9:16-22 The author gives a general principle about the nature of wills or covenants (9:16-17 ), which he then expounds in light of the inauguration of the first covenant (9:18-22 ).

Summary for Heb 9:16-22: 9:16-22 ^a The author gives a general principle about the nature of wills or covenants (9:16-17 ^b), which he then expounds in light of the inauguration of the first covenant (9:18-22 ^c).
Summary for Heb 9:18-19: 9:18-19 ^d was put into effect: Exod 24:3-8 ^e records Moses’ inauguration of the old covenant with the blood of the sacrifice.

• Hebrews alone among ancient sources states that Moses sprinkled the book of God’s law (cp. Exod 24:6-8 ^f).

• Hyssop branches have blue flowers and strongly aromatic leaves; they were used with sacrifices for cleansing (Exod 12:22 ^g; Lev 14:4 ^h; Num 19:6 ⁱ, 18 ^j).
9:20 ^k “This blood confirms the covenant God has made with you” (Exod 24:8 ^l): Jesus used similar language at the Lord’s Supper, referring to his own death (Matt 26:28 ^m; Mark 14:24 ⁿ; 1 Cor 11:25 ^o).
9:21 ^p he sprinkled blood: See Exod 24:3-8 ^q; Lev 16:14-19 ^r.
9:22 ^s Many of the rituals of cleansing in the law of Moses involved the death of a sacrificial animal; blood was involved both in the rites of cleansing (see Exod 29:12 ^t; 30:10 ^u; Lev 4:6 ^v, 17 ^w; 16:14-19 ^x; Num 19:4 ^y) and in making atonement (see Lev 16 ^z). The shedding of Christ’s blood established the new covenant, providing permanent purification and complete forgiveness of sins (Heb 8:12 ^aa; 10:15-18 ^ab; Matt 26:28 ^ac; Eph 1:7 ^ad).