Luk 1:8-9 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Luke 1:8-9: 1:8-9 his order was on duty that week ... he was chosen by lot: It was common in Old Testament times to cast lots (similar to throwing dice) to determine God’s will (1 Chr 26:13-16 ; Neh 11:1 ; Prov 16:33 ; Jon 1:7 ). There were twenty-four orders of priests (1 Chr 24:1-19 ) that took turns in the Temple, and lots were cast to determine which priest would serve in the sanctuary. There were a large number of priests, so this privilege might come only once in a priest’s lifetime. The angel appeared at the most sacred moment of Zechariah’s life. • to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense: . Luke uses the word here translated sanctuary (Greek naos ) for the Temple building, not the whole Temple grounds, which he calls hieron (Luke 2:27 ). The Temple building included the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place (see Heb 9:1-5 ). The priests burned incense twice a day in the Holy Place.

a1:8-9►

b1 Chr 26:13-16►

cNeh 11:1►

dProv 16:33►

eJon 1:7►

f1 Chr 24:1-19►

gLuke 2:27►

hHeb 9:1-5►

‏ Luke 1:8-9

Summary for Luke 1:8-9: 1:8-9 ^a his order was on duty that week ... he was chosen by lot: It was common in Old Testament times to cast lots (similar to throwing dice) to determine God’s will (1 Chr 26:13-16 ^b; Neh 11:1 ^c; Prov 16:33 ^d; Jon 1:7 ^e). There were twenty-four orders of priests (1 Chr 24:1-19 ^f) that took turns in the Temple, and lots were cast to determine which priest would serve in the sanctuary. There were a large number of priests, so this privilege might come only once in a priest’s lifetime. The angel appeared at the most sacred moment of Zechariah’s life.

• to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense:. Luke uses the word here translated sanctuary (Greek naos) for the Temple building, not the whole Temple grounds, which he calls hieron (Luke 2:27 ^g). The Temple building included the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place (see Heb 9:1-5 ^h). The priests burned incense twice a day in the Holy Place.