Behind | Access to the Divine

Israel’s worship in the Old Testament is defined by limited access to the divine. Only the high priest could enter the holy of holies once a year. This was a dramatic departure from what was typical in the ancient Near East.

In Egypt, the king and many of his priests were able to access the innermost sanctuary. They had the responsibility of feeding the gods and caring for their needs, and this immediate encounter was a necessary part of their role.

You’ll notice in this Egyptian mural that the priest has a withered leg. Israel had several restrictions for priests related to family, age, gender, physical condition and ritual purity.

In Mesopotamia and Anatolia, access was monitored, but many were able to encounter the resident god in his dwelling place.

Source: Michael B. Hundley, Keeping Heaven on Earth: Safeguarding the Divine Presence in the Priestly Tabernacle, 2011, p. 115.  

While these regulations may challenge our expectations of encountering a God whose main agenda is relationship with His people, they highlight the uniqueness of the Israelite ritual system.