Matthew Poole and continuators on Leviticus 16:2

2 And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail , before the mercy-seat, which is upon the ark that he die not : for I will appear in the cloud by the mercy-seat.

Not whensoever he pleaseth, but onely when I shall appoint him, to wit, to take down the parts and furniture of it upon every removal, and to minister unto me once in the year, Exod. 30. 10.

i. e. Into the Most Holy, or the Holy of Holies, as the following words demonstrate, which is sometimes called onely the holy place, as Heb. 9. 2, 3▪ the positive degree put for the comparative, which is not unusual in Scripture.

To wit, the second vail. See Levit. 4. 6.

For his irreverence and presumption.

Visibly and gloriously: That is as it were my presence-chamber, whither the Priest shall not dare to come but when I call him.

Either in that dark place, for there was no light came into it, and clouds and darkness go together and one may be put for the other: or in a bright and glorious cloud, which used to be over the mercy-seat, or rather in the cloud of incense mentioned afterward, ver. 13.

Marginal references: Exod. 30. 10. Heb. 9. 7.; Exod. 40. 35. 1 King. 8. 12.