9:4 golden censer. The golden censer was only brought into the holiest place on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:12-15), burning incense with coals from the altar, so the cloud of incense would cover the mercy seat where the sacrificial blood was to be sprinkled.

9:4 golden pot. See Exodus 16:33.

9:4 rod that budded. See Numbers 17:10.

9:4 tables of the covenant. These were the two tables of the law, containing God’s ten commandments (Deuteronomy 10:2-5).