Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, on Heb 8:5

“Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things. As it was answered to Moses, when he was to finish the tabernacle: See (saith he) that thou make all things according to the pattern which was shewn thee on the mount.”

“Who--namely, the priests. serve unto the example--not "after the example," as BENGEL explains. But as in Heb 13:10, "serve the tabernacle," that is, do it service: so "serve (the tabernacle which is but) the outline and shadow." The Greek for "example" is here taken for the sketch, copy, or suggestive representation of the heavenly sanctuary, which is the antitypical reality and primary archetype. "The mount" answers to heaven, Heb 12:22. admonished--The Greek especially applies to divine responses and commands. to make--"perfectly": so the Greek. See--Take heed, accurately observing the pattern, that so thou mayest make, &c. saith he--God. the pattern--an accurate representation, presented in vision to Moses, of the heavenly real sanctuary. Thus the earthly tabernacle was copy of a copy; but the latter accurately representing the grand archetypical original in heaven (Exo 25:40).”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.