And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel. (Leviticus 16:17)
During the ministration of the blood of the bullock and that of the goat in the most holy place, the veil between it and the holy place was drawn aside. For this reason any person within the holy place could see into the holiest; but this was the prerogative of the high priest alone, for he only might appear in the very presence of God. The prohibition here stated applies to vs. 12-16, which deal with the ministration of the high priest in the most holy.
The people anxiously waited to hear the bells on the high priest’s robe on the Day of Atonement. He had gone into the holiest in the white garments to sprinkle the blood and thus symbolically remove forever the record of their life’s sins. Would God accept him— and them? As he left the holiest and resumed his golden robes, and the people heard the sound of the bells, their joy and thankfulness were profound.