his law prohibiting the common or profane use of things set apart as holy for those under the Mosaic law, for example, the firstfruits and the tithe (as described in a previous paragraph). (Jer. 2:3; Rev. 16:5, 6; Luke 18:7; 1 Thess. 4:3-8; Ps. 105:15; Zech. 2:8) Also consider the punishment God brought upon Babylon for its malicious misuse of his temple vessels and of the people of his holy nation. (Dan. 5:1-4, 22-31; Jer. 50:9-13) In view of this attitude of God, Christians are repeatedly commended for and reminded of the necessity to exercise loving, kind treatment toward Jehovah’s holy ones, the spiritual brothers of Jesus Christ.—Rom. 15:25-27; Eph. 1:15, 16; Col. 1:3, 4; 1 Tim. 5:9, 10; Philem. 5-7; Heb. 6:10; compare Matthew 25:40, 45.

Faithful mankind to achieve holiness in God’s sight

Faithful men and women of ages past, before Jesus’ coming to earth and becoming the forerunner and opener of the way to heavenly life, were counted holy. (Heb. 6:19, 20; 10:19, 20; 1 Pet. 3:5) So, too, a “great crowd” not included among the 144,000 “sealed” ones can have a status of holiness before God. Such are viewed as wearing clean garments, washed in the blood of Christ. (Rev. 7:2-4, 9, 10, 14; see GREAT CROWD.) In due time all who live in heaven and on earth will be holy, for “the creation itself also will be set free from enslavement to corruption and have the glorious freedom of the children of God.”—Rom. 8:20, 21.

Holiness blessed by Jehovah

Holiness on a person’s part carries with it merit from God in the individual’s family relationship. Thus, if a married person is a Christian, holy to God, this one’s mate and the children of the union, if not themselves dedicated servants of God, benefit from the merit of the holy one. For this reason the apostle recommends: “If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and yet she is agreeable to dwelling with him, let him not leave her; and a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and yet he is agreeable to dwelling with her, let her not leave her husband. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in relation to his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in relation to the brother; otherwise, your children would really be unclean, but now they are holy.” (1 Cor. 7:12-14) The clean, believing mate is therefore not unclean by relations with the unbelieving mate, and the family as a unit is not viewed by God as unclean. Furthermore, the association of the believer with the family provides any unbelievers therein the finest of opportunities to become believers, to make over their personalities and to present their bodies “a sacrifice living, holy, acceptable to God.” (Rom. 12:1; Col. 3:9, 10) In the clean, holy atmosphere that the believer serving God can promote, the family is blessed.—See SANCTIFICATION.

HOLON

(Hoʹlon) [possibly, sandy].

1. A city in the mountainous region of Judah assigned to the priestly Kohathites (Josh. 15:21, 48, 51; 21:9-19); apparently called Hilen at 1 Chronicles 6:58. Holon of Judah is tentatively identified with Khirbet ‘Alin, about ten and a half miles (17 kilometers) N-NW of Hebron.

2. A Moabite city of the tableland or “level country” E of the Jordan mentioned with other cities in a pronouncement against Moab. (Jer. 48:21) Its exact location is today unknown.

HOLY CONTRIBUTION

A portion of land in Ezekielʼs vision of the division of the Promised Land. Each of the twelve tribes with the exception of Levi (Ephraim and Manasseh standing for Joseph, thus making up the twelve) was given an allotment running E and W across the land. South of the portion for Judah, which was the seventh allotment from the northern extremity, was the “holy contribution.” (Ezek. 48:1-8) The northern border of this strip ran along the southern border of Judah’s allotment; it was bounded on the S by Benjamin’s portion, which was the fifth allotment from the southern extremity. (48:23-28) The holy contribution was 25,000 cubits (6.9 miles or 11.1 kilometers) wide from N to S. It was to be given by the people for governmental use. In the midst of the holy contribution was the sanctuary of Jehovah.—48:8.

The sanctuary was located in the midst of a 25,000-cubit-square section. The remainder of the strip to the E and W of this square section consisted of two portions (25,000 cubits wide) for the chieftain. (Ezek. 48:20-22) The square section was divided as follows: a strip along the N boundary, 10,000 cubits (c. 2.8 miles or c. 4.4 kilometers) wide, for the Levites. It could not be sold or exchanged. (48:13, 14) Bordering the Levite portion on the S was a 10,000-cubit strip, a contribution to Jehovah for the priests, “a contribution from the contribution.” In this portion the sanctuary was located. (48:9-12) This left a strip 5,000 cubits (c. 1.4 miles or 2.2 kilometers) wide on the S. In the middle of this portion the city called “‘Jehovah Himself Is There” was located. The city was 4,500 cubits (c. 1.2 miles or 2 kilometers) square, having twelve gates, with a pasture ground 250 cubits (c. 365 feet or 111 meters) wide all around it. The remaining portion of the 25,000-cubit square, namely 10,000 cubits to the E of the city and 10,000 cubits to the W (5,000 cubits wide) was considered as profane, and was to be cultivated by the tribes of Israel to provide food for the city.—48:15-19, 30-35.

HOLY OF HOLIES

See MOST HOLY.

HOLY ONES

Those who are clean, particularly in a spiritual or moral sense; it also denotes persons set apart for the service of God, in heaven or on earth.

Jehovah himself, supreme in cleanness and righteousness, is the Most Holy One. (Hos. 11:12) He is frequently called the “Holy One of Israel.” (2 Ki. 19:22; Ps. 71:22; 89:18) The apostle John says to fellow members of the Christian congregation: “You have an anointing from the holy one.” (1 John 2:20) Jesus Christ is called “that holy and righteous one” referred to at Acts 3:14. Angels of Jehovah in heaven are holy ones, fully devoted to God’s service, clean and righteous.—Luke 9:26; Acts 10:22.

IN ANCIENT TIMES

Humans on earth who have been set apart for the service of God have also been called “holy ones.” (Ps. 34:9) Israel, brought into covenant relationship with God, became his special property and was, as a nation, holy to him. That is why individuals of that nation who practiced uncleanness or wrongdoing brought defilement and Jehovah’s disfavor upon the nation, unless action was taken to clear them out. Greedy, disobedient Achan is a case in point; his sin brought distress on Israel until he was discovered and stoned to death.—Josh. chap. 7.

Aaron, anointed with the holy anointing oil as the nation’s high priest, was holy in a special, intensified sense (Ps. 106:16) Accordingly, the requirements of his office were very exacting. (Lev. 21:1-15; also note the disqualifying factors for all priests in verses 16-23; see HIGH PRIEST.) A sin on the part of the high priest (for example, an error in judgment of a matter) could bring guiltiness upon the people, and had to be atoned for by the sacrifice of a young bull, the same sacrifice required for a mistake of the entire assembly.—Lev. 4:3, 13, 14.

CHRISTIAN HOLY ONES

Those who are brought into relationship with God by means of the new covenant are sanctified, cleansed and set apart for God’s exclusive service by the “blood of the covenant,” the shed blood of Jesus Christ. (Heb. 10:29; 13:20) They are thereby constituted “holy ones” (“saints” in AV and some other versions).