The latter part of this verse is simply the converse of the former. But if of works, then it is no more grace / otherwise work is no more work. If founded on any thing in us, it is not founded on the mere good plea- sure of God. If the one be affirmed, the other is denied. This latter clause is left out of so many of the ancient MSS. and versions, and passed over in silence by so many of the fathers, that the majority of editors are disposed to regard it as spurious. Internal evidence, and a comparison with similar passages, as Rom. 4 : 4. Eph. 2 : 8, 9, are rather in its favour.
(7) What then P Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for .• but the election hath obtained it, &c. This verse is by many pointed differently, and read thus, " What then? Hath not Israel obtained that which he seeketh fori nat/, but the election have," &c. The sense is not materially different. The apostle evidently designs to state the re- sult of all he had just been saying. Israel, as a body, has not attained the blessing which they sought, but the chosen portion of them have. The rejection, therefore, is not total, and the promises of God made of old to Israel, which contemplated his spiritual people, have not been broken. It is clear, from the whole discourse, that the blessing sought by the Jews was justification, acceptance with God, and admission into his kingdom ; see ch. 10 : 3. 9 : 30, 31. This it is which they failed to attain, and to which the election were admitted. It was not, therefore, external advantages merely which the apostle had in view. The election means those elected; as the circumcision means those who are circumcised.
.Rnd the rest were blinded. The verb rendered were blinded properly means, in its ground form, to harden, to render insensible, and is so trans- lated in our version, Mark G : 52. 8 : 17. John 12 : 40. In 2 Cor. 3 : 14, the only other place in which it occurs in the New Testament, it is ren- dered as it is here. It is used in reference to the eyes in the Septuagint, Job 17 : 7, " My eyes are dim by reason of sorrow." Either rendering, therefore, is admissible, though the former is preferable as more in ac- cordance with the usual meaning of the word, and with Paul's language in the previous chapters. " And the rest were hardened," that is, were insensible to the truth and excellence of the gospel, and, therefore, disre- garded its offers and its claims. They were abandoned to the perverse- ness of their own hearts, and given over to a reprobate mind.
(8) .Recording as it is turitten, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, ears that they should not hear. This passage, as is the case with ch. 9 : 33, is composed of several found in different places in the Old Testament. In Isaiah 6 : 9, it is said, " Hear ye indeed, but understand not; see ye indeed, but perceive not;" V. 10, " Lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears." Deut. 29 : 4, " Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day." Isa. 29: 10, "For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed youi eyes." The spirit, and, to some extent, the language of these passages,