27. He forsook Egypt (xarédXrev “Auyurrov). After he had killed the Egyptian, Ex. ii. 15. Not in the general exodus. The historical order of events is preserved: the flight to Midian, the Passover, the Exodus, the passage of the Red Sea.
The wrath (rov Ouyov). Only here in Hebrews. See on J. ili. 36.
He endured (éxaprépycev). N. T.°. Occasionally in LXX. Often in Class. He was stanch and steadfast.
As seeing him who is invisible (tov adpatov ws opav). Since he saw, etc. The emphasis is on invisible, pointing back to the introductory definition of faith. The word is used of God, Col. i. 15; 1 Tim. i. 17.
28. Kept the passover (cerolnxev to mdocya). Rend. “hath instituted the passover.” The perfect tense indicates the continued significance of the service down to the time of writing. The phrase oseiy to rdoya in N. T. only here and Matt. xxvi. 18. The usual N. T. phrase is dayety To Tacxva
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to eat the Passover. See Matt. xxvi. 17; Mk. xiv. 12; L. xxii. 11. Hoetv to rdoya unquestionably means to keep or celebrate the Passover, as Matt. xxvi. 18; Ex. xii. 48; Num. ix. 2, 4, 6,10,13; Deut. xvi. 1: but the verb is elastic. The corresponding Hebrew verb mvp, among other mean- ings, signifies to ereate (Gen. i. T; ii. 2); to establish (Eccl. ii. 5, 6, 8); to constitute (1 K. xii. 31, 32); to make ready or prepare (Judg. xiii. 15; to prepare as a sacrifice (Ps. lxvi. 15). In all these instances it is rendered in LXX by vrovetv. In N. T. we find rrovetv dpicrov or Seirrvov to prepare a breakfast or dinner. Accordingly zrovety may properly be used here of the instituting of the Passover. Moreover the two following clauses clearly indicate that the writer is referring to the original institution.
The sprinkling of blood (77v mpécyvow tod aiparos). IIpecyvors affusion, N. T.°, °LXX, Class. From mpocyeiv to pour on. In the post-Exodus legislation the blood which, in the original institution, was sprinkled on the door-posts and lintels (Ex. xii. 22), was thrown upon the altar (Deut. xvi. 6), and wpooyety in LXX is used of this act almost without exception. See Ex. xxiv. 6; xxix.16; Lev.i.5, 11: ii. 2, 8, 13, ete.
Lest he that destroyed the first-born should touch them (iva pi) 6 ddoOped@v Ta TpwtdéToKa Glyn adtav). Rend. “ that the destroyer of the first-born should not touch them,” a rendering which brings out more sharply the preventive purpose of the sprinkling of blood. ’Ono@pevetv to destroy, N. T.°, °Class. ‘O ddoPpedwoy is used in the narrative of Ex. xi. 23 for the destroying angel. The kindred noun odo- Opevtys destroyer (°CLXX, Class.) occurs in 1 Cor. x. 10 of the plague in Num. xvi. 46-50. For @éyn should touch, see on Col. ii. 21.
29. Passed through (d:é@ncav). Only three times in N.T. See L. xvi. 26; Acts xvi. 9. The simple Paivey does. not occur in N. T.
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The Red Sea (tiv ’"EpvOpav Odraccay). Called by the Israelites the sea, Ex. xiv. 2, 9, 16, 21, 28, etc., and, specially, the sea of Siph (sedge, seeds). In LXX always as here except Judg. xi. 16, where it is @ddacca Zid, i.e. Siph. By the Greeks the name was at first applied to the whole ocean from the coast of Ethiopia to the island of Taprobana or Ceylon. Afterward, when they learned of the existence of an Indian Ocean, they applied the name merely to the sea below Arabia, and to the Arabian and Persian gulfs.
Which the Egyptians assaying to do (7s 7reipav AaBovtes ot ’Auytrrot). The A.V. has assaying, according to the older English usage. Assay is now chiefly used of the test- ing of precious metals; but in the sense of try it is found in Piers Ploughman, Gower, Chaucer, Shakespeare. Lit. of which (sea) the Egyptians having taken trial. The phrase teipav ANawBavew to take trial occurs also in LXX, Deut. xxviii. 56. In N. T. only here and ver. 36.