glory above our comprehension ! If this appearance of Moses and Elias were not mentioned in the canonical Scriptures, although attested by other sufficient witnesses, who would not consider it as a fable ? — psr Avrov tfuXXaXoDm?, conversing with Him) There is no pleonasm.1 Each of them conversed with Jesus. A conversation of the highest importance (colloquium maximum). Moses stood at the end of the first dispensation,2 Elias, in the middle of the middle dispensation ; Jesus, on the threshold of the last. They bear witness to the true Messiah, and to Him only. — pir Aurov, with Him) They conversed with Him only, not with the three apostles.
4. KaXov, good) the Hebrew 31D in the first chapter of Genesis. — tJvai, to be) i.e. to remain. Nay, something very different — KaXfa ^jv, was good ["expedient for them"] ; see John xvi. 7. There was no need of tabernacles for standing (see Luke ix. 32), nor for a single night (see ibid. 37.)3 — tl S&Xsig, if Thou ivilt) A good and necessary condition. — rptfs, three) not six. The apostles wished to be with Jesus. — Mw<r?j, x.r.X., for Moses, etc.) Peter knew Moses and Elias in that light.
5. "En, yet) with but little delay. — XaXoi/iro?, speaking) His speech had clearly not been suitable. — idov — idou, behold! behold!) Matters of great moment, one of the greatest revelations. — vspsXjj, a cloud) Human nature cannot bear the glory of God without admixture or interposition. Strong medicine is diluted with fluid. Sleep must be added ; see Luke ix. 32. Moses and Elias, however, were permitted to enter the cloud (ibid. 34) : a great admission ! The Divine majesty is frequently conspicuous in clouds. — auroi)g, them) sc. the disciples ; see Luke ix. 34. — <puvr,, a voice) A voice came from heaven, firstly, ch. iii. 17 ; secondly, at this central period; thirdly, and lastly, a little
1 See explanation of technical terms in Appendix. — (I. B.)
2 At the end of the first dispensation, viz. the patriarchal ; though Moses also stood at the beginning of the second, viz. that of the law. In this latter point of view, as Moses stands at the beginning of the law as its repre sentative, so Elias at the beginning of the prophets, and the Lord Jesus at the beginning of the Gospel, at once its representative and embodiment. — ED.
3 Peter no longer now has the wish that he had continued on that moun tain. It is now his privilege, by means of the Cross, to pass from that which is good to those things which are better. — V. g.