beginning of the epistle, admirably anticipates objections, and presents a conciliatory argument ; so that the apostle hereby declares, that he embraces the whole scripture of the Old Testa ment, and asserts nothing contrary to it. Wolfius has more on this passage.
Moses occupies the first place among the prophets, of whom Paul afterwards speaks separately. The antithesis of the pro phets and the Son is the same as in Matt. xxi. 34, 37, and the very appellation, Son, indicates His excellence above the pro phets : and whatever is presently said of the angels [as to their inferiority to the Son] is intended to be understood as holding good much more of the prophets. — sir sa^arou ruv Jiftspw rovrw, in the last of these days) There is a similar expression in Num. xxiv. 14, D^DM rTHnfcQ, LXX., IT' J<rp/aroi/ ruv qpspuv ; ill like manner, 1 Pet. i. 5, 20, and in a different sense 2 Tim. iii. 1, note. The antithesis is craXa/, in time past. The apostle inti mates, that no further speaking was afterwards to be expected. This whole epistle, concerning which comp. 2 Pet. iii. 1 5, sets before us the end of all things as at hand : ch. ii. 8, ix. 26, 28, x. 13, 25, 37, xi. 40, xii. 23, xiii. 4. — JXaX?j<r£v, hath spoken) all things, in one most perfect way [as contrasted with the many ways of revealing Himself formerly]. — j)/j,Tv9 to us) The antithesis is ro/g varpdffiv, unto the fathers. — sv T/u), in the Son) 'EV often denotes by, but here it has a higher meaning ; comp. John xiv. 10. How great & prophet is the very Son of God \ The name, Son, is put here by Antonomasia,1 as equivalent to a proper name ; but a proper name in Hebrew is without the article ; and so in the present case the article is omitted. It is also omitted in ver. 5, iii. 6, v. 8, vii. 28. So 13, Ps. ii. 12. God hath spoken to us in the Son alone. The apostles were also spoken to ; who themselves also are considered in the light of persons to whom the word was spoken, before that they could speak the word to others : they wrere virypzrai ro\j Xoyou, ministers of the word ; but the apostles taught nothing new after Christ, and as the Father spoke in the Son, so the Son spoke in the apostles. The Son also spoke by the prophets in the Old Testament : but in a different manner. The majesty of this Son is SET FORTH,
1 See Append.