17. r£lv, ivhose) The event proves the fact. So also ver. 19. — wv ra xwXa sffeffsv sv rr\ spy/Aw) Num. xiv. 29, LXX., sv ry spy/Aw ravrrj ytffsTrat ra xuha bftuv. This appellation, D'HJD, xwXa, car cases, mere bodies, subject to decay, always indicates indignation. KwXa, limbs, properly feet, according to Eustathius. If the forty years be resolved into days, and the average number of those that died daily be computed, every day had forty deaths of men. A great cause for writing the 90th Psalm !
19. Oux qdvvMviaav, they were not able) though they afterwards had wished it.
1. <$o/3»j0£^gv, let us fear) Since many have fallen, there is cause for fear. — xara'Asivo/Asvys IcrayysX/ag) Since a promise has been left and reserved for us, after the others have neglected it. The same word is found, in the same sense, Rom. xi. 4. A kindred verb is dcroXs/Vsrai, is left, remains, ver. 6, 9, ch. x. 26. This expression, interwoven with the exhortation, is a proposi tion which is proved, ver. 3. The verb J-ray^^Ao/^a/, I promise, is very often found in this epistle, as well as the noun, k-ayysX/a, a promise. In this chapter the apostle is speaking of the rest of eternal life ; for to-day still continues, when (since) there re mains the danger of falling, if we give way to hardness of heart. To-day, well improved, terminates in rest. Rest is that which, once obtained, is not again lost. We now (comp. ch. ii. 5, note) are urged to look still further. Foretaste in this life is not de nied : full rest is. All foretastes of rest are evidently small, when compared with things above. — doxy rig, any one should seem) Euphemism. Every man should so run, that it may be said of him, without any appearance of the contrary, This man runs, ti, in this passage, Mdeiy/ta, an example, ver. 11, and svdetx- i, to show, ch. vi. 11, are conjugates : 8ei%u, pret. mid. d'e- doxa, thence doxzu, and the ideas agree ; for he who shows a desire does not seem to remain ; he who seems to remain is an example of obstinacy. — vorspwevai, to have failed) to have come short.