posterity of Melchisedec are not descended from Levi, as was required to be the case with the Levites, ver. 6, and they are not even mentioned by Moses ; and this silence is full of mys tery, which is immediately unfolded. There are even few of the Levitical priests whose mothers are mentioned in Scripture ; but yet their Levitical sanctity (as to their wives) is universally enjoined, Lev. xxi. 13, 14 ; and, at all events, the wife of Aaron, from whom all the priests are descended, is mentioned, Ex. vi. 23 : and Sarah, the wife of Abraham himself, Is. li. 2. — WTI nor beginning) The eternity of the Son of God is intimated. having) with Moses, who nevertheless relates the death of Aaron. — foepuv, of days) It was not so suitable to say, the beginning of life or the end of days, ver. 16, where power is men tioned along with life. — dpupoiuMsvog ds rti T/£ roD 0sou, but made like to the Son of GOD) de, but, properly has respect to the oppo sition between the negatives, which precede, and the positive, which follows, and takes the former for granted. The likeness of Melchisedec to the Son of God refers both to the former and the latter ; but it is also more directly connected with the latter, because it has more reference to the purpose in hand. The Son of GOD is not said to be made like to Melchisedec, but the contrary (vice versa) ; for the Son of GOD is more ancient, and is the archetype ; comp. viii. 5, [where in like manner heavenly things are set forth as more ancient than the things belonging to the Levitical priesthood. — Y. g.] — p'evei, remains) The positive for the negative in respect of Melchisedec : he remains and lives, ver. 8 : i.e. nothing is mentioned of his decease or succession. But it holds good in its strict meaning from Christ.
4. 0supsire) you see ; comp. Acts xxv. 24, note ; or rather see, consider. For Paul begins to teach in this passage, and at the same time excites our admiration : ourog, this man, accords with this view. — f, to whom) as greater, and as a priest. — xaf) even. The greatness of Melchisedec is described in all those things which precede and follow this clause ; but the principal thing is receiving the tithes. For this is the privilege of a superior. — SK rZ>v axpoQiviuv) of the spoils, which had properly belonged to Abraham as the conqueror. Hesychius explains : AxpoQiviov, aprt&v, q tfxDXa, \af>bpQtV anap-fcai. ' AxpoQiviov, u<ffap%7i ruv Qivsg ds stffiv oi ffupoi ruv irvpuv q KfiQw*