9 ; and he also often desires and has regard to that which is ' profitable,' ch. xiii. 9 ; comp. Epistles to Timothy and Titus.
19. Ovdsv ere\eiuffsv 6 votu,oc, the law made nothing perfect) Paul speaks much in the same way of the powerlessness (rb dduvarov) of the law, in that it was weak through the flesh, Rom. viii. 3. — eTs/craywyj?) properly, the bringing in afterwards [superintro- ductio]. It is construed with ymrai, takes place, ver. 18, [ — in the psalm, to wit. — V. g.] The antithesis is manifest : a disannulling indeed, but the bringing in. 'ETT/ in l<3-£/<raywyj? is opposed to the TI^O in ^oayou^g, and is the same as psrd, after, ver. 28. — npitrrovog, of a better) that is, not weak and unprofit able. The epithet, Hpeirruv, often occurs in this epistle, as well as a/wv/oc, dXqdivbg, dsvrspog, diapopwrspog, snpog, ^Sjv, xaivbg, ftsXXuv, veog, KpofftpaTog, rshsiog. — eyyifyf&sv, we draw near) This is true r&Xzfuffig, perfection.
20. Ka0' offov, inasmuch as) Supply from what follows, He was made a priest. The Apodosis is in ver. 22, xara rocovrov, by so much. — opKUfJUMficti) A magnificent compound.
21. A/a rou Xsyovrog wpbg O.VTOV, by Him that said to Him) On other occasions, he who receives the office swears ; here, He who conferred the priesthood swore. There is nothing about this oath in Moses, but in the psalm. See how great authority belongs even to the Psalms ! ver. 28. — w/xotfg Kvpiog xat ou /Asra/AtXriQfiffzrai, the Lord hath sworn and will not repent) So LXX. It is intimated by the oath itself that the decree is one dfjusrafAsXriTov, not to be disannulled by any repentance.
22. Kpeirrovos, of a better) testament or covenant, not to be repented of, eternal, ch. xiii. 20. — diaQqxyg, testament) After this passage this word is of frequent occurrence, ch. viii., ix., x. ; likewise, ch. xii. 24, xiii. 20. Paid also uses it often in other places. It denotes a divine appointment, comprising the rela tions and bearings, partly of a covenant, partly of a testament.
surety) Hesychius, e'yyuos, dvddo-^og. Its synonym is mediator, ch. viii. 6.
23. HXs/ovsg, many) one after another. — -ra^a^si/g/v) to remain together on earth. The antithesis is pevsiv, to remain absolutely in heaven, ver. 24.
24. M'&vsiv, because that He continueth) in life and in the priesthood. — avrbv) because He Himself continues : 20, Thou