36. 'E^cra/y/x/wi' xai /fcatfr/ywv) The same words occur, 2 Mace. vii. 7, 1. — neTpav eXapov, had trial) This phrase increases the praise of constancy. The bitterness of experience showed many their weakness, who thought themselves strong. The same form of expression occurs at Deut. xxviii. 56. The delicate and refined (the prosperous) are unacquainted with this experi ence, only let them not (it is well if they do not) flee from it.— sn ds, yea, moreover) An increment in force (aug/jov?, advancing from weaker to stronger expressions) ; comp. Luke xiv. 26.— dsff/Auv, K.T.\., of bonds, etc.) The apostle here seems to descend to recent examples, although these are also found in the canoni cal books.
37. 'JSarpfaOqirav) The Jews have an unquestioned tradition, that Isaiah was sawn asunder, by command of Manasseh, with a wooden saw ; whence the most of our Christian writers apply the phrase, were sawn asunder, which is used in the Epistle to the Hebrews concerning the sufferings of the saints, to the suffering of Isaiah ; Jerome, lib. xv., comm. on Isaiah. If the story told of Isaiah be fabulous, as Tostatus and others think, it really happened to other persons. — sKupdffdqffav, they were tempted) The passage has four parts : the first is various, of mockings, etc. ; the second various, they were stoned, they were sawn asunder; the third simple, they were tempted; the fourth simple, they were slain by the sword. The third corresponds to the first (^riTpav, svsipdff- GqGow, trial or temptation, they were tempted), the fourth to the second, and the murders are alternately mixed with tortures : they ivere tempted, in every way (the same word occurs, ver. 17, ch. ii. 18), with threatenings, reproaches, tortures, of which the variety and novelty exceeds our vocabulary; again, with caresses (1 Thess. iii. 3, note), which are often not less harass ing (disturbing to faith), and by promises and benefits ; comp. once more 2 Mace. vi. 21, 22, vii. 24. — h povu /^a^aipag air'eSavov, they were slain with the sword) Tin *•£&, which the LXX. not in one place alone translate, sv <p6vu ^ay^atpag. The sword is the last of the punishments mentioned by Paul, Rom. viii. 35, note. — ev (j^\ura?g, in sheeps' skins) as Elijah, LXX., 1 Kings xix. 13. Nevertheless, false prophets imitated Elijah in his external dress ; Zech. xiii. 4.
38. rnv MX riv aQog o xoff^oc, of whom the world was not worthy)