Chapter Xii.

1. Titpr/teifAzvov) properly, lying around. The Greeks often use the verb, xsfyai, and its compounds, as presently at ver. 2, and in various senses ; wherefore the word, lie, here, must not be too closely pressed. But the preposition, mpl, very emphatically implies a cloud almost surrounding us, pressing close upon us : wpi in svKspforarov, on the opposite side, accords with it. — vs<po$) The word, cloud, is used on account of the great multitude, and the holy velocity with which they go upwards. Clemens Alex, has called it, vspoc ayicv xa/ distdsg, a lioly and pellucid cloud, lib. iv. Strom. — ^aprvpuv of witnesses) ch. xi. 39, note. — o'/xov) oyxos (from tyxu, st/syxw), weight ; and when it is applied to the mind, haughtiness, pride. Themistius, Or. iv., says, aOro/' psv /As-ptot tpvffei s/V/V, lyu ds alrovg oyxov J/x^/VX^/a-/ xa/ ^avvoryiTog, " They are naturally modest, but I fill them with pride and vain conceit." Hesychius : oyxog, <p{jffri/jt,a, vwepypaviaj sVaptr/g, HtytQog. Such oyxog as this is most unfavourable to spiritual moderation, and is very nearly allied to madness. — r^v wKspitra- rov) -TTzpiffraffic, rb Kepieffrr&os ; thence, by Synecdoche of the species, rb dvtfKohov, danger, disadvantage : hence evKepforaro$. Hesychius : rqv suxspiGrarov, r^v evxot.ovj i.e. very easily putting difficulties in the way, and placing in danger. IDpl^T) "]v80, Gen. iv. 7, Sin is around thee (lieth at the door). On the other hand, airspiffrarov E/.XOC, in Galen, an ulcer unattended with danger : y a^aprla, sin, the genus ; ^ evKepfararos apapr/a, unbelief, the species, because its danger is immediate, and because this sin, if it be committed, incurs the greatest risk of destruction ; ch. iii. 12, etc. ; Neh. vi. 13. — d? i/tfo/jtovSj?, with patience) This refers to ch. x. 36. To this patience 07x05 is opposed in respect to excess ; and r, svKipiffTaTos aftapria, in respect to defect. Both of these spiritual diseases are characteristic of the Jews. 'OXiyupeTv, to despise, corresponds to the former; JxXugd^a/, to faint, to the latter; ver. 5, note. — Tps^cofj^sv, let us run) let us finish the race, in which we are contesting for the prize. So Paul, 1 Cor. ix. 24, 25.