12. Aii, wherefore) The exhortation is resumed from ver. 1. — r«£ rtapsi/Asvag %$/pag xat rot, vapaX&vfAiva, yovara, avopduffars) Is. XXXV. 3, LXX., /V^uffarg ^sTpec aveij&evai xa} yovara vapaXg'h.v/Aeva. The same also at Deut. xxxii. 36, itte yap avrovg, x.r.X. So Sir. xxv. 25. This exhortation has three parts, as it has respect to ourselves, to others, and to GOD ; and Paul has often reference to this threefold division, for example, 1 Cor. vi. 11. The first part begins with r&g leapeip'svae, that hang down ; the second with eipqviiv, peace ; the third with xai rw ayiaff^ov, and holiness : and the first is referred to by these words, pq n$ vffrepuv, lest any one
1 See App. Anticipation and refutation of an objection which may be raised.
fail (ver. 15) ; the second is referred to by the words, w rig pi^a Kixpiag, lest there be any root of bitterness ; the third is referred to by //--/j rig vopvog rt (BsfiriXog, lest there be any fornicator or profane person (ver. 16). The Anaphora1 proves this by putting w rig, lest any one, thrice. — x^ae, hands) your, comp. ver. 13, and the hands of the brethren, ver. 15 ; Is. xxxv. 4 : and so ywara, knees, and </ro<r/V, feet, [have of you and of the brethren understood.]
13. Kai rpo^iag) paths, tracks, which are conspicuous. A Hexameter verse, very appropriate. Prov. iv. 26, 6p8ag rpoyjag •ffohi ffoTg voffiv, make straight paths for thy feet. — 2 ro/g Koch, for the feet) The dative suitably answering to the Hebrew genitive in Prov., quoted above. The feet, because they are lame, require help, not less than the hands and knees. — rb ^/wXov) This, in the case of the feet, is what irapzaig, hanging down, is in the case of the hands. Cease to halt between Judaism and Christianity. Comp. 1 Kings xviii. 21, and Is. already quoted, ver. 6. — ixrpavri, be turned out of the way) to the right or left hand from the straight path ; Prov. already quoted, ver. 27. To Jxrpicrgffda/ adds a new defect to lameness. — /a05j, be healed) Proper exercise of itself contributes to health.
14. Msra, with) Construed with e/pqvqv, peace ; comp. croXXo/, many, ver. 15. — %ai rb\) The article makes an emphatic addition (Epitasis), ch. xi. 38. — ayiaepbv, sanctification) of which the prin cipal parts are chastity and sobriety: comp. ver. 16. — oudsfg o-vj/era/, no one shall see) as a priest ; Rev. xxii. 3, 4, or as a son ; comp. 2 Sam. xiv. 24. — rbv Kvpiov, the Lord) Who is holy, pure.
15. My ng vffrspuv, lest any one should fail) through sloth in running, — pfi rig /?/£« vixpiag avu pvouffa Ivo^X^, lest any root of bitterness springing above [upwards] trouble you) Deut. xxix. 18, LXX., lest any root of bitterness be in you, springing up in gall and bitterness. But the apostle wrote for Jv %oX?j (in gall), Ivo^X^, in exactly as many letters (though transposed). 'Evo^X^ may even formerly have been introduced in the LXX. : or the apostle first may have thus written. At all events, the expres sion has been thus appropriately inflected, to the recommendation
1 The repetition of the same words at beginnings.
2 'fMaf, straight) leading by a straight road to joy and grace, ver. 1, 2, 15.-V. g.