volume 4

16 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. IIL
Ver. 7-11. Wherefore, as the Holy Ghost saith, To-day,
if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in
the provocation, in the day of temptation, in the wil
derness: where your fathers tempted me, proved me,
and saw my works. Wherefore I was grieved with
that generation, and said, They do always err in their
hearts; but my ways they have not known. So I
sware in my wrath, If they
shall enter into my rest.
The exhortation is here pursued which was engaged into at the
beginning of the chapter, and which after some diversion is returned
unto at the close of the sixth verse. The it is
argument whereby
confirmed and carried on in these words is taken
"
ab eventu per-
nicioso," from the pernicious event of the alike disobedience in
others, which the Hebrews are dehorted from. And this the apostle
shows by an eminent instance, or the induction of an example to
that purpose. And this was such as those to whom he wrote knew
to be so as it was by him reported; which they had especial reason
to attend unto and consider, which had formerly been recommended
to them, and which was purposely designed to be monitory unto
them in their present condition : which things render an example
recorded in
cogent and effectual. Known it was to them, as being
the Scripture, wherewith they were acquainted; and it was likewise
of near concernment unto them, so deserving their consideration,
inasmuch as it was their own progenitors or forefathers who so mis
carried as to be therein proposed unto them for an example of an
evil to be avoided. It had also, after the first recording of it in the
history of the times wherein it fell out, Num. xiv., been resumed
and recommended unto their most diligent consideration, Ps. xcv.
And, as he afterwards informs them, there was a prophecy infolded,
or a typical representation made of their present state and condi
tion, with directions for their wise and safe deportment under it.
All these things render the example proper, and the exhortation
from it cogent.
Now, whereas the example had been twice recorded,
once ma
as an
terially, where the fact is first expressed, and then formally,
example, where it is resumed and improved by the psalmist, our
apostle takes it together with its improvement
reading are such as ABODE, CDE inserting p.f after t-^tlpa.av.
out of the latter
Both of these
critics, moreover, read TI/TJ instead of txtiuy.
EXPOSITION. Erasmus, Calvin, Grotius, Bengel, Wetstein, Carpzov, Ernesti,
Bleek, etc., connect all the quotations, verses 7-11, under the government of
z,a.6i>s, as the protasis, of which verse 12 is the apodosis. Schlichtingr, Cappellus,
H^inrichs, Kuinoel, Klee. and Ebrard, understand xxda; ciyiov as a
parenthesis, and the citations as dependent upon the preceding S/o.
TRAJSSLATION. Ki sfttov, "although they saw." De Wette. ED