Hebrews 11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:23

By faith Moses, when he was born ,.... Which is to be understood, not of the faith of Moses, but of the faith of his parents, at the time of his birth; which was when Pharaoh had published an edict, ordering every male child to be cast into the river; but instead of obeying this order, Moses was hid three months of his parents; that is, in his father's house, as it is said in Acts 7:20 and is here expressed in the Ethiopic version. According to the Targumist F11 Jonathan ben Uzziel in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:24

By faith Moses, when he was come to years ,.... Or "was great"; a nobleman in Pharaoh's court; or when he was arrived to great knowledge, being learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians; or rather when he was well advanced in years, being full forty years of age, Acts 7:22 refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter ; by whom Moses was taken up out of the water; by whom he was named, and provided for; she reckoned him as her own son, and designed him for Pharaoh's successor, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:25

Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God ,.... The Israelites, who were God's chosen and peculiar people, and were the true worshippers of him; Moses chose to be with those: the company and conversation of such is most eligible to every good man, because God is with them; his word and ordinances are with them; there are large provisions of grace in the midst of them; so that it is profitable, delightful, and honourable, to be among them, and is attended with comfort,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:26

Esteeming the reproach of Christ ,.... That is, either Christ personal; meaning not any reproach that lay upon Christ, as the immediate object of it; nor upon the people of Israel for the delay of his coming; but rather for the sake of Christ: Christ was made known to the Old Testament saints, and they believed in him; he was typified by sacrifices which they offered; and they were reproached for his sake, for the sacrifices they offered, and for the worship they performed, for their faith... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:27

By faith he forsook Egypt ,.... Either when he fled to Midian; this was before the eating of the passover, and so it stands in its proper order; whereas, his going out of Egypt with the children of Israel was after it, and mentioned in Hebrews 11:29 . The word "forsook" implies fleeing; and then it was when Pharaoh's wrath was kindled against him: but it may be said, that Moses seemed then to be afraid of it, seeing he fled: to which it may be answered, that he showed great courage and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:28

Through faith he kept the passover ,.... Which Moses made, or appointed by divine direction; he kept it, with all its rites and ceremonies, and caused the people of Israel to observe it; and which he did, in faith of the speedy deliverance of the children of Israel, from the house of bondage; and in the faith of the Messiah, of whom the passover was a type; See Gill on 1 Corinthians 5:7 . The Syriac version reads, "through faith they kept the passover"; that is, the Israelites: and the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:29

By faith they passed through the Red sea, as by dry land ,.... Not through a river, but through the sea, the Red sea, the sea of Suph, or weeds; See Gill on Acts 7:36 . Some say they came out on the same side they went in; but it should seem rather, by the phrase here used, that they passed through it, from one side to the other; and that all one as if it had been on dry ground; even Moses, and all the children of Israel: and this they did by faith, believing, that God would make a passage... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:30

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down ,.... Of themselves, not from any natural cause: the Jews say F14 Targum Jon. Jarchi & Kimchi in Josh. vi. 5. they sunk right down into the ground, and were swallowed up; even the whole wall fell round about, as the Septuagint version in Joshua 6:20 expresses it: or, it may be, only that which was over against the camp of Israel, as Kimchi observes; since Rahab's house was built upon the wall, and yet fell not. And this was by the faith of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:31

By faith the harlot Rahab ,.... The Targum on Joshua 2:1 calls her אתתא פונדקיתא , "a woman, that kept a victualling house": this paraphrase is taken notice of by Jarchi and Kimchi on the place, who interpret it, "a seller of food": and even the Hebrew word זונה , is so explained by a considerable Jewish writer F16 R. Sol. Urbin. Ohel Moed, fol. 24. 1. ; and this may rather seem to be the sense of the word, and to be her proper business, from the spies going to her house, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:32

And what shall I more say ,.... Intimating he had said enough to prove the definition of faith he had given; and that the elders, by it, had obtained a good report; and yet he had not said all he could; and that he had so much to say, that he could not say all: for the time would fail me ; either the time of life, and so it is an hyperbolical expression; or the time convenient for the writing this epistle; to enumerate all the instances of faith, and enlarge upon them, would take up too... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:23

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:24

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:25

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:26

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:27

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:28

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:29

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:30

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:31

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:32

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