Page 89 - Hebrews- Student Textbook

11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they

saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.

"His parents...because they saw he was a beautiful child" Jewish tradition says Moses was a physically
beautiful child. What parent does not think their child is beautiful? But this is not the theological point.
This was a special, God-sent child.

"they were not afraid of the king's edict" The author mentions this phrase with an eye toward his
current readers (cf. v. 27).

11:25-26 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures
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of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was
looking to the reward.

Again the author makes a connection to the temptation facing his readers. They must keep their eyes on
the future, sure promises of God, not on current circumstances. Loyalty to Christ is ultimate!

11:27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him
who is invisible.

"as seeing Him who is unseen" The Israelites believed that to see YHWH caused death, because of His
holiness (cf. Gen. 16:13; 32:30; Exod.3:6; 33:17-23; Jdgs. 6:22-23; 13:22; 1 Kgs. 19:11-13; Acts 7:32).
Possibly seen Jesus!

11:28 This is an allusion to Exodus12. This last plague affected all of Egypt including the land of Goshen.
Even the Hebrews had to obey God's instructions and act in faith in order to be spared the visitation of
the death angel.

11:35 "Women received back their dead by resurrection" Theologically speaking this is not
resurrection, but resuscitation (cf. 1 Kgs. 17:17-23; 2 Kgs. 4:31-37). There has only been one
resurrection that resulted in an eternal body, Jesus.

11:36 "mockings and scourgings" This is possibly a reference to the Maccabean period (cf. I Mac. 1:62-
64; 7:34; II Mac. 6:18-20; 7:1-42).

11:37 "They were stoned" Tradition says that Jeremiah was stoned in Egypt by the Jews. A priest (not
the OT writer) named Zechariah is recorded as being stoned in 2 Chr. 24:20-21; Luke 11:51.

"sawn in two" Tradition (Ascension of Isaiah 5:1-14) says that Isaiah was put into a hollow log and
sawed in two by Manasseh's order.

"put to death with the sword" (i.e., 1 Kgs. 19:10,14; Jer. 2:30; 26:23).

11:38 This describes the terrible history of the persecution of God's followers. Why should the current
readers be surprised at their persecutions?

11:40 God's promises unite all believers of all ages, all races, all socio-economic strata, all educational
levels (cf. Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:11). All these Old Testament persons looked forward to God's new day. It has
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