Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

“His faith, as Joseph's (Heb 11:22), consisted in his so confidentially anticipating the fulfilment of God's promise of Canaan to his descendants, as to desire to be buried there as his proper possession.”

By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his bones.

“Joseph's eminent position in Egypt did not make him regard it as his home: in faith he looked to God's promise of Canaan being fulfilled and desired that his bones should rest there: testifying thus: (1) that he had no doubt of his posterity obtaining…”

By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were unafraid of the king’s edict.

“His beauty was probably "the sign" appointed by God to assure their faith. the king's commandment--to slay all the males (Ex 1:22).”

By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.

“JOSEPHUS states that when a child, he threw on the ground the diadem put on him in jest, a presage of his subsequent formal rejection of Thermutis' adoption of him.”

He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin.

“"Choosing" implies a deliberate resolution, not a hasty impulse. He was forty years old, a time when the judgment is matured. for a season--If the world has "pleasure" (Greek, "enjoyment") to offer, it is but "for a season."”

He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.

“As uncircumcision was Egypt's reproach, so circumcision was the badge of Israel's expectation of Christ, which Moses especially cherished, and which the Gentiles reproached Israel on account of. Christ's people's reproach will ere long be their great glory.”

By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.

“Besides, the chronological order would be broken thus, the next particular specified here, namely, the institution of the Passover, having taken place before the exodus. Besides, it is Moses' personal history and faith which are here described.”

By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were drowned.

“The same thing when done by the believer, and when done by the unbeliever, is not the same thing [BENGEL]. What was faith in Israel, was presumption in the Egyptians. were drowned--Greek, "were swallowed up," or "engulfed."”

By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

“The soundings of trumpets, though one were to sound for ten thousand years, cannot throw down walls, but faith can do all things [CHRYSOSTOM]. seven days--whereas sieges often lasted for years.”

By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.

“Thus Paul, quoting the same examples (Heb 11:17, 31) for the power of faith, as James (Jas 2:21, 25; see on Jas 2:21; Jas 2:25) does for justification by works evidentially, shows that in maintaining justification by faith alone, he means not a dead faith…”

And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets,

“Just as Samson for the same reason is put before Jephthæ. The mention of Jephthæ as an example of "faith," makes it unlikely he sacrificed the life of his daughter for a rash vow.”

quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.

“Quenched the violence of fire-- (Da 3:27). Not merely "quenched the fire," but "quenched the power (so the Greek) of the fire." Da 3:19-30 and 6:12-23 record the last miracles of the Old Testament.”

Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused their release, so that they might gain a better resurrection.

“The two oldest manuscripts read. "They received women of aliens by raising their dead." 1Ki 17:24 shows that the raising of the widow's son by Elijah led her to the faith, so that he thus took her into fellowship, an alien though she was.”

They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated.

“In both accomplishes great things and suffers great things, without counting it suffering [CHRYSOSTOM]. Urijah was so slain by Jehoiakim (Jer 26:23); and the prophets in Israel (1Ki 19:10). in sheepskins--as Elijah (1Ki 19:13, Septuagint).”

The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid in caves and holes in the ground.

“Of whom the world was not worthy--So far from their being unworthy of living in the world, as their exile in deserts, &c., might seem to imply, "the world was not worthy of them."”

God had planned something better for us, so that together with us they would be made perfect.

“Christ's death, the means of perfecting what the Jewish law could not perfect, was reserved for our time. Compare Heb 12:2, "perfecter (Greek) of our faith."”

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with…

“It is not primarily "the sin," &c., but sin in general, with, however, special reference to "apostasy," against which he had already warned them, as one to which they might gradually be seduced; the besetting sin of the Hebrews, UNBELIEF.”

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down…

“On His "faith" compare Heb 2:13; Believers have ever looked to Him (Heb 11:26; 13:8). finisher--Greek, "Perfecter," referring to Heb 11:40. of our faith--rather as Greek, "of the faith," including both His faith (as exhibited in what follows) and our faith.”

Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

“For--justifying his exhortation, "Looking unto Jesus." consider--by way of comparison with yourselves, so the Greek. contradiction--unbelief, and every kind of opposition (Ac 28:19). sinners--Sin assails us.”

For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.”

“(Re 3:19.) and--Greek, "yea and," "and moreover"; bringing out an additional circumstance. scourgeth--which draws forth "blood" (Heb 12:4). receiveth--accepts.”

Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?

“In Heb 12:7, 8 the need of "chastening" or "discipline" is inculcated; in Heb 12:9, the duty of those to whom it is administered.”

If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.

“"Since then not to be chastised is a mark of bastardy, we ought [not to refuse, but] rejoice in chastisement, as a mark of our genuine sonship" [CHRYSOSTOM].”

Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live?

“Father of spirits--contrasted with "the fathers of our flesh." "Generation by men is carnal, by God is spiritual" [BENGEL]. As "Father of spirits," He is both the Originator, and the Providential and Gracious Sustainer, at once of animal and spiritual life.”

Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness.

“Showing wherein the chastisement of our heavenly Father is preferable to that of earthly fathers. for a few days--that is, with a view to our well-being in the few days of our earthly life: so the Greek.”

No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it.

“Gratified wishes, our Father knows, would often be our real curses. fruit of righteousness--righteousness (in practice, springing from faith) is the fruit which chastening, the tree yields (Php 1:11).”