Hebrews 7 — Verse 11 (Introduction)
In this verse, after so long a preparation and introduction, whereby he cleared his way from objections, and secured his future building, the Apostle enters on his principal argument concerning the Priesthood of Christ, and all the consequences of it with respect to righteousness, salvation, and the worship of God, which depend thereon. This being his main design, he would not engage into it before he had in every respect declared and vindicated the dignity and glory of the Person of Christ as vested with his blessed offices. And from hence to the didactical part of the Epistle, he proceeds in a retrograde order to what he had before insisted on. For whereas he had first declared the glory of the Person of Christ in his kingly office, Chap. 1, then in his prophetical, Chap. 2, 3, and having now entered on his sacerdotal, he goes on to enlarge upon this last function, then he returns to his prophetical, and shuts up the whole with a renewed mention of his kingly power, as we shall see in their order and proper places.
[〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], Syr. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] consummatio, perfectio, a sacred perfection, or completeness of state and condition.
[〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], Syr. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] By the hand of the Priesthood of Levi himself; because Levi himself received not the Priesthood in his own person, but his posterity: Tremellius renders it Levitarum, the Priesthood of Levites. The original leaves no scruple: By the Levitical Priesthood. The Priesthood that was confined to the house, family, tribe, and posterity of Levi.
[〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], M. S. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], corruptly; Nam sub hoc, populo sancita est Lex, Beza. For under it the Law was established to the people. Sub ipso populus legem accepit, acceperat; Syr. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] by whom, or whereby the Law was imposed upon the people; if [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] by whom, relate to Levi, the sense is mistaken; and much more by the Arab. who takes the Law only for the Law of the sacerdotal office, from which it is plainly distinguished. The Aethiopick reads the whole verse to this purpose: And the people did according to the Law of the Priesthood which was appointed; what need was there therefore that he should give another Priest, whose appointment one should say was according to Melchisedec? Which argues the great unskilfulness of that interpreter.
[〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], quid adhuc, quid amplius opus erat, esset; necessarium fuit. What need was there yet, or moreover; Syr. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] therefore, ad quid, to what purpose?
[〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], oriri; Beza. Exoriri, Surgere; vul. Lat. Syr. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] should arise. Oriri, properly, [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], Syr. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] in or after the likeness of Melchisedec, Secundum ordinem.
[〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], Et non secundum ordinem Aaron dici, Syr. [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] — which is rendered in the Translation, in the Polyglot: Sed dixit, but he said, it shall be, or he shall be in the likeness of Aaron; Dixisset antem, which regulated by the precedent interrogation, gives us the true sense of the place. Suppose there must another Priest arise, yet if perfection had been by the Levitical Priesthood, he would have said that he should be of the order of Aaron.
