Hebrews 11:9

By faith he sojourned in the land of promise - It is remarkable that Abraham did not acquire any right in Canaan, except that of a burying place; nor did he build any house in it; his faith showed him that it was only a type and pledge of a better country, and he kept that better country continually in view: he, with Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs of the same promise, were contented to dwell in tents, without any fixed habitation.

By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country - The land of Canaan that had been promised to him and his posterity. He resided there as if he were a stranger and sojourner. He had no possessions there which he did not procure by honest purchase; he owned no land in fee-simple except the small piece which he bought for a burial-place; see Genesis 23:7-20. In all respects he lived there as if he had no special right in the soil; as if he never expected to own it; as if he were in a country wholly owned by others. He exercised no privileges which might not have been exercised by any foreigner, and which was not regarded as a right of common - that of feeding his cattle in any unoccupied part of the land; and he would have had no power of ejecting any other persons excepting what anyone might have enjoyed by the pre-occupancy of the pasture-grounds. To all intents and purposes he was a stranger. Yet he seems to have lived in the confident and quiet expectation that that land would at some period come into the possession of his posterity. It was a strong instance of faith that he should cherish this belief for so long a time, when he was a stranger there; when he gained no right in the soil except in the small piece that was purchased as a burial-place for his wife, and when he saw old age coming on and still the whole land in the possession of others.

Dwelling in tabernacles - In tents - the common mode of living in countries where the principal occupation is that of keeping flocks and herds. His dwelling thus in moveable tents looked little like its being his permanent possession.

With Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise - That is, the same thing occurred in regard to them, which had to Abraham. "They" also lived in tents. They acquired no fixed property, and no title to the land except to the small portion purchased as a burial-place. Yet they were heirs of the same promise as Abraham, that the land would be theirs. Though it was still owned by others, and filled with its native inhabitants, yet they adhered to the belief that it would come into the possession of their families. In their moveable habitations; in their migrations from place to place, they seem never to have doubted that the fixed habitation of their posterity was to be there, and that all that had been promised would be certainly fulfilled.

11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise - The promise was made before, Genesis 12:7 .Dwelling in tents - As a sojourner With Isaac and Jacob - Who by the same manner of living showed the same faith Jacob was born fifteen years before the death of Abraham. The joint heirs of the same promise - Having all the same interest therein. Isaac did not receive this inheritance from Abraham, nor Jacob from Isaac, but all of them from God. >Gen 17:811:10He looked for a city which hath foundations - Whereas a tent has none. Whose builder and former is God - Of which God is the sole contriver, former, and finisher.11:11Sarah also herself - Though at first she laughed at the promise, Genesis 18:12 . Genesis 21:2 .11:12As it were dead - Till his strength was supernaturally restored, which continued for many years after.11:13All these - - Mentioned Hebrews 11:7 - 11.Died in faith - In death faith acts most vigorously. Not having received the promises - The promised blessings. Embraced - As one does a dear friend when he meets him.11:14They who speak thus show plainly that they seek their own country - That they keep in view, and long for, their native home.11:15If they had been mindful of - Their earthly country, Ur of the Chaldeans, they might have easily returned.11:16But they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly - This is a full convincing proof that the patriarchs had a revelation and a promise of eternal glory in heaven.Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: seeing he hath prepared for them a city - Worthy of God to give.11:17By faith Abraham - When God made that glorious trial of him. Offered up Isaac - The will being accepted as if he had actually done it. Yea, he that had received the promises - Particularly that grand promise, "In Isaac shall thy seed becalled." Offered up - This very son; the only one he had by Sarah. Genesis 22:1 ,&c.11:18In Isaac shall thy seed be called - From him shall the blessed seed spring. Genesis 21:12 .11:19Accounting that God was able even to raise him from the dead - Though there had not been any instance of this in the world. From whence also - To speak in a figurative way. He did receive him - Afterwards, snatched from the jaws of death.11:20Blessed - Genesis 27:27 ,39; prophetically foretold the particularblessings they should partake of. Jacob and Esau - Preferring the elder before the younger.11:21Jacob when dying - That is, when near death.Bowing down on the top of his staff - As he sat on the side of his bed. Genesis 48:16 ; Gen 47:3111:22Concerning his bones - To be carried into the land of promise.11:23They saw - Doubtless with a divine presage of things to come.11:24Refused to be called - Any longer.11:26The reproach of Christ - That which he bore for believing in the Messiah to come, and acting accordingly.For he looked off - From all those perishing treasures, and beyond all those temporal hardships Unto the recompence of reward - Not to an inheritance in Canaan; he had no warrant from God to look for this, nor did he ever attain it; but what his believing ancestors looked for, - a future state of happiness in heaven.11:27By faith he left Egypt - Taking all the Israelites with him. Not then fearing the wrath of the king - As he did many years before, Exodus 2:14 . Exodus 14:15 , &c.11:28The pouring out of the blood - Of the paschal lamb, which was sprinkled on the door - posts, lest the destroying angel should touch the Israelites. Exodus 12:12 - 18.11:29They - Moses, Aaron, and the Israelites.Passed the Red Sea - It washed the borders of Edom, which signifies red. Thus far the examples are cited from Genesis and Exodus; those that follow are from the former and the latter Prophets.11:30By the faith of Joshua.11:31Rahab - Though formerly one not of the fairest character.11:32After Samuel, the prophets are properly mentioned. David also was a prophet; but he was a king too. The prophets - Elijah, Elisha, &c., including likewise the believers who lived with them.11:33David, in particular, subdued kingdoms.Samuel (not excluding the rest) wrought righteousness.The prophets, in general, obtained promises, both for themselves, and to deliver to others. Prophets also stopped the mouths of lions, as Daniel; and quenched the violence of fire, as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. To these examples, whence the nature of faith clearly appears, those more ancient ones are subjoined, (by a transposition, and in an inverted order,) which receivelight from these. Jephthah escaped the edge of the sword; Samson out of weakness was made strong; Barak became valiant in fight; Gideon put to flight armies of the aliens.Faith animates to the most heroic enterprises, both civil and military. Faith overcomes all impediments effects the greatest things; attains to the very best; and inverts, by its miraculous power the very course of nature. 2 Samuel 8:1 ,&c.; 1Sa 8:9,&c.; 1Sa 13:3,&c.; Daniel 6:22 ; Da 3:27; Jud 12:3; Jud 15:19,&c.; Judges 16:28 ,&c.; Jud 4:14,&c.; Jud 7:21.11:34See note ... "Heb 11:33" 11:35Women - Naturally weak. Received their dead - Children.Others were tortured - From those who acted great things the apostle rises higher, to those who showed the power of faith by suffering. Not accepting deliverance - On sinful terms.That they might obtain a better resurrection - An higher reward, seeing the greater their sufferings the greater would be their glory. 1 Kings 17:22 ; 2Ki 4:3511:36And others - The apostle seems here to pass on to recent examples.11:37They were sawn asunder - As, according to the tradition of the Jews, Isaiah was by Manasseh. Were tempted - Torments and death are mentioned alternately.Every way; by threatenings, reproaches, tortures, the variety of which cannot be expressed; and again by promises and allurements.11:38Of whom the world was not worthy - It did not deserve so great a blessing. They wandered - Being driven out from men.11:39And all these - Though they obtained a good testimony, Hebrews 11:2 , yet did not receive the great promise, theheavenly inheritance.11:40God having provided some better thing for us - Namely, everlasting glory. That they might not be perfected without us - That is, that we might all be perfected together in heaven.