_." And is there anything to indicate, that here the reason is to
be stated, why the old covenant is abolished? That reason can be
brought in only by very forced explanations (comp. _e.g._ _Maurer_ and
_Hitzig_); and it is, moreover, sufficiently expressed, as the author
of the Epistle to the Hebrews has shown. Even in the announcement of a
_new_ covenant, the declaration is implied that the old covenant was
insufficient: [Greek: ei gar he prote ekeine en amemptos, ouk an
deuteras ezeteito topos] (Heb. viii. 7), as well as the reason why it
was so, viz., on account of human sinfulness and hardness of heart,
which are not helped and remedied by pre-eminently outward blessings
and benefits, be they never so great. This their former greatness is
indicated by the words: "When I took them by the hand,"--words which
imply the most tender love. To this subjective cause of the
insufficiency of the old covenant there is a reference in the words:
[Greek: memphomenos gar autois legei], in Heb. viii. 8, which by _De
Wette_ and _Bleek_ are erroneously translated: "For reprovingly He says
to them." The Dative [Greek: autois] belongs to [Greek: memphomenos]
(comp. _Mathiae_, S. 705); if it were otherwise it would be redundant,
and would the less be in its place, that the discourse is not addressed
to the children of Israel. The reason why a better covenant was
required, such a one [Greek: hetis epi kreittosin epangeliais
nenomothetetai], Heb. viii. 6, appears sufficiently from that which, in
vers. 33, 34, is said of this new covenant in contrast to the old.
Here, however, it is rather the infinite love of God, the greatness of
His covenant-faithfulness which are pointed out; and this thought is,
from among all others, best suited to the context. [Hebrew: hmh] and
[Hebrew: anki] form an emphatic contrast. _They_, in wicked
ingratitude, have broken the former covenant, have shaken off the
obligations [Pg 436] which God's former mercies imposed upon them. God
too--so it might be expected--ought now to annul the old covenant, and
for ever withdraw from them the old mercies. But, instead of doing so,
He grants the new covenant, the greater mercy. He anew takes in
marriage apostate Israel, and in such a manner that now the bond of
love becomes firm and indestructible. _Bleek_ objects to our
interpretation: "The object is not the city of Jerusalem, or even the
Congregation of Israel, but the single Israelites, who may indeed be
designated as