Hebrews 11:35

{t} Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were {u} tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: (t) He seems to mean the story of that woman of Sarepta, whose son Elijah raised again from the dead, and the Shunammite, whose son Elisha restored to his mother. (u) He means that perfection which Antiochus wrought.

Women The recorded raisings from the dead are mostly for women. See 1 Kings 17:17 ff.; 2 Kings 4:17 ff. Comp. Luke 7:11 ff.; John 11; Acts 9. The reference here is to the first two. Raised to life again (ἐξ ἀναστάσεως) Rend. "by a resurrection"; and for the force of ἐξ comp. Romans 1:4. Were tortured (ἐτυμπανίσθησαν) N.T.o. lxx once, 1 Samuel 21:13. Originally to beat a drum (τύμπανον). Hence to beat, to cudgel. The A.V. of 1 Samuel 21:13, describing the feigned madness of David, renders ἐτυμπάνιζεν "he scrabbled on the doors of the gate," meaning that he beat the doors like a madman. Τύμπανον means a drum or a drumstick; hence a cudgel; so Aristoph. Plut. 476, where it is associated with κύφων a pillory. Comp. 2 Macc. 6:19, 28. The meaning here is, were beaten to death with clubs, the word being used to represent cruel torture in general. Not accepting deliverance (οὐπροσδεξάμενοι τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν) For the verb, see on Hebrews 10:34. The (τὴν) deliverance offered at the price of denying their faith. See 2 Macc. 6:21-27. A better resurrection (κρείττονος ἀναστάσεως) Better than a resurrection like those granted to the women above mentioned, which gave merely a continuation of life on earth. Comp. 2 Macc. 7:9, 14.

Hebrews 11:35-36 . Women, naturally weak, received their dead children raised to life again — Compare 1 Kings 17:22-23 ; 2 Kings 4:36-37 ; and others — Particularly seven children and one pious and holy mother; were tortured — In the most inhuman manner, to compel them to renounce their religion, and be guilty of idolatry. See the margin.

Thus from those who acted great things the apostle rises higher, even to those who showed the power of faith by suffering; not accepting deliverance — When it was offered them on sinful terms, nor even riches and preferments added to the proposal; that they might obtain a better resurrection — A resurrection to a better life than that they were to lose, and a higher reward than they could have received had they not endured these afflictions; seeing the greater their sufferings, the greater would be their felicity and glory hereafter; and others — In the same glorious cause; had trial of cruel mockings — As Samson before Dagon, when the Philistines had put out his eyes; and doubtless hundreds of others, whose names and trials have not been recorded; and scourgings — Jeremiah was beaten by Pashur, Jeremiah 20:2 ; and by the princes, Jeremiah 37:15 : but scourging was so frequent a punishment, both alone and before a capital execution, that it is probable it was inflicted on many pious persons; moreover, of bonds and imprisonments — Joseph was cast into a prison, Jeremiah was let down into a dungeon full of mire, Jeremiah 37:13 ; Jeremiah 37:16 ; Jeremiah 38:6 ; and Micaiah was imprisoned by Ahab, 1 Kings 22:27 .

Hebrews 11:35 . ἔλαβον γυναῖκες .… “Women received their dead by resurrection,” as is narrated of the widow of Sarepta, 1 Kings 17:17-24 , and the Shunamite, 2 Kings 4:34 . ἄλλοι δὲ ἐτυμπανίσθησαν … “others were beaten to death”. τύμπανον (sc. τύπανον from τύπ . strike) a drum, τυμπανίζω , I beat. From the expression in 2Ma 6:17 ; 2Ma 6:28 , ἐπὶ τὸ τύμπανον , it might be supposed that some instrument more elaborate than a rod was meant and Josephus speaks of “a wheel” as being used. But that it was substantially a beating to death is proved by what is said of Eleazar ( 2Ma 2:30 ), μέλλων ταῖς πληγαῖς τελευτᾶν , εἶπε . That Eleazar and the seven brethren (2 Maccabees 7) are alluded to is obvious, for it was characteristic of them that they died οὐ προσδεξάμενοι τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν , not accepting the offered deliverance. Eleazar was shown a way by which he could escape death ( 2Ma 6:21 ), and the seven brethren also were first interrogated and would have escaped death had they chosen to eat polluted food. They endured martyrdom, not accepting the escape that was possible, ἵνα κρείττονος ἀναστάσεως τύχωσιν , “that they might obtain a better resurrection,” “unto eternal life—‘better’ than that spoken of in the beginning of the verse, to a life that again ended” (Davidson, Weiss, von Soden).

How fully the resurrection was in view of the seven brethren is shown in the saying of the second: “the King of the world shall raise us εἰς αἰώνιον ἀναβίωσιν ζωῆς ; of the third who when his hands were cut off declared that he would receive them again from God; of the fourth, who in dying said, “It is good, when put to death by men, to look for hope from God to be raised up again by Him;” and the youngest said of them all, “they are dead under God’s covenant of everlasting life”.

Hebrews 11:35 . Ἔλαβο ν , women received ) They as it were snatched them (rescued them).— γυναῖκε ς , women ) that were believers, naturally weak.— ἐ ξ ἀναστάσεω ς , out of or from the resurrection ) He says, from , not by . They anticipated a future resurrection.— νεκροὺ ς ) dea d sons, 1 Kings 17:22 ; 2 Kings 4:35 .— ἄλλο ι δ ὲ , and others ) He comes from them that act to them that suffer (although Abel, Hebrews 11:4 , was already long ago an example of one both acting and suffering); and the particle δ ὲ , but , makes an emphatic addition (Epitasis). The ἄλλο ι , others , distinguishes these genera; the word ἓτερο ι , others , Hebrews 11:36 , distinguishes the species of sufferers. Paul observes the same distinction, 1 Corinthians 12:8-9 .— ἐτυμπανίσθησα ν ) τύμπανον , a drum-stick, then a cudgel with which men were beaten to death; French, bastonnade; ἐτυμπανίσθησα ν , they were beaten with clubs . Hesychius: ἐτυμπανίσθησα ν , ἐκρεμάσθησα ν , ἐσφαιρίσθησα ν . The Vulgate, they were distended (distenti sunt): for as in a drum the parchment or skin is distended, so in this kind of punishment the bodies were distended, that they 1. Γεδεὼν παρεμβολὰς ἔκλιναν ἀλλοτρίων . 2. Βαρὰκ ἐγενήθησαν ἰσχυροὶ ἐν πολέμῳ . 3. Σαμψὼν ἐνεδυναμώθησαν ἀπὸ ἀσθενείας . 4. Ἰεφθάε ἔφυγον στόμα μαχαίρας . 5. Δαυὶδ κατηγωνίσαντο βασιλείας . 6. Σαμουὴλ εἰργάσαντο δικαιοσύνην . 7. Προφητῶν ἐπέτυχον ἐπαγγελιῶν , ἔφραξαν στόματα λεόντων , ἔσβεσαν δύναμιν πυρός . might more readily receive the blow.

The apostle refers to Eleazar in the persecution of Antiochus, 2 Maccabees 6, of whom at Hebrews 11:20 we have the following account: he came of his own accord to the torture ( ἐπὶ τὸ τύμπανον ); again at Hebrews 11:28 : and at Hebrews 11:30 , but when he was at the point of death by the blows, he groaned, and said, It is manifest to the Lord, who has the holy knowledge, that though I might have been delivered ( ἀπολυθῆναι ) from death, I endure these severe pains in my body, being beaten , etc. Furthermore, as τυμπανίζειν is to beat with clubs , so ἀποτυμπανίζειν , is to Kill with clubs; and the apostle uses the simple verb, because after τυμπάνων πεῖραν (comp. Hebrews 11:36 ), after they had made trial of this species of torture, they might, if they were disposed to break their faith, have even still accepted of deliverance ( ἀπολύτρωσιν ). See Suicer’s Thesaurus, which also proves the fact from Gataker, that this word is frequently used to express any violent death. I fancy the reason is, because clubs are a kind of arms most generally met with in all tumults and in a concourse of people: at least in this very passage the apostle seems to point to all kinds of death caused by tumults and inflicted by clubs (in which is included the mode adopted by Antiochus [the tympanum], and mentioned as surpassing the other instruments of torture), and in the following verse he comes to more exquisite punishments [punishments more refined in cruelty].

35 . Women received their dead ] The woman of Sarepta ( 1 Kings 17:22 ), the Shunamite ( 2 Kings 4:32-36 ). raised to life again ] Lit., “by resurrection.” were tortured ] The word means, technically, “were broken on the wheel,” and the special reference may be to 2Ma 6:18-30 ; 2Ma 6:7 . (the tortures of Eleazer the Scribe, and of the Seven Brothers). deliverance ] “ The deliverance offered them” ( 2Ma 6:20-21 ; 2Ma 7:24 ). a better resurrection ] Not a mere resurrection to earthly life, like the children of the women just mentioned, but “an everlasting reawakening of life” ( 2Ma 7:9 and passim ).

(35) Raised to life again. —Literally, by a resurrection. (See 1Kings 17:22-23 ; 2Kings 4:35-37 .) At this point the character of the record is changed; hitherto we have heard of the victories of faith in action, now it is of the triumph of faith over suffering that the writer speaks. Those who “escaped the edge of the sword” ( Hebrews 11:34 ) and those who “were slain with the sword” alike exemplified the power of faith. Others were tortured.—See the account of the aged Eleazar (2 Maccabees 6:30), martyred because he would not pollute himself with swine’s flesh and the “flesh taken from the sacrifice commanded by the king.” The following chapter records the martyrdom of seven brethren, who for their adherence to their law were put to death with cruel tortures. (See especially Hebrews 11:9; Hebrews 11:14; Hebrews 11:23; Hebrews 11:29; Hebrews 11:36.) Not accepting deliverance.—Literally, not accepting the redemption, i.e., the deliverance offered, which must be purchased at the price of their constancy. A better resurrection.—Better than that return to the present life which is spoken of in the first words of the verse.

35. Women received their dead raised—as the widow of Zarephath (1Ki 17:17-24). The Shunammite (2Ki 4:17-35). 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. Christ, in Lu 4:26, makes especial mention of the fact that Elijah was sent to an alien from Israel, a woman of Sarepta. Thus Paul may quote this as an instance of Elijah's faith, that at God's command he went to a Gentile city of Sidonia (contrary to Jewish prejudices), and there, as the fruit of faith, not only raised her dead son, but received her as a convert into the family of God, as Vulgate reads. Still, English Version may be the right reading. and—Greek, "but"; in contrast to those raised again to life. tortured—"broken on the wheel." Eleazar (2 Maccabees 6:18, end; 2 Maccabees 19:20,30). The sufferer was stretched on an instrument like a drumhead and scourged to death. not accepting deliverance—when offered to them. So the seven brothers, 2 Maccabees 7:9, 11, 14, 29, 36; and Eleazar, 2 Maccabees 6:21, 28, 30, "Though I might have been delivered from death, I endure these severe pains, being beaten." a better resurrection—than that of the women's children "raised to life again"; or, than the resurrection which their foes could give them by delivering them from death (Da 12:2; Lu 20:35; Php 3:11).