God hath given them, etc… Not by his working or acting in them; but by his permission, and by withdrawing his grace in punishment of their obstinacy.
11:9. And David saith: Let their table be made a snare and a trap and a stumbling block and a recompense unto them.
11:10. Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see: and bow down their back always.
11:11. I say then: Have they so stumbled, that they should fall? God forbid! But by their offence salvation is come to the Gentiles, that they may be emulous of them.
That they should fall… The nation of the Jews is not absolutely and without remedy cast off for ever; but in part only, (many thousands of them having been at first converted,) and for a time; which fall of theirs, God has been pleased to turn to the good of the Gentiles.
11:12. Now if the offence of them be the riches of the world and the diminution of them the riches of the Gentiles: how much more the fulness of them?
11:13. For I say to you, Gentiles: As long indeed as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I will honour my ministry,
11:14. If, by any means, I may provoke to emulation them who are my flesh and may save some of them.
11:15. For if the loss of them be the reconciliation of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
11:16. For if the firstfruit be holy, so is the lump also: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.