11:15. And truly, if they had been mindful of that from whence they came out, they had doubtless, time to return.
11:16. But now they desire a better, that is to say, a heavenly country. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
11:17. By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
11:18. (To whom it was said: In Isaac shalt thy seed be called:)
11:19. Accounting that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Whereupon also he received him for a parable.
For a parable... That is, as a figure of Christ, slain and coming to life again.
11:20. By faith also of things to come Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau.
11:21. By faith Jacob, dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and adored the top of his rod.
Adored the top of his rod... The apostle here follows the ancient Greek Bible of the seventy interpreters, (which translates in this manner, Gen. 47. 31.,) and alleges this fact of Jacob, in paying a relative honour and veneration to the top of the rod or sceptre of Joseph, as to a figure of Christ's sceptre and kingdom, as an instance and argument of his faith. But some translators, who are no friends to this relative honour, have corrupted the text, by translating it, he worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff; as if this circumstance of leaning upon his staff were any argument of Jacob's faith, or worthy the being thus particularly taken notice of by the Holy Ghost.
11:22. By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the going out of the children of Israel and gave commandment concerning his bones.