Matthew Poole and continuators on Romans 11:1

1. I say then Hath God cast away his people ? God forbid, for I also am an Israelite , of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin .

The Apostle having shewn in the end of the foregoing Chapter, That the Iewes was for their Obstinacy rejected, and the Gentiles called; he here prevents, or answers an Objection. Some might be ready to say; If this be so, then God hath cast away his Covenant-People, which he hath promised not to do; vid. Psal. 94.14. To this he answeres; first, by this accustomed form of denial; God forbid: And then he proceeds to shew, That the rejection of the Iewes, was neither Total nor Final. That it was not Total, he proves first, by a particular Instance in the following words.

i. e. I am a Iew by descent, of the Seed of Abraham according to the flesh, and yet am not cast off by God.

Some think this is added, to intimate, That he was born of an honourable Tribe, out of which King Saul sprang, 1 Sam. 9.1. and Hester the Queen, Hest. 2.5. Others think, this is added for a contrary Reason; left his calling should be ascribed to the Dignity of his Tribe, he says, He was of Benjamin, the last and least of all the Tribes. And others rather think, That this particular recital of his Genealogy, is only to shew, That he was a Iew by Nature and Nation, and not a Proselyte Converted to the Faith, v. Phil. 3.5.

Marginal references: Jer. 31.37.; 2 Cor. 1.22. Phil. 3.5.