Matthew Poole and continuators on Romans 9:4

4. Who are Israelites ; to whom pertaineth the adoption , and the glory , and the covenants , and the giving of the law , and the service of God , and the promises ;

i. e. The Offspring of that Holy Patriark Israel; this was the Iews first Title of Honour; that they descended from him, who by God himself was sir-named Israel, or a Prince that had Power with God, and prevailed, Gen. 32.28.

Adoption is not here to be understood as before, in chap. 8.15. or as in Eph. 1.5. (& alibi.) But thereby we must understand the peculiar Priviledge of the Seed of Iacob; that they, of all the Nations of the Earth, were pitch't upon to be nearly Related to God, to be his Children (as they are called) and his First-born, vid. Exod. 4.22. Deut. 14.1. Ier. 31.9, 20. Mat. 15.26.

The Ark and the Temple; so called, because in them God did manifest his Glorious Presence, 1 Sam. 4.21.22. Psal. 26.8. and 78.61.

Some understand by Covenants, the Tables of the Law, vid. Heb. 9.4. Others rather understand the Covenant made with Abraham, Gen. 15.8. and 17.2.7. and with the Iewish Nation, Exod. 24.7.8. and 34.27. &c. Circumcision also may be intended, for that is called God's Covenant, Gen. 17.10.

The Iudicial, Ceremonial, but especially the Moral Law. This is spoken of as a great Priviledge, Deut. 4.8, 32. It my refer both, to the Law its self, and to the Circumstances also, with which the Law was given.

The true manner of Worshipping God, which was a great Priviledge: Other Nations knew there was a God, and that He must be Worshipped, but they knew not how; and so they ran into Superstition and Idolatry.

Of this Life, and that to come. Particularly of the Messiah, and of the Benefits and Blessings by Him. This are found in Moses and the Prophets, and were entailed upon the Iews, and their Children, Act. 2.39. Eph. 2.12. till God at last Cut off the Entail.

In this and the following Verse, he rehearseth the Priviledges and Advantages the Iewes had from God, above all other Nations of the Earth; and this he doth to shew, that he had good Reason to make such a Wish, as in the foregoing Verse: As also, That what he should declare concerning the Iews, and their Ejection, did not proceed from any disrespect or disesteem of them.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word]. 7.6.; Or, [illegible: 1 span]; [illegible: 1 word] 147.19.; [illegible: 1 word]. 3.2.