Hebrews 11:37

“They were stoned, etc..] As Naboth, by the order of Ahab, (<112113>1 Kings 21:13-19), Zachariah in the court of the Lord's house; (<142421>2 Chronicles 24:21) and the character of Jerusalem is, that she stoned the prophets that were sent unto her, (<402337>Matthew 23:37). They were sawn asunder; to which there seems to be an allusion in (<402451>Matthew 24:51). There is no instance of any good men being so used in Scripture: perhaps reference is had to some that suffered thus in the time of Antiochus. The Jews have a tradition, that the Prophet Isaiah was sawn asunder in the times of Manasseh, and by his order; which some think the apostle refers unto; though it seems to be all fictitious,…”

“stoned--as Zechariah, son of Jehoiada (Ch2 24:20-22; Mat 23:35). sawn asunder--as Isaiah was said to have been by Manasseh; but see my Introduction to Isaiah. tempted--by their foes, in the midst of their tortures, to renounce their faith; the most bitter aggravation of them. Or else, by those of their own household, as Job was [ESTIUS]; or by the fiery darts of Satan, as Jesus was in His last trials [GLASSIUS]. Probably it included all three; they were tempted in every possible way, by friends and foes, by human and satanic agents, by caresses and afflictions, by words and deeds, to forsake God, but in vain, through the power of faith. sword--literally, "they died in the murder of the…”

“They were stoned - A common method of punishment among the Jews; see the notes on Matthew 21:35, Matthew 21:44. Thus, Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, was stoned; see 2 Chronicles 24:21; compare 1 Kings 21:1-14. It is not improbable that this was often resorted to in times of popular tumult, as in the case of Stephen; Acts 7:59; compare John 10:31; Acts 14:5. In the time of the terrible persecutions under Antiochus Epiphanes, and under Manasseh, such instances also probably occurred. They were sawn asunder - It is commonly supposed that Isaiah was put to death in this manner. For the evidence of this, see introduction to Isaiah, 2. It is known that this mode of punishment, though…”

“They were sawn asunder - As, according to the tradition of the Jews, Isaiah was by Manasseh. Were tempted - Torments and death are mentioned alternately. Every way; by threatenings, reproaches, tortures, the variety of which cannot be expressed; and again by promises and allurements. Hebrews 11:38”

“11:37 According to tradition, the prophet Jeremiah died by stoning and the prophet Isaiah was sawed in half.”

“stoned: Kg1 21:10, Kg1 21:13-15; Ch2 24:21; Mat 21:35, Mat 23:37; Luk 13:34; Joh 10:31-33; Act 7:58, Act 7:59, Act 14:19; Co2 11:25 were slain: Sa1 22:17-19; Kg1 18:4, Kg1 18:13, Kg1 19:1, Kg1 19:10, Kg1 19:14; Jer 2:30, Jer 26:23; Lam 4:13, Lam 4:14; Mat 23:35-37; Luk 11:51-54; Act 7:52, Act 12:2, Act 12:3 in sheepskins: Kg2 1:8; Mat 3:4; Rev 11:3 being destitute: Heb 12:1-3; Zac 13:9; Mat 8:20; Co1 4:9-13; Co2 11:23-27, Co2 12:10; Jam 5:10, Jam 5:11 Hebrews 11:38”