Hebrews 11:38

“Of whom the world was not worthy, etc..] These words are inserted in a parenthesis, to remove or prevent such objections as these; that they were restless and unquiet persons, that made disturbance in the world, and so unfit to live in it; and that they were deservedly punished for crimes they were guilty of; and to show the great worth and inestimable value of the people of God, which exceeds that of the whole world; and to intimate the removal of them out of the world, or from dwelling among the men of it, is by way of punishment to it: they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth; as Elijah did; (<111804>1 Kings 18:4 19:9,10), and many in the times of the…”

“Of whom the world was not worthy--So far from their being unworthy of living in the world, as their exile in deserts, &c., might seem to imply, "the world was not worthy of them." The world, in shutting them out, shut out from itself a source of blessing; such as Joseph proved to Potiphar (Gen 39:5), and Jacob to Laban (Gen 30:27). In condemning them, the world condemned itself. caves--literally, "chinks." Palestine, from its hilly character, abounds in fissures and caves, affording shelter to the persecuted, as the fifty hid by Obadiah (Kg1 18:4, Kg1 18:13) and Elijah (Kg1 19:8, Kg1 19:13); and Mattathias and his sons (1 Maccabees 2:28, 29); and Judas Maccabeus (2 Maccabees 5:27).”

“Of whom the world was not worthy - The world was so wicked that it had no claim that such holy men should live in it. These poor, despised, and persecuted people, living as outcasts and wanderers, were of a character far elevated above the world. This is a most beautiful expression. It is at once a statement of their eminent holiness, and of the wickedness of the rest of mankind. They wandered in deserts ... - On the Scripture meaning of the word “desert” or wilderness, see the notes on Matthew 3:1. This is a description of persons driven away from their homes, and wandering about from place to place to procure a scanty subsistence; compare 1 Macc. 1:53; 2 Macc. 5:27; 6:7. The instances…”

“Of whom the world was not worthy - It did not deserve so great a blessing. They wandered - Being driven out from men. Hebrews 11:39”

“11:38 too good for this world: Their hope was in God more than in the pleasures and comforts of this world.”

“whom: Kg1 14:12, Kg1 14:13; Kg2 23:25-29; Isa 57:1 wandered: Sa1 22:1, Sa1 23:15, Sa1 23:19, Sa1 23:23, Sa1 24:1-3, Sa1 26:1; Kg1 17:3, Kg1 18:4, Kg1 18:13, Kg1 19:9; Psa 142:1 \*title Psa 142:2-7 Hebrews 11:39”