Romans 9:4

“Who are Israelites, etc..] Which were their national name, as descended from Jacob, whose name was Israel; and it was accounted a very honourable one; (see <500305>Philippians 3:5 <471122>2 Corinthians 11:22); and the very name they bore gave the apostle some concern that they should be cut off; and then he proceeds to enumerate the several distinguishing favours and privileges they had been partakers of: to whom pertaineth the adoption; not that special adoption, which springs from eternal predestination, is a blessing of the covenant of grace, comes through the redemption of Christ, and is received and enjoyed only by believers in him; for all that were Israelites, were not in this sense…”

“Who are Israelites--See Rom 11:1; Co2 11:22; Phi 3:5. to whom pertaineth--"whose is" the adoption--It is true that, compared with the new economy, the old was a state of minority and pupilage, and so far that of a bond-servant (Gal 4:1-3); yet, compared with the state of the surrounding heathen, the choice of Abraham and his seed was a real separation of them to be a Family of God (Exo 4:22; Deu 32:6; Isa 1:2; Jer 31:9; Hos 11:1; Mal 1:6). and the glory--that "glory of the Lord," or "visible token of the Divine Presence in the midst of them," which rested on the ark and filled the tabernacle during all their wanderings in the wilderness; which in Jerusalem continued to be seen in the…”

“Who are Israelites - Descended from Israel, or Jacob; honored by having such an ancestor, and by bearing a name so distinguished as that of his descendants. It was formerly the honorable appellation of the people of God. To whom pertaineth - To whom it belongs. It was their elevated external privilege. The adoption - Of the nation into the family of God, or to be regarded as His special people; Deuteronomy 7:6. And the glory - The symbol of the divine presence that attended them from Egypt, and that finally rested over the ark in the first temple - “the Shechinah;” Exodus 13:21-22; Exodus 25:22. And the covenants - The various compacts or promises which had been made from time to time with…”

“Whose is the adoption, &c. - He enumerates six prerogatives, of which the first pair respect God the Father, the second Christ, the third the Holy Ghost. The adoption and the glory - That is, Israel is the first - born child of God, and the God of glory is their God, Deu 4:7; Psa 106:20. These are relative to each other. At once God is the Father of Israel, and Israel are the people of God. He speaks not here of the ark, or any corporeal thing. God himself is "the glory of his people Israel." And the covenants, and the giving of the law - The covenant was given long before the law. It is termed covenants, in the plural, because it was so often and so variously repeated, and because there…”

“9:4 Up to this point in Romans, Paul has called the Jewish people Jews. His shift to people of Israel, here and throughout most of chs 9–11, is significant. Jew connotes national identity, but Israel emphasizes the covenant relationship of the people with God. • chosen to be God’s adopted children: The Old Testament called Israel God’s son or child to emphasize that God had selected Israel to be his own people (e.g., Exod 4:22; Jer 3:19; 31:9; Hos 11:1). Israel’s adopted status meant that they received God’s blessing and promises, not that they were necessarily saved. • covenants: The Old Testament includes several covenants between God and the people of Israel: one with Abraham (Gen 17),…”

“are Israelites: Rom 9:6; Gen 32:28; Exo 19:3-6; Deu 7:6; Psa 73:1; Isa 41:8, Isa 46:3; Joh 1:47 the adoption: Exo 4:22; Deu 14:1; Jer 31:9, Jer 31:20; Hos 11:1 and the glory: Num 7:89; Sa1 4:21, Sa1 4:22; Kg1 8:11; Psa 63:2, Psa 78:61, Psa 90:16; Isa 60:19 covenants: or, testaments, Gen 15:18, Gen 17:2, Gen 17:7, Gen 17:10; Exo 24:7, Exo 24:8, Exo 34:27; Deu 29:1, Deu 31:16; Neh 13:29; Psa 89:3, Psa 89:34; Jer 31:33, Jer 33:20-25; Act 3:25; Heb 8:6-10 the giving: Rom 3:2; Neh 9:13, Neh 9:14; Psa 147:19; Eze 20:11, Eze 20:12; Joh 1:17 the service: Exo 12:25; Isa 5:2; Mat 21:33; Heb 9:3, Heb 9:10 promises: Luk 1:54, Luk 1:55, Luk 1:69-75; Act 2:39, Act 3:25, Act 3:26, Act 13:32, Act 13:33; Eph…”