¹ Note the μἐ`ν…δἐ` construction in vv. 5–6.

² Most commentators assume that the pronoun αὺτου in vv. 2, 5 and 6 finds its antecedent in God. Contrarily, Swetnam, J. (‘Form and Content in Hebrews 1–6’, Bib 53 [1972] 377)Google Scholar has averred that the pronoun finds its antecedent in Christ. But any ambiguity that may have existed is resolved in 10.21, where the author states unequivocally that Christ is a great priest ‘over the house of God’ (ἐ`πὶ το`ν οικον τονΘἐοηῦ).

³ In the parable of the vineyard and the tenants (Matt 21.33–41; Mark 12.1–9; Luke 20.9–16), the landowner first sends two groups of servants (αου´λουζ) on separate occasions to receive his produce from the tenants. Each group of servants is badly mistreated by the tenants. The climax of the story is reached when the landowner sends his son, thinking that they will surely respect his son.

⁴ In addition to the treatment of this passage in the commentaries, see Auffret, P., ‘Essai sur la structure littéraire et l'interprétation d'Hebreux 3, 1–6’, NTS 26 (1980) 380–96CrossRefGoogle Scholar; D'Angelo, R., Moses in the Letter to the Hebrews (SBLDS 42; Missoula, MT: Scholars, 1979) 65–93.Google Scholar

⁵ D'Angelo, (Moses, 69)Google Scholar has contended that the text cited in Heb 3.2 is ‘not Num 12.7 (although the allusion is present and held in abeyance) but 1 Chr 17:14’. She admitted, however, that Num 12.7 is explicitly cited in Heb 3.5 (Ibid., 73–4). Gräßer (‘Mose und Jesus’, 15 n. 66) has contested her view that 1 Chr 17.14 is cited in Heb 3.2. I believe he has the better argument, but whichever view is preferred does not affect the point being made here.

⁶ D'Angelo, , Moses, 76, 92.Google Scholar

⁷ See my ‘The Steward in Ancient Israel: A Study of Hebrew ()’, JBL 109 (1990) 633–49.Google Scholar

⁸ Rostovtzeff, M., A Large Estate in Egypt in the Third Century B.C.: A Study in Economic History (University of Wisconsin Series 6; Madison: University of Wisconsin, 1922) 31Google Scholar: ὁ´ ἐ`ὶς οὶκι´ας.

⁹ Katzenstein, H. J., ‘The Royal Steward (Asher ‘al ha-Bayith)’, IEJ 10 (1960) 150.Google Scholar

¹⁰ Reumann, J. (‘OIKONOMIA-Terms in Paul in Comparison with Lucan Heilsgeschichte’, NTS 13 [1966–1967] 151)Google Scholar has observed that οὶκονομι´α-terms are not commonly used in the LXX. For his summary list, see p. 151 and n. 1.

¹¹ LSJ 1754.

¹² For discussions of this LXX addition, see Krautwurst, G., Studien zu den Septuagintazusätzen in 1. (3.) Könige 2 und ihren Paralleltexten (Pirmasens, 1977) 219–70Google Scholar, esp. pp. 235–7; Rehm, M., ‘Die Beamtenliste der Septuaginta in 1 Kön 2,46h’, Wort, Lied und Gottesspruch: Beiträge zur Septuaginta. Festschrift für Joseph Ziegler (ed. Schreiner, J.; Würzburg: Echter/Katholisches Bibelwerk, 1972) 95–101Google Scholar; and Tov, E., ‘The LXX Additions (Miscellanies) in 1 Kings 2 (3 Reigns 2)’, Textus 11 (1984) 87–118Google Scholar, esp. 100–1.

¹³ Goetzmann, J., ‘House’, The New Testament Dictionary of New Testament Theology (3 vols., ed. Brown, C.; Exeter: Paternoster, 1975–8) 2.253–6.Google Scholar

¹⁴ To the commentators mentioned in n. 4, add Harold Attridge, W., The Epistle to theHebrews (Hermeneia; Philadelphia: Fortress, 1989)Google Scholar; Braun, H., An die Hebräer (HNT 14; Tübingen: J. C. B. Mohr [Paul Siebeck], 1984)Google Scholar; Buchanan, G. W., To the Hebrews (AB 36; Garden City: Doubleday, 1972);Google ScholarDods, M., ‘The Epistle to the Hebrews’, The Expositor's Greek Testament (vol. 4; ed. Nicoll, W. R.; London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1910)Google Scholar; Farrar, F. W., The Epistle of Paul to the Hebrews (Cambridge: University, 1913)Google Scholar; Guthrie, Donald, The Letter to the Hebrews: An Introduction and Commentary (Leicester: Inter-Varsity; Grand Rapids: W. B. Eerdmans, 1983)Google Scholar; Héring, J., L‘épι^tre aux Hébreux (CNT 12; Paris: Delachaux Niestlé, 1954)Google Scholar; Hughes, P. E., A Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews (Grand Rapids: W. B. Eerdmans, 1977);Google ScholarKetter, P., Hebräerbrief, Jakobusbrief, Petrusbriefe, Judasbrief (Herders Bibel Kommentar 16/1; Freiburg: Herder, 1950)Google Scholar; Michel, O., Der Brief an die Hebräer (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1955)Google Scholar; Moffatt, J., A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews (ICC; New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1924)Google Scholar; Montefiore, H. W., The Epistle to the Hebrews (London: Adam & Charles, 1964)Google Scholar; Peake, A. S., Hebrews (Edinburgh: T. C. & E. C. JackGoogle Scholar, n.d.); Purdy, A. C., ’The Epistle to the Hebrews’, The Interpreter's Bible (vol. 11; New York and Nashville: Abingdon, 1955)Google Scholar; Robinson, T. H., The Epistle to the Hebrews (MNTC; London and Stoughton, 1933)Google Scholar; Weiss, B., Der Brief an die Hebräer (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1897)Google Scholar; Westcott, B. F., The Epistle to the Hebrews (3rd ed.; London: Macmillan, 1928)Google Scholar; Wickham, E. C., The Epistle to the Hebrews (London: Methuen, 1910)Google Scholar;Windisch, H., Der Hebräerbrief (HNT 14; 2nd rev. ed.; Tübingen: J. C. B. Mohr [Paul Siebeck], 1931).Google Scholar

¹⁵ F. F. Bruce, The Epistle to the Hebrews (NICNT; Grand Rapids: W. B. Eerdmans, 1967) 56Google Scholar and n. 10, 57 n. 15.

¹⁶ Ibid., 56.

¹⁷ Steward imagery may also underlie Matt 16.19. See the discussion of Achard, R. Martin, ‘L'oracle contre Shebâ et le pouvoir des clefs, Es. 22,15–25’, TZ 24 (1968) 253–4.Google Scholar

¹⁸ Compare ἐ`πὶ το`ν οικον αὺτον ‘over his house’ (Heb 3.6) with ἐ`πὶ ο`λι´γα ‘over few things’ and ἐ`πὶ πολλω^ν ‘over many things’ (Matt 25.21, 23); with a different preposition, ἐ`πάνω δἐ´κα πο´λἐων ‘over ten cities’ (Luke 19.17).

¹⁹ Greek οικος τον θἐον ‘house(hold) of God’ occurs in Heb 3.6 (by implication), 10.21; 1 Tim 3.15; and 1 Pet 4.17. In Mk 2.26, the phrase refers to the tabernacle at Nob. In 1 Pet 2.5 note the expression οικοlσ πνἐἐυματικο´σ ‘spiritual house’. Some commentators see a reference in these verses to the church as the spiritual temple. This is a possible interpretation but not always a necessary one. For discussion, see McKelvey, R. J., The New Temple: The Church in the New Testament (Oxford: Oxford University, 1969) 132–5Google Scholar. At least it can be said that the phrase ι´ἐρἐ´α μἐ´γαν το`ν οικομ ι$$$ν Θἐον ‘a great priest over the house of God’ in Heb 10.21 does not support this interpretation, inasmuch as this expression is a mixed metaphor – the priest is never described in the Bible as being over the temple.

²⁰ Tg. Onq. Num 12.7 substitutes ‘ ‘my people’ for ‘’ ‘my house’. Tg. Ps.-J. Num 12.7 reads ‘ ‘in all the house of Israel, my people’.

²¹ D'Angelo, , Moses, 98–9.Google Scholar

²² Swetnam, ‘Form and Content’, 376.

²³ Here the ‘steward/household’ metaphor is used to express Christ's authority over the Christian community. Elsewhere in the NT the ‘head/body’ metaphor is used, especially in Pauline literature.