Oecumenius

For he believed so much, he says, in what was to come, that he also adored with the staff, thinking he was seeing what was to come. For from the two sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, kings were to arise from the seed of Ephraim. Therefore, revealing the kingdom to his seed, he adored at the top of the staff of Manasseh. It is written in the book of Genesis thus: "And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years." (Gen. 47:28)And the days of Jacob's life were one hundred and forty-seven years. And the days of Israel drew near to die, and he called his son Joseph and said to him: "If I have found grace in your sight, put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; do not bury me in Egypt, but let me lie with my fathers; carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place. And he said, I will do as you have said. And he said, Swear to me. And he swore to him. And Israel bowed himself upon the head of the bed." (Gen. 47:29-31) —
By faith, Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning his bones. For he believed so much that they would come out of Egypt, that he also swore that his bones would be carried away. What then? So that always remembering the oaths of Joseph, they might see also the matters concerning the exodus. For who would have sworn that his bones would be carried away, if he did not strongly believe that they would go out?

Where he had listed righteous men who acted with faith, he also speaks about the parents of Moses, who were of no reputation. encouraging them, and almost saying: They were so obscure yet had faith, but you waver? For what reason did they hide him for three months, and this despite a royal decree that male children should be immediately killed? It is clear that they believed he would be saved. But what was the source of their faith? From the fact that the child was beautiful. For, he says, without divine grace, he would not have been such from the swaddling clothes.
“By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused.” For he did this, hoping to receive greater goods than those present. And the phrase “refused” indicates that he was determined to alienate himself."
"to enjoy the momentary pleasures of sin," He called it a sin, not to collaborate or to suffer together with the people of God: not to enjoy the benefits of this sin. Whose? So that he would not be afflicted with the sufferings of the people of God.
"greater riches than the treasures of Egypt." He did not say; he considered the greater wealth of the treasures in Egypt to be the goods laid up in heaven, but rather, showing more of his virtue, he said, "the reproach of Christ," that is, to be reproached as Christ was. "Who made you ruler over us?" (Ex. 2:14) For this is what Christ also heard, "By what authority do you do these things?" (Matt. 21:23) It is the shame of being reproached for the sake of Christ. "The rock was Christ." (1 Cor. 10:4) But he, for that rock and to give water from it (Ex. 27:1), was greatly reviled by the Jews.

"obtained promises," of the Patriarchs, namely, Elijah, David, Joshua, Caleb, and many others.
"closed the mouths of lions." Daniel, Samson.
"quenched the power of fire." The three boys, Ananias, Azarias, and Misael.
"escaped the edge of the sword," For example, Elijah, from Jezebel, and David himself, from Saul.
"were made strong out of weakness." And he speaks of those who returned from Babylonian captivity, and of Hezekiah.
"became mighty in war." Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Samson, and David. Or that they not only returned from captivity through faith but also defeated neighboring nations.
"Women received back their dead." The Shunammite through Elisha, and before that the woman of Zarephath through Elijah.
"Some were tortured." They were cut off, like James and John, and those who were beheaded. Or they died by clubs. Others say that being tortured means being flayed. It is also said about the Maccabees, "refusing to accept release." (2 Macc. 7:1) As if they did not accept to be released from the punishment that was brought upon them. Although it was possible for them, he says, to live, they did not wish to. And this was also a matter of faith, therefore he says: "so that they might rise again to a better life;" or the other people. For the resurrection is common to all, but these will rise, he says, to eternal life, and those to eternal punishment.
"Others suffered mocking," such as Elisha (2 Kings 2), those around Peter later and John.
"and even chains and imprisonment." Jeremiah and Micah. (Jer. 32:38; 1 Kings 22)
"they were stoned." He speaks about Stephen and Naboth. (Acts 7; 1 Kings 21)
"they were sawn in two." It is said about Isaiah, whom they also sawed with a wooden saw, so that the punishment would last a long time.
"they were tempted." Like Abraham (Gen. 22:1-2), Jacob, Moses, and Job. (Job 1:2)
"they were killed with the sword." Micah, John, James, and Zechariah.
"they went about in skins of sheep." Like Elijah, Elisha. This they suffered from poverty. (2 Kings 4)
"destitute." As the prophets whom Obadiah nourished. (1 King 18)
“afflicted.” Effected by evil.
"of whom the world was not worthy." This also encourages them. For if this world was not worthy of those who suffer badly for the sake of God, that is, all people and this creation itself, why do you, he says, wish to receive the rewards here for the sufferings endured for Christ? For being better than the world, do not seek anything in this world.
"wandering about in deserts." But Elijah, and the prophets whom Obadiah fed. (1 Kings 23:19) Note, however, that it does not say, "They found rest in the occupied desert," but rather that they also wandered there in fear of their persecutors.
"And all these." What, he says, do you mourn and become indignant, you who are still in the struggle, if you do not receive the rewards? Yet all those previously mentioned saints, having earned a testimony by faith that pleased God, have not yet obtained the good things promised to the righteous.
"since God had provided something better for us." How is it better? Indeed, so that they would not have anything more than we do in that they were crowned before us, He defined one time, so that we may also be crowned with them. This, however, is for us: for they sit in honor, awaiting our completion.
"that apart from us they should not be made perfect." He did not say, "They would be crowned," but rather, with greater emphasis, "they should not be made perfect," or "They would be perfected," that is, they would receive the end of goods, for which all effort and toil of one who is endowed with virtue strives.

He did not say that danger is looming over us or that we are being raised above, but, what is greater, that we are inspired.
"A cloud of witnesses." Indeed, the memory of the witnesses or martyrs stirs them to similar zeal for struggles. He called them a cloud, either from the metaphor of those who are consumed by heat and enter a refreshing cloud to receive comfort. For the memory of the martyrs comforts those who have been dissolved by the heat of temptations: or because they distribute spiritual dew to us, interceding with God on our behalf.
"laying aside every burden." Deposited with the gravity of worldly matters, and with all negligence and idleness at once.
"the sin which clings so closely." Either because it easily clings to us or because it can easily undergo fall and rejection; therefore it is said.
"run with endurance." For no one casts off the weight of worldly matters except through endurance. Furthermore, he mentions endurance as a thing most suitable for them. Consider indeed that he did not say, "Let us fight with fists," or "Let us battle," but rather, "run with endurance the race." For this present life is a race: a race, I say, against sins and desires, or against those who oppose us spiritually. Therefore, let us run in this race and act with courage.
"looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.” Then it comes to the very head of encouragement and comfort, namely Christ, and says: If we want to have patience and run rightly, let us look to Christ, and let us learn to run rightly and endure, calling Him the leader and perfecter, showing that He was the cause for our belief and will set the limit of faith, so that we may have it firm and unshakeable.
“Who for the joy set before Him.”He said, It would have been acceptable to live in this world with joy and glory: for he says, “I have the power to lay down my life and to take it up again;” (Jn. 10:18) but he did not want to, rather he willingly endured the cross.
“endured the cross.” For it was a disgraceful and accursed death inflicted by the cross.If therefore we look upon this, we too will endure, just as he endured.

"Consider him." For if one who reflects on the afflictions of the brethren finds comfort in his own afflictions, how much more will he who weighs the afflictions of the Lord.
"from sinners," for it is greater that even sinners have endured these things. However, he calls contradictions mockery, scourges, ridicules, and whatever opposed his teachings and doctrines: similarly, the shouts with which they cried out under Pilate.
"so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." For if you weigh these things in your mind, you will be hardened against afflictions, knowing that you have become imitators of God.
"you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood." In the above, he testified to them that they had struggled greatly, where he says: You have endured a great race of afflictions: therefore, lest they be exalted by this, he now says: You have not yet contended perfectly; you need something else: which is also a kind of exhortation. For he says: You have come to persecutions, to the plundering of your possessions, but not to death: yet Jesus Christ went even to death.
"In your struggle against sin." It shows that sin passionately breathes and they themselves struggle in opposition. For it says, "resisted," as if in battle, as if also resisting sin.