See commentary on Hebrews 3:7-11.

Hebrews 3:9

_ _ When — rather, “Where,” namely, in the wilderness.

_ _ your fathers — The authority of the ancients is not conclusive [Bengel].

_ _ tempted me, proved me — The oldest manuscripts read, “tempted (Me) in the way of testing,” that is, putting (Me) to the proof whether I was able and willing to relieve them, not believing that I am so.

_ _ saw my works forty years — They saw, without being led thereby to repentance, My works of power partly in affording miraculous help, partly in executing vengeance, forty years. The “forty years” joined in the Hebrew and Septuagint, and below, Hebrews 3:17, with “I was grieved,” is here joined with “they saw.” Both are true; for, during the same forty years that they were tempting God by unbelief, notwithstanding their seeing God’s miraculous works, God was being grieved. The lesson intended to be hinted to the Hebrew Christians is, their “to-day” is to last only between the first preaching of the Gospel and Jerusalem’s impending overthrow, namely, FORTY YEARS; exactly the number of years of Israel’s sojourn in the wilderness, until the full measure of their guilt having been filled up all the rebels were overthrown.