Romans 11:2

Not cast away. Paul emphatically negates the question he has raised in v. 1.

His people. Even though Israel, as a nation, had rejected prophet after prophet and had finally sealed their rejection of the gospel by crucifying the Son of God, yet God did not reject them as individuals (see AA 375). It is true that God had forsaken Israel “as a nation” (EW 213; GC 615). “Through unbelief and the rejection of Heaven’s purpose for her, Israel as a nation had lost her connection with God” (AA 377). Nevertheless, this did not mean that God had withdrawn the possibility of salvation from those Jews who might wish to accept Christ. The message of ch. 11 is one of hope for the Jews. God is still calling after them as well as after the Gentiles. See Vol. IV, pp. 30-34; see on ch. 9:6.

Foreknew. See on ch. 8:29.

Of Elias. Literally, “in Elias,” meaning, probably, “in the passage of Scripture that contains the story of Elijah.” Or, the phrase may be rendered “by Elijah,” that is, Elijah was the speaker of the passage quoted. This latter usage can be demonstrated from rabbinical literature (see Strack and Billerbeck, Kommentar zum Neuen Testament, vol. 3, p. 288).

Maketh intercession. Gr. entugchand, “to meet with,” “to converse with,” hence, “to plead with,” “to appeal to” (see on ch. 8:26). The pleading may be for someone (ch. 8:27, 34) or against someone, as in this case.