Romans 9:31

which followed Lit. following; and so better.

the law of righteousness Not simply "righteousness," as in Romans 9:30; because Israel had, what the Gentiles had not, the detailed revealed precepts. These precepts they "followed after," i.e. strove to keep as a covenant of salvation. For this very reason they "did not attain to" them, i.e. they failed to reach the true use of the Law its revelation of God's will to be followed by His reconciled children, His people justified by faith. "Of righteousness:" this phrase may, as often, be explained to mean "connected with righteousness." So the Law isconnected, whether it condemns, acquits, or guides. Israel "followed after it" as an acquittingLaw, in vain; and so failed to "attain to it" as a Law guidingin the path of peace. They strove by it to make themselves just, and so failed to walk by it as the justified.

hath not attained Better (as in Romans 9:30) did not attain. Their whole history of effort and failure is summed up in one idea, and viewed as all past, (though numberless Jews were, and are, still making the same attempts,) because St Paul's thought is fixed on the crisisof the calling of the Gentiles, after which the case of Israel took a new aspect in practice.