Charles Spurgeon Commentary Philippians 3:5

"circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;" — Philippians 3:5 (ASV)

Of the stock of Israel,

Not an Edomite or a Samaritan, but of the stock of Israel, and of the very center of that stock.

Of the tribe of Benjamin,

Which remained with Judah, faithful, long after the ten tribes had gone aside.

An Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee,

That is, one who observed all the minutiae and details of the ceremonial law, and a good deal more—the traditions of the elders which hung like moss about the old stone of Jewish ceremonialism. Paul had observed all that.