Hebrews 11:32

Γεδεών, Βαράκ, Σαμψών, Ἰεφθάε, Δαυείδ τε καὶ Σαμουήλ א. The MSS. vary considerably. The reading, if correct, pays no attention to chronology.

32. τί ἔτι λέγω; The sense is the same whether we regard λέγω as the indicative (comp. John 11:47), or the deliberative subjunctive.

ἐπιλείψει με … ὁ χρόνος. The future is sometimes used of a case merely conceivable, as in ἐρεῖ τις, dicat aliquis, 1 Corinthians 15:35. Comp. the Latin “longum est narrare.” The phrase is also found in Philo, De Somniis. The names of “the heroes of faith” here mentioned are drawn from the Books of Judges and Samuel, with a reference to the Books of Kings and Chronicles, and what is known of the history of the Prophets. There does not seem to be any special design in the arrangement of the pairs of names, though it is a curious circumstance that, in each pair, the hero who came earlier in time is placed after the other. In 32–34 we have instances of active, and in 35–38 of passive faith.