Hebrews 11:30-37

Those Who Overcame by Faith

It is by faith that the walls of Jericho fell (Joshua 6:1-21). Only faith that obedience of Jehovah and his servant would work could have destroyed such a city in such a way. They showed faith by obeying God and believing He would keep His promise. Because she believed in God's power and hid the spies (Joshua 2:1-21), Rahab was not destroyed along with the city of Jericho. She became the wife of Salmon and bore a son named Boaz, both of whom are included in the Messianic line (Hebrews 11:30-31; Matthew 1:5).

The writer then explained he could go on but would stop for lack of time. He then listed several men of faith who would be familiar to his readers (Judges 6:11-18; 4:1-5; 13:1-16; 31; 1 Samuel 16:1 - 1 Kings 2:12; 1 Samuel 1:1-7). Through faith Barak conquered the Canaanites (Ruth 4:4-24), Gideon defeated the Midianites (Ruth 7:1-23), Jephthah subdued the Ammonites (Ruth 11:1-33), and Samson slew the Philistines (Ruth 13:24-25; Ruth 14:1-20; Ruth 15:1-20; Ruth 16:1-31). Fudge says Samuel and David both "wrought righteousness by the public administration of divine justice." (2 Samuel 8:15; Psalms 101:1-8). Canaan was received because of faith (Joshua 21:43-45; 1 Kings 8:56.) The lions mouths were stopped because of Daniel's faith (Daniel 6:1-28).

Fire's violence was quenched for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3:1-30.) Elijah "escaped the edge of the sword” (1 Kings 19:1-21), as did Elisha and Jeremiah (2 Kings 6:1-33; Jeremiah 36:1-32). Gideon would fit the remainder of the descriptions (Hebrews 11:32-34). Fudge notes the case of the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:17 ff.), the Shunamite woman (2 Kings 4:17 ff.), and Eleazar, the scribe of 2 Maccabees 6:18-31, as some of the characters referred to in Hebrews 11:35. These could have escaped the pain and suffering they endured had they been willing to deny God. Instead, they chose to suffer and be raised to a heavenly home later. Some of the hardships they had to endure are listed in verse 36. This could have been an encouragement for people who were also to face times of trial. Milligan mentions the mockings of Samson (Ruth 16:25) and the beatings, bonds, and imprisonment of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20:2; Jeremiah 20:7; Jeremiah 32:2-3). He then went on to site 2 Chronicles 24:20-22; the works of Josephus; Jeremiah 26:23; 1 Kings 17:3-9; 1 Kings 19:3-14; and other accounts of the prophets' lives to show some of the other things described by the writer (Hebrews 11:37).