Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Hebrews 11:34
Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
34. quenched the violence of fire ] Dan 3:25; 1Ma 2:59 .
escaped the edge of the sword ] David ( 1Sa 18:11 ; 1Sa 19:10, &c.), Elijah (1Ki 19:2), Elisha (2Ki 6:12-17; Jer 26:24, &c.).
out of weakness were made strong ] Hezekiah (2Ki 20:5), Samson (Jdg 15:15; Jdg 16:28-30), David (1Sa 17:42; 1Sa 17:51, &c.).
turned to flight the armies of the aliens ] This and the previous clause may refer specially to the Maccabees, though they also suit Joshua, the Judges, David, &c. The word used for “armies” ( parembolas) is the word used for “camp” in Heb 13:11; Heb 13:13; Rev 20:9. It has both senses in the LXX. (Jdg 4:16). The classic verb for “drove back” is found here only in the N.T. ( klino).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Quenched the violence of fire – As Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did; Dan 3:15-26. Escaped the edge of the sword. As Elijah did when he fled from Ahab, 1Ki 19:3; as Elijah did when he was delivered from the king of Syria, 2Ki 6:16; and as David did when he fled from Saul.
Out of weakness were made strong – Enabled to perform exploits beyond their natural strength, or raised up from a state of physical infirmity, and invigorated for conflict. Such a case as that of Samson may be referred to, Jdg 15:15; Jdg 16:26-30; or as that of Hezekiah, 2 Kings 20 who was restored from dangerous sickness by the immediate interposition of God; see the notes on Isa. 38.
Waxed valiant in fight – Became valiant. Like Joshua. Barak, David, etc. The books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings supply instances of this in abundance.
Turned to flight the armies of the aliens – The foreigners – as the invading Philistines, Ammonites, Moabites, Assyrians, etc.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 34. Quenched the violence of fire] As in the case of the three faithful Hebrews, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who, for their steady attachment to God’s worship, were cast into a fiery furnace, in which they were preserved, and from which they escaped unhurt. Dan. 3.
Escaped the edge of the sword] Moses, who escaped the sword of Pharaoh, Ex 18:4; Elijah, that of Jezebel; and David, that of Saul: and many others.
Out of weakness were made strong] Were miraculously restored from sickness, which seemed to threaten their life; as Hezekiah, Isa 38:21.
Waxed valiant in fight] Like Gideon, who overthrew the camp of the Midianites, and Jonathan, that of the Philistines, in such a way as must have proved that God was with them.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Quenched the violence of fire: by the same faith others of the prophets, Heb 11:32, eminently acquainted with God, and partakers of his secret, who defying idolatry, and the threatenings of a tyrant, became confessors of the true God and his worship, and were adjudged to the fiery furnace, Dan 3:19,23, and by faith were secured from being consumed by those flames, which in an instant destroyed those which threw them in, Heb 11:22-28. How did this fetch down the Son of God himself to accompany them, and to suspend the consuming power of the fire, so as it did not singe either their persons or garments, or to leave any scent of it upon them! And how did Mosess and Aarons prayers extinguish the fire at Kibroth-hattaavah, and at Taberah! Num 11:1,3; 16:22-45.
Escaped the edge of the sword: by faith these worthies, forementioned, Heb 11:32, were delivered, when others fell by the devouring sword, and all those instruments of war which were destructive to others. Their enemies fell by their swords in those many battles wherein they were engaged, fulfilling at that time Gods will, and trusting on his promise. And how many of the prophets hath God delivered from the swords of those who would have killed them!
Out of weakness were made strong; by faith many of those who had really natural infirmities, both of body and mind, had their tremblings and faintings of spirit, and were, in respect of their enemies, weak, few in number, short of them, as to force, power, and policy, yet by faith in God were made bold as lions, and had wonderful success against numerous and potent enemies, Jdg 4:8; 6:15,16; 7:5,7,10; Jdg 11:29; 15:11,19; 1Sa 7:9,10, &c.
Waxed valiant in fight; faith made those who were called to the war by God, mighty for that service, 2Sa 22:30-38, so as no perils could daunt them, no service was too hard for them. How victorious in the most desperate attempts, as to sense, did faith make them! Psa 27:1,3.
Turned to flight the armies of the aliens; they overthrew the camps of adversaries. notes a single castle or tower, Act 21:34, or a whole camp or place where an army is pitched, Heb 13:11,13; in the plural, many such tents where soldiers lie; and is metonymically read armies. , actively taken, is to make to lie down, or to throw down, as applied to tents and camps; to put to flight, as applied to armies; all which were those of the idolatrous enemies of the church, strangers to their country, and more to their God, as the army and camp of Midian, Jdg 7:13-23, which were overturned, routed, and destroyed by them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
34. Quenched the violence of fire(Da 3:27). Not merely “quenchedthe fire,” but “quenched the power (so the Greek) ofthe fire.” Dan 3:19-30;Dan 6:12-23 record the lastmiracles of the Old Testament. So the martyrs of the Reformation,though not escaping the fire, were delivered from its havingpower really or lastingly to hurt them.
escaped . . . swordSoJephthah (Jud 12:3); and soDavid escaped Saul’s sword (1Sa 18:11;1Sa 19:10; 1Sa 19:12);Elijah (1Ki 19:1; 2Ki 6:14).
out of weakness . . . madestrongSamson (Jdg 16:28;Jdg 15:19). Hezekiah (Isa37:1-38:22). MILTONsays of the martyrs, “They shook the powers of darkness with theirresistible power of weakness.”
valiant in fightBarak(Jdg 4:14; Jdg 4:15).And the Maccabees, the sons of Matthias, Judas, Jonathan, and Simon,who delivered the Jews from their cruel oppressor, Antiochus ofSyria.
armiesliterally,”camps” referring to Jud7:21. But the reference may be to the Maccabees having put toflight the Syrians and other foes.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Quenched the violence of fire,…. Which may be said to be done, when a believer, or a righteous man, is delivered out of it, as Lot from Sodom, when God rained fire and brimstone on it; when, by prayer, it is stopped, as by Moses, at Taberah, Nu 11:1 when persons are not hurt by it, as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, when cast into Nebuchadrezzar’s fiery furnace; and many of the martyrs have triumphed in the flames: so believers are delivered out of the fire of afflictions, and are not consumed thereby; and quench the fiery darts of Satan, thrown at them; and are untouched by the fire of God’s wrath, in every state and case; and shall not be hurt of the second death, which is a lake of fire, burning with brimstone.
Escaped the edge of the sword; and were not destroyed by it; as Lot, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, the Judges, David, Elijah, Elisha, and others.
Out of weakness were made strong; being recovered from bodily diseases, as David, Hezekiah, c. by an increase of bodily strength, as Samson by being filled with courage, and strength of mind; when before timorous, as Barak, c. so believers, when they have been weak in the exercise of grace, have been made strong:
waxed valiant in fight as Barak, Gideon, David, c. so believers, in the spiritual fight of faith, have waxed valiant being engaged in a good cause, and under a good Captain; being well provided with armour, and assured of victory, and a crown.
Turned to fight the armies of the aliens: such as the Canaanites, the Moabites, Ammonites, Philistines, and others; who were put to flight by Joshua, the Judges, David, and others.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Quenched the power of fire ( ). First aorist active indicative of (Mt 12:20). See Da 3:19-28.
Escaped the edge of the sword ( ). Second aorist active indicative of , old verb to flee. “Mouths () of the sword” (Lu 21:24). See 1Sam 18:11; 1Kgs 19:2.
Were made strong (). First aorist passive indicative of , late verb from as in Col 1:11.
Waxed mighty in war ( ). “Became strong in battle” (Ps 18:34ff.).
Armies of aliens ( ). Late compound (, , ) for encampment (Polybius, Plutarch), barracks (Acts 21:34; Acts 21:37), armies in battle line (Re 20:9 and here as in LXX and Polybius). Apparently a reference to the campaigns of Judas Maccabeus.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “Quenched the violence of fire,” esbesan dunamin puros) “Quenched (put out) the dynamic power of fire,” when the three Hebrew children refused to bow down to the statue of Nebuchadnezzar, for which they were cast into the fired-up fiery furnace, the flames of which did not hurt them, Dan 3:16-30.
2) “Escaped the edge of the sword,” (ephugonstomata machaires) “Fled the mouth-edges (cutting) of (the) sword,” of being slain, as David did twice from Saul, 1Sa 18:11-12; 1Ki 19:1-21.
3) “Out of weakness were made strong,” (edunamothesan apo astheneias) “They were empowered from weakness,” such as Samson, Hezekiah and David, who was as a shepherd lad anointed of God to be the mighty king, sweet singer of Israel, and writer and composer or compiler of the Psalms, 1Sa 16:11-13; 1Sa 17:49-58.
4) “Waxed valiant in fight,” (egenethesan ischuroi en polemo) “They became strong ones in polemics, in fight,” or in war, as Barak did with Deborah, the prophetess who went up to battle with him, Jdg 4:4-24; Jdg 5:1-31.
5) “Turned to flight the armies of the aliens,” (parembolas eklinan allotrion) “Armies (they commanded) made or caused alien armies (warriors) to retreat,” to turn back, or to flee, thinking they were being chased when no man pursued, Deu 32:30-31; Jos 23:10; 2Ki 7:5-7; 2Ki 19:6-7; 2Ki 19:35.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
34. Out of weakness were made strong, etc. Chrysostom refers this to the restoration of the Jews from exile, in which they were like men without hope; I do not disapprove of its applications to Hezekiah. We might at the same time extend it wider, that the Lord, by his hand, raised on high his saints, whenever they were cast down; and brought help to their weakness, so as to endue them with full strength.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(34) The violence.Rather, the power (Daniel 3.).
Escaped the edge of the sword.Though it would not be difficult to trace the application of this and the following clauses to the heroes of Israel celebrated in the Old Testament history (the perils of David and Elijah and the weakness of Samson and Hezekiah will occur to the mind of all), it seems likely that the writers thought is resting mainly on the history of the Maccaban times. That the following verse relates to narratives contained in the Second Book of Maccabees is generally acknowledged; and no words could more truly characterise the general contents of the First Book than those of the present verse.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
34. Quenched fire Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Daniel 3. Theophylact finely says, “Not quenched the fire, but, what is greater, the power of the fire.” The fire was allowed to blaze, but not allowed to burn.
Strong weakness As females enabled to do exploits, Deborah and Esther; Hezekiah, after his sickness; the whole nation in its weakness, at the return from captivity.
Valiant in fight Observing a general chronological order, our writer evidently comes down to the age of the Maccabees.
Armies Literally, camps.
Aliens Foreigners.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Heb 11:34. Out of weakness were made strong, Weakness is a general word, which implies sickness and ill habit of body, or want of power and strength to resist a superior force. If the former of these be intended, Hezekiah may be the person particularly in view. If it signifies, as it naturally may, an inability to resist enemies, through a smallness of power, (as when a few have been attacked by much superior numbers, or small armies have engaged and been enabled to overcome greater forces,) we have instances in Joshua 11; Judges 4, 7. The last expression is not a very usual one:turned to flight the encampments of strangers: the meaning is, “They have attacked armies encamped, and have put them to flight.” Probably the allusion is to Jonathan’s attacking the Philistines’ garrison, 1Sa 14:13-15 and to Gideon’s attacking the camp of the Midianites, Jdg 7:19. See also 2Sa 5:9-25.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Heb 11:34 . ] Quenched the violence of fire (fire’s violence). Theophylact: , . To be compared is the statement with regard to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the three companions of Daniel, Dan 3 . Comp. 1Ma 2:59 : , , .
] escaped the sword-points ; e.g. David , comp. 1Sa 18:11 ; 1Sa 19:10 ; 1Sa 19:12 ; 1Sa 21:10 ; Elijah , comp. 1Ki 19:1 ff.; Elisha , comp. 2Ki 6:14 ff., 2Ki 6:31 ff.
] out of weakness were made strong . These words Chrysostom, Theodoret, Oecumenius, and Theophylact refer to the strengthening of the whole people by liberation from the Babylonian captivity ; Oecumenius, Theophylact, Calvin, Schlichting, Jac. Cappellus, Grotius, Owen, Heinrichs, Hut, Bhme, Stuart, Stein, Tholuck, Ebrard, and the majority, partly exclusively, partly, among other things, to the recovery of Hezekiah (2Ki 20 .; Isa 38 .); certainly more correct, however, Bengel, Chr. Fr. Schmid, Storr, Bleek, de Wette, Hofmann, to the reinvigoration of the weakened Samson (Jdg 16:28 ff.).
] waxed valiant in battle . Theodoret . That the author was thinking of the Maccabees also, in particular, in addition to the judges and David, is certainly very probable.
] Made armies of aliens flinch or give way. Theodoret: .
, as , in the signification of army; likewise Jdg 4:16 ; Jdg 7:14 ; 1Ma 5:28 ; 1Ma 5:45 , and frequently. With the Greeks this signification of the word is rare; comp., however, Aelian, Var. Hist. 14:46: , .
, in the sense indicated, is found in Holy Scripture only here.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Ver. 34. Escaped the edge of the sword ] As David by the force of his faith escaped Saul’s sword, Elijah Ahab’s, Elisha the Syrians’, 2Ki 6:8-23 , and various of God’s hidden ones at this day have escaped by a strange providence, when studiously sought after as sheep to the slaughter. See the Prefatory Epistle to Mr Shaw’s Sermon.
Out of weakness were made strong ] And here their strength was to sit still, as theirs was, Isa 30:7 . They thought their strength had been in the help of Egypt; but the prophet tells them, whatsoever strength they expect from Egypt they shall have it here. Your Egypt “is to sit still” (so the words may be read); by sitting still you shall have an Egypt; whatsoever help you might think to have that way, you shall have it this way.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
34 .] quenched the power of fire (so the three companions of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Dan 3 . Thl. says, , , . It is said of them, 1Ma 2:59 , that they . Delitzsch reminds us that one of the two martyrs at Brussels, Henry Voes and Joh. Esche, when the flames of the faggots rose round him, said, that it felt to him as if they were strewing roses under him), escaped the edge ( , plur., because the Writer has various examples in mind) of the sword (e. g. David from Saul, 1Sa 18:11 ; 1Sa 19:10 ; 1Sa 19:12 ; 1Sa 21:10 ; Elijah, 1Ki 19:1 ff. Elisha, 2Ki 6:14 ff., 2Ki 6:31 ff.: Jeremiah, Baruch, Jer 36:26 ; Ebedmelech, Jer 38:8 ff., compared with Jer 39:18 ), were made strong out of weakness (so Samson, after his hair grew, Jdg 16:28 ff.: David, who ends so many of his plaintive psalms with jubilant thanksgiving: Hezekiah, who after deadly sickness was restored to fifteen years of health, 2Ki 20 ; Isa 38 [see also ref. Judg., of Gideon]. The ancient expositors refer the words, not so probably, to the strengthening of Israel after the return from the captivity: so Chrys., , , . ), were made (see note on ch. Heb 4:3 ) strong in war (Thdrt. says, , , . It is not improbable that these later glories of the faith were also before the Writer’s mind: they unquestionably are in the next verse), put to flight (the classical usage: so II. . 37, : Il. . 510: Od. . 59) armies ( , which occurs in ch. 13 (reff.) in its usual sense of a camp , is not unfrequently used in Hellenistic Greek for the army which is in the camp: see reff., and add lian, Var. Hist. xiv. 46, ) of aliens (see reff. The word is common in the LXX, of Gentiles, aliens from God’s people. The reference of the fact may be general, to many who have preceded: but I should rather regard it as describing the Maccaban victories. Delitzsch would understand all from , of those times: the escape of Mattathias and his sons into the mountains, the increase and success of the little band that strengthened itself in God, the first victories of Judas Maccabus over Apollonius, Seron, and others, the formal and victorious war of the Asmonan heroes with the Syrians and neighbouring people. “That the Writer,” he continues, “should recognize these as illustrious deeds of faith, is no wonder. In our times indeed it is the custom to represent the mighty revival of the Maccaban period rather as human than divine, rather as patriotic and popular than theocratic and national: but the book of Daniel shews us, in prophetic delineation of that time, the holy people of the Most High, conflicting with the atheistic and antichristian prince of this world, and ascribes to this conflict the highest imaginable importance in reference to the sacred history. Therefore I hold that the clauses from pass beyond , and over the book of Daniel to the first of Maccabees, which in the LXX is attached to it: which indeed is generally acknowledged with regard to the two last clauses, and is the more certain because ( ), both in the sense of a camp , and in that of an army in order of battle, is one of the favourite words in 1 Macc., and (as well as ) occurs there, as the translation of or : e. g. i. 38; ii. 7: cf. xv. 33.” And perhaps after all, this may be the true view).
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
violence = strength, Heb 11:11. See Dan 3:27.
edge = mouth. A Hebraism; occurs over thirty times in the O.T. Compare Luk 21:24. See Jos 6:21. 2Ki 10:25; &c.
out of. Greek. apo. App-104.
made strong. Greek. endunamoo. Compare Exo 4:10-16. Isaiah 6. Jer 1:6-10.
waxed, &c. = became mighty in battle.
turned . . . armies = overturned the camps.
aliens. Same as strange, Heb 11:9.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
34.] quenched the power of fire (so the three companions of Daniel,-Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Daniel 3. Thl. says, , , . It is said of them, 1Ma 2:59, that they . Delitzsch reminds us that one of the two martyrs at Brussels, Henry Voes and Joh. Esche, when the flames of the faggots rose round him, said, that it felt to him as if they were strewing roses under him), escaped the edge (, plur., because the Writer has various examples in mind) of the sword (e. g. David from Saul, 1Sa 18:11; 1Sa 19:10; 1Sa 19:12; 1Sa 21:10; Elijah, 1Ki 19:1 ff. Elisha, 2Ki 6:14 ff., 2Ki 6:31 ff.: Jeremiah, Baruch, Jer 36:26; Ebedmelech, Jer 38:8 ff., compared with Jer 39:18), were made strong out of weakness (so Samson, after his hair grew, Jdg 16:28 ff.: David, who ends so many of his plaintive psalms with jubilant thanksgiving: Hezekiah, who after deadly sickness was restored to fifteen years of health, 2 Kings 20; Isaiah 38 [see also ref. Judg., of Gideon]. The ancient expositors refer the words, not so probably, to the strengthening of Israel after the return from the captivity: so Chrys., , , . ), were made (see note on ch. Heb 4:3) strong in war (Thdrt. says, , , . It is not improbable that these later glories of the faith were also before the Writers mind: they unquestionably are in the next verse), put to flight (the classical usage: so II. . 37, : Il. . 510: Od. . 59) armies (, which occurs in ch. 13 (reff.) in its usual sense of a camp, is not unfrequently used in Hellenistic Greek for the army which is in the camp: see reff., and add lian, Var. Hist. xiv. 46, ) of aliens (see reff. The word is common in the LXX, of Gentiles, aliens from Gods people. The reference of the fact may be general, to many who have preceded: but I should rather regard it as describing the Maccaban victories. Delitzsch would understand all from , of those times: the escape of Mattathias and his sons into the mountains, the increase and success of the little band that strengthened itself in God, the first victories of Judas Maccabus over Apollonius, Seron, and others, the formal and victorious war of the Asmonan heroes with the Syrians and neighbouring people. That the Writer, he continues, should recognize these as illustrious deeds of faith, is no wonder. In our times indeed it is the custom to represent the mighty revival of the Maccaban period rather as human than divine, rather as patriotic and popular than theocratic and national: but the book of Daniel shews us, in prophetic delineation of that time, the holy people of the Most High, conflicting with the atheistic and antichristian prince of this world, and ascribes to this conflict the highest imaginable importance in reference to the sacred history. Therefore I hold that the clauses from pass beyond , and over the book of Daniel to the first of Maccabees, which in the LXX is attached to it: which indeed is generally acknowledged with regard to the two last clauses, and is the more certain because (), both in the sense of a camp, and in that of an army in order of battle, is one of the favourite words in 1 Macc., and (as well as ) occurs there, as the translation of or : e. g. i. 38; ii. 7: cf. xv. 33. And perhaps after all, this may be the true view).
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Heb 11:34. , drove back) by putting the enemy to flight, and by their slaughter of one another.-, of aliens) i.e. of enemies.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
, , , . , .
Heb 11:34-35. Quenched the violence [the power] of fire; escaped [fled from] the edge [edges] of the sword; out of weakness were made strong; waxed [were made] valiant [powerful, strong] in fight; turned to flight the armies of the aliens, [or, overthrew the tents or camps of the aliens.] Women received their dead [by a resurrection] raised to life again.
Six more instances of the power of faith are added unto those foregoing; and these taken from things of all sorts, to let us know that there is nothing of any kind whatever, wherein we may be concerned, but that faith will be useful and helpful in it.
1. The first instance is, that they quenched the violence of fire. He doth not say they quenched the fire, which may be done by natural means; but they took off, abated, restrained the power of fire, as if the fire itself had been utterly quenched. This, therefore, belongs unto the three companions of Daniel, who were cast into the burning fiery furnace, Dan 3:23. The fire continued still, and had its burning power in it, for it slew the men that cast them into the furnace; but by faith they quenched or restrained the power and violence of it towards themselves, so as that not an hair of their head was singed, Heb 11:27.
And the faith of these men was considerable, in that it did not, consist in an assurance that they should be so miraculously delivered, but only in committing themselves unto the omnipotency and sovereignty of God in the discharge of their duty; as it is declared, Heb 11:16-18. A resolution to perform their duty, whatever was the event, committing the disposal of themselves unto the sovereignty of God, with a full persuasion of his power to do whatever he pleased, and that he would do whatever was for his own glory, was the faith whereby they quenched the violence of fire. And, As this faith is imitable in us (for though a miracle ensued on it, yet was it not the faith of miracles), so it will never fail of those blessed effects which tend unto the glory of God and good of the church.
2. They escaped the edge of the sword; the edges of it, swords with two edges. In the Greek it is, the mouths of the sword; from the Hebrew, : and a two-edged sword they call a sword of mouths; as in the Greek , Heb 4:12. They escaped: Vulg. Lat., effugaverunt, by an escape, for effugerunt. The way of their escape from death, when in danger of it by the sword, is intimated, namely, by flight from the danger; wherein God was present with them for their deliverance and preservation. So was it frequently with David when he fled from the sword of Saul, which was at his throat several times, and he escaped by flight; wherein God was with him. So did Elijah, when he was threatened to be slain by Jezebel, 1Ki 19:3.
Now, this should seem rather to be the effect of fear than of faith; however, it had good success. But,
Obs. 1. It is the wisdom and duty of faith to apply itself unto all lawful ways and means of deliverance from danger. Not to use means, when God affords them unto us, is not to trust in him, but to tempt him. Fear will be in all cases of danger, and yet faith may have the principal conduct of the soul. And a victory is sometimes obtained by flight.
3. Some of them out of weakness were made strong. is any kind of weakness or infirmity, moral or corporeal. In each of these senses it is used in the Scripture; to be without or to want strength in any kind. Frequently it is applied to bodily distempers, Luk 13:11-12; Joh 5:5; Joh 11:4; Act 28:9. And so it is here used. For the conjecture of Chrysostom and others of the Greek scholiasts, that respect is had herein unto the Jews in the Babylonish captivity, who were weakened therein, and afterwards restored unto strength and power, hath no probability in it. They are the words in Isaiah that the apostle doth almost express: The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness, Isa 38:9. For this was through faith, as is evident in the story, and was in part miraculous.
Obs. 2. We ought to exercise faith about temporal mercies; as they are ofttimes received by it, and given in on the account of it. In the miraculous cure of many diseases by our Savior himself, there was a concurrence of the faith of them that were healed: Thy faith hath made thee whole.
4. Some of them through faith waxed, were made valiant, strong in fight, or battle. As this may be applied unto many of them, as Joshua, Barak, Gideon, Jephthah, so David affirms of himself, that God taught his hands to war, so as that a bow of steel was broken by his arms; and, that he did gird him with strength unto battle, Psa 18:34; Psa 18:39; the same thing which is here affirmed.
5. Of the same kind is that which followeth: they turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Erasmus renders these words, incursiones averterunt exterorum, they turned away the incursions of the aliens; mistaking both the words, as many have observed. are the camps, the fortified tents of an army: but the word is used for an army itself; as Gen 32:7; 1Sa 4:16; a host encamped, like that of the Midianites when Gideon went down unto it, Jdg 7:10. And his overthrow of that host is here principally intended; for so it was signified in the dream, that the tents should be smitten and overturned, verse 13. But because the apostle useth the word in the plural number, it compriseth other enterprises of the like nature, as that of Barak, and of Jonathan against the Philistines, with the victories of Asa and Jehoshaphat; in all which there was an eminent exercise of faith, as the stories of them declare. And these aliens were those whom the Scripture calls ; that is, not only foreigners, but strangers from and enemies unto the church of God. And where this defense against foreign invasions is neglected, there can be no assured ground of security or deliverance, whatever the success may be.
6. It is added, Women received their dead raised to life again. These women were the widow of Zarephath, whose son Elijah raised from death, 1Ki 17:22-24; and the Shunammite, whose son was raised by Elisha, 2Ki 4:36. And it is said of them, that they received their children from the dead; for in both places the prophets, having raised them from the dead, gave them into their mothersarms; who received them with joy and thankfulness. Their faith is not expressed; but respect is rather had unto the faith of the prophets, who obtained this miraculous operation by faith. However, at least one of them, namely, the Shunammite, seems to have exercised much faith in the whole matter. And it is said, they received their dead, their children which had been dead, , out of or by a resurrection.
These ten instances did the apostle choose out to give of the great things that had been done through faith, to assure the Hebrews, and us with them, that there isnothing too hard or difficult for faith to effect, when it is set on work and applied according to the mind of God.
Fuente: An Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews
Quenched: Psa 66:12, Isa 43:2, Dan 3:19-28, 1Pe 4:12
escaped: 1Sa 20:1, 2Sa 21:16, 2Sa 21:17, 1Ki 19:3, 2Ki 6:16-18, 2Ki 6:32, Job 5:20, Psa 144:10, Jer 26:24
out of: Jdg 7:19-25, Jdg 8:4-10, Jdg 15:14-20, Jdg 16:19-30, 2Ki 20:7-11, Job 42:10, Psa 6:8, 2Co 12:9, 2Co 12:10
turned: 1Sa 14:13-15, 1Sa 17:51, 1Sa 17:52, 2Sa 8:1-18, 2Ch 14:11-14, 2Ch 16:1-9, 2Ch 20:6-25, 2Ch 32:20-22
Reciprocal: Jdg 6:14 – Go in 1Sa 2:4 – stumbled 1Sa 17:45 – in the name 2Sa 17:10 – thy father 1Ki 13:28 – the lion had Isa 40:29 – General Dan 3:27 – upon Dan 11:33 – yet Amo 5:9 – strengtheneth Zec 12:8 – he Act 13:46 – waxed Eph 2:12 – aliens Eph 3:16 – to be Col 1:11 – unto
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Heb 11:34. Quenched the violence of fire occurred when the three companions of Daniel were cast into the fiery furnace (Daniel 3). Escaped the edge of the sword. Instances of this are too numerous to mention all, but a notable one is in 1 Samuel 20. Out of weakness were made strong. An outstanding instance was that of Samson in Jdg 16:2 S-30. where his strength was given back to him because of his returning faith and dependence upon God. Waxed valiant means the servants of God were strong and brave in their contests with the enemies of God. The unassisted strength of man is a failure when faced with the might of worldly hosts, but God rewards his faithful servants with victory when the attack is made. Aliens refers to those of another nation. Gideon routed the Midi-anites in connection with his war cry, “The sword of the Lord and Gideon” (Jdg 7:20-23).
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Heb 11:34. Quenched the power of fire (not the fire, which still burnt, but the power of it); true of Shadrach and his companions.
Escaped the edge of the sword, as in the case of Elijah (1Ki 19:1, etc.), Elisha (2Ki 6:14, etc.), Jeremiah (Jer 36:26, etc.).
Out of weakness were made strong, as in the case of Samson (Jdg 16:28, etc.), and David, whose most plaintive Psalms end often in thanksgiving.
Waxed (became) mighty in wartrue of many heroic men under the judges and during the monarchy.
Turned to flight the armies of the aliensa word used in the Septuagint of the Gentilestrue of Gideon and the Midianites, and of Jonathan and the Philistines. It is probable, however, that these last clauses, without excluding those older deeds of faith, refer mainly to the later history of Israel after the close of the Old Testament canon. They find a striking fulfilment in the Maccabaean age. It is certain that some of the sufferings spoken of in the next group of verses are found only in that age; and the expressions of Heb 11:34 seem taken from the First Book of the Maccabees (compare 1Ma 3:3; 1Ma 1:38; 1Ma 2:7, etc.). No doubt the faith of these later heroes was sometimes of a lower type, rather patriotic than theocratic, the result of a noble enthusiasm as much as of trust in the living God; but in other cases it was true and Divine; while the struggles between the holy and atheistic nations, which the book describes, seem referred to in the Book of Daniel as of the deepest interest.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 34
The aliens; the idolatrous tribes of Canaan.