John Calvin Commentary Hebrews 11:32

"And what shall I more say? for the time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah; of David and Samuel and the prophets:" — Hebrews 11:32 (ASV)

And what shall I say more? etc. Since it was to be feared that by referring to only a few examples, he might appear to confine the praises of faith to a few men, he anticipates this and says that there would be no end if he were to dwell on every instance, for what he had said of a few extended to the whole Church of God.

He first refers to the time that intervened between Joshua and David, when the Lord raised up judges to govern the people; and such were the four he now mentions: Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah.

It seemed indeed strange that Gideon, with three hundred men, would attack an immense host of enemies, and that shaking pitchers appeared like a sham alarm. Barak was far inferior to his enemies and was guided only by the counsel of a woman. Samson was a mere countryman and had never used any arms other than farming tools. What could he do against such proven conquerors, by whose power the whole people had been subdued? Who would not at first have condemned the rashness of Jephthah, who declared himself the avenger of a people already past hope? But as they all followed the guidance of God and, being encouraged by His promise, undertook what was commanded them, they were honored with the testimony of the Holy Spirit.

Then the Apostle ascribes all that was praiseworthy in them to faith, though there was not one of them whose faith did not falter. Gideon was slower to take up arms than he should have been, nor did he venture to commit himself to God without some hesitation. Barak at first trembled, so that he was almost forced by the rebukes of Deborah. Samson, being overcome by the flatteries of a concubine, inconsiderately betrayed the safety of the whole people. Jephthah, hasty in making a foolish vow and too obstinate in performing it, marred the finest victory by the cruel death of his own daughter.

Thus, in all the saints, something reprehensible is always to be found; yet faith, though faltering and imperfect, is still approved by God. There is, therefore, no reason why the faults we struggle with should break us down or dishearten us, provided we by faith continue in the race of our calling.

Of David, etc. Under David’s name, he includes all the pious kings, and to them he adds Samuel and the Prophets. He therefore means, in short, to teach us that the kingdom of Judah was founded in faith and that it endured to the end by faith.

The many victories of David, which he had gained over his enemies, were commonly known. Known also was the uprightness of Samuel and his consummate wisdom in governing the people. Known too were the great favors conferred by God on prophets and kings. The Apostle declares that all these things ought to be ascribed to faith.

But he refers to only some of these innumerable benefits of God, so that the Jews might draw a general conclusion from them: that as the Church has always been preserved by God’s hand through faith, so today there is no other way by which we may know His kindness towards us.

It was by faith that David so many times returned home as a conqueror, that Hezekiah recovered from his sickness, that Daniel emerged safe and untouched from the lions’ den, and that his friends walked in a burning furnace as cheerfully as on a pleasant meadow.

Since all these things were done by faith, we must be convinced that God’s goodness and bounty are communicated to us in no other way than by faith.

And we should especially notice that clause where it is said that they obtained the promises by faith. For though God continues faithful, even if we were all unbelieving, yet our unbelief makes the promises void (that is, ineffectual) to us.