Verse 34
Quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, waxed mighty in war, turned to flight armies of aliens.
Although the great heroes who achieved the remarkable things mentioned in this list are left anonymous in this reference to them, a familiarity with the Old Testament reveals the identity of many of them. Thus, it was Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (Daniel 1-2) who through faith quenched the power of fire. Their faith was so strong that although they confessed that God might not choose to deliver them, they nevertheless refused to worship the king's image, knowing they would certainly be thrown into the fiery furnace. Of those who escaped the edge of the sword must be reckoned Elijah (1 Kings 19:2ff), Elisha (2 Kings 6:31ff), and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 36:19,26) who escaped, in turn, the swords of Jezebel, Jehoram, and Jehoiakim. Alas, some did not escape, as Hebrews 11:37 indicates.
From weakness were made strong brings to mind the progression of Gideon from being the least in his father's house to becoming the deliverer of all Israel, and Jephthah's promotion from the status of a despised son of a harlot to that of Israel's judge, and many others.
Waxed mighty in war is a tribute to practically all the great commanders of Israel's armies who, with God's power, preserved and defended Israel throughout its long history. It was their faith in God that made the difference, enabling a hundred to chase ten thousand (Leviticus 26:8), thus turning to flight alien foes.
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