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Heb 11:33-34. Οἱ-ἀλλοτρίων, who-of aliens) After he had just enumerated seven Subjects, he adds nine Predicates, and the verbs weightily (forcibly) begin the clauses. For it is of David especially that those words are used, κατηγωνίσαντο βασιλείας, they subdued kingdoms; 2Sa 8:1, etc. Of Samuel, εἰργάσαντο δικαιοσύνην, they wrought righteousness; 1Sa 8:9; 1Sa 12:3, etc., 1Sa 12:23, 1Sa 15:33. Finally, of the prophets generally, ἐπέτυχον ἐπαγγελιῶν, they obtained promises: for it was to them properly speaking that this was vouchsafed, that the promises, afterwards to be fulfilled in Christ, were put forth by them: for example, Dan 9:21. Here the meaning of the phrase agrees with the word, prophets. So we say in the present day, to obtain a diploma: comp. note on Heb 11:9. It is likewise said of the prophets, ἔφραξαν στόματα λεόντων, ἔσβεσαν δύναμιν πυρὸς, they shut the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, Dan 6:22 (where the LXX. have the same phrase), Dan 3:27 : which are the last miracles mentioned in the Old Testament, and that too in the Hagiographa. And in this passage, what is ascribed to GOD and His angel in the passage quoted, is predicated of believers themselves. In short, to these examples, from which faith more manifestly shines forth, those more ancient examples are subjoined which receive evidence from them, by the figure Chiasmus (such as we find at Mat 22:46), and in retrograde order;[72] for it is said especially of Jephthah, ἔφυγον στόμα μαχαίρας, they escaped the edge of the sword, Jdg 12:3 : of Samson, ἐνεδυναμώθησαν ἀπὸ ἀσθενείας, out of weakness were made strong, Jdg 15:19; Jdg 16:28-29 : of Barak, ἐγενήθησαν ἰσχυροὶ ἐν πολέμῳ, became valiant in fight, Jdg 4:14-15 : of Gideon, παρεμβολὰς ἔκλιναν ἀλλοτρίων, turned to flight the armies (the camp) of the aliens, Jdg 7:21 : so that these four predicates, comp. Heb 11:32, correspond individually (severally, respectively) to as many subjects in retrograde order, including the gradation. Thus faith animates the greatest, nay, heroic deeds, both civil and military. Finally, observe that the authority of the earlier and later prophets is summarily approved by this group (congeries) of subjects and predicates.
[72] The critical notes [App. Crit. Ed. ii., P. iv., N. xiv., p. 918] show this order according to the following plan:-