Hebrews 11:30-34 (NKJV) By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.
32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
V30 “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.” See Joshua 6.
Why faith? It was because they obeyed Joshua who had received instructions from God (Joshua 6:2-5). Just as God predicted, it happened. All prophecy will happen exactly as God said so. He is a great King. Compare Joshua 23:14, Isaiah 44:7, and John 16:4. Faith is seen in obedience.
V31 “By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.” Rahab showed her faith by her actions. God did not have her perish because He judged her to be a believer. See Joshua 2, Joshua 6:17, and James 2:25. Faith is seen in disobedience to the king and believing God.
V32 “And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets…” Gideon had faith because he obeyed God (Judges 6-8). Barak was another Judge of Israel (Judges 5). Samson (Judges 14-16). Jephthah (Judges 11-12:7). There are other stories of faith also with King David, Prophet and judge Samuel, and the other prophets.
V33 “…who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions…” The words “who through faith” signify they believed God and God gave them strength and ability to carry out what God wanted them to do. Joshua subdued some kingdoms (in Canaan), so did King David (Edom, Ammon, and Moab). “Worked righteousness” refers to doing the right thing in God’s sight. An example of “obtaining promises” is Joshua (God promised the land of Canaan for Israel). “Stopped the mouth of lions” refers to Daniel (Daniel 6:12-22).
V34 “…quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.” “Quenched the violence of fire” refers to Daniel’s three friends (Daniel 3:19-27). “Escaped the edge of the sword” refers to, among others, David who fled from King Saul. For one example, see 1 Samuel 19:10-12. “Out of weakness were made strong” refers to examples as Gideon (fearful) and Hezekiah in Isaiah 37:2-7. “Became valiant in battle” has the examples of David & Goliath in 1 Samuel 17:37-54. “Turned to flight foreign armies” has examples in King Asa in 2 Chronicles 14:11-14.