eds and sang their paean
in faith.[295] Gideon put the Midianites to flight by faith; for he knew
that his sword was the sword of the Lord,[296] Jephthah was a man of
faith; for he vowed a vow unto the Lord, and would not go back.[297]
Samson had faith; for he was a Nazarite to God from his mother's womb,
and in his last extremity called unto the Lord and prayed.[298]

The Apostle does not name Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, and the rest. The
Spirit of the Lord came upon them also. They too were mighty through
God. But the narrative does not tell us that they prayed, or that their
soul consciously and believingly responded to the voice of Heaven.
Alaric, while on his march towards Rome, said to a holy monk, who
entreated him to spare the city, that he did not go of his own will, but
that One was continually urging him forward to take it.[299] Many are
the scourges of God that know not the hand that wields them.

Individuals "through faith subdued kingdoms."[300] Gideon dispersed the
Midianites;[301] Barak discomfited Sisera, the captain of Jabin king of
Canaan's host; Jephthah smote the Ammonites;[302] David held the
Philistines in check,[303] measured Moab with a line,[304] and put
garrisons in Syria of Damascus. Samuel "wrought righteousness," and
taught the people the good and the right way.[305] David "obtained the
fulfilment of God's promises:" his house was blessed that it should
continue for ever before God.[306] Daniel's faith stopped the mouths of
lions.[307] The faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego trusted in God,
and quenched the power of the fire, without extinguishing its
flame.[308] Elijah escaped the edge of Ahab's sword.[309] Elisha's faith
saw the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire round about
him.[310] Hezekiah "from weakness was made strong."[311] The Maccabaean
princes waxed mighty in war and turned to flight armies of aliens.[312]
The widow of Zarephath[313] and the Shunammite[314] received their dead
back into their embrace in consequence of[315] a resurrection wrought by
the faith of the prophets. Others refused deliverance, gladly accepting
the alternative to unfaithfulness, to be beaten to death, that they
might be accounted worthy[316] to attain the better world and the
resurrection, not _of_, but _from_, the dead, which is the resurrection
to eternal life. Such a man was the aged Eleazar in the time of the
Maccabees.[317] Zechariah was stoned to death at the commandment of
Joash the ki