Hebrews 11:33 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

These, by the same gospel faith, subdued kingdoms, defeating the mighty enemies of the church; and eminently amongst them, David, who conquered Edom, Moab, Ammon, and the Syrian kingdoms, and extended his conquests to the Euphrates. This he and they did in obedience to God's call, in dependence on God's promise both of conduct and victory. All was done by God's arm at the instance of faith and prayer, Psalms 18:29-42 Psalms 20:5,9. Wrought righteousness; they were all of them eminently righteous in their persons, and in their administration of justice to others: the utmost of their abilities were laid out in it, as became righteous judges, as to all matters of God and men, Judges 6:1-40 1 Samuel 7:15,17 1 Samuel 12:2,6. Obtained promises; a real and actual possession of all those good things which God secured to them by promise; especially as to Gideon and Barak, victory and success over the Canaanites and Midianites, Judges 4:1-24 Judges 6:1-40; Samson, victory over the Philistines; David, victory over the church's enemies. All which they first obtained in the promise, and then in the execution. Faith secured all, giving a real enjoyment of all the good made theirs in the promise, and then in the event; and will give the fulness of all good in general promises made to the church and them in the end. Stopped the mouths of lions: Daniel, an eminent prophet of God, believed in him, and for his testimony to him was cast into the den of lions to be devoured, where God stops the mouths of them on his faith and prayer, and opens them to destroy their adversaries, Daniel 6:22. By the power and strength of God, both Samson and David slew those lions which would have preyed both on them and others, Judges 14:6 1 Samuel 17:34-36. Faith obtained this success for them.