The Heroes of Faith

Gideon

Gave God some really weird tests. Jg.6:36-40

Selected for his army the men who lapped water like a dog. (This test was proposed by God.) Jg.7:4-7

Tortured prisoners of war and civilians with thorns and briers. Jg.8:7, 16-17

Ordered his young son to kill prisoners of war, and then did it himself when his son refused. Jg.8:20-22

Made an ephod that "all of Israel ... went whoring after." Jg.8:28

Had many wives and concubines.Jg.8:29

Jephthah

Sacrificed his daughter to God as a burnt offering. Jg.11:30-39

Samson

Killed things whenever "the Spirit of the Lord" came upon him. Jg.14:6, Jg.14:19, Jg.15:14-15

Caught 300 foxes, tied their tails together, and set them on fire. Jg.15:4-5

Saw a harlot and "went in unto her." Jg.16:1

Collapsed a building and killed 3000 people. Jg.16:28-30

David

Bought his first wife with 200 Philistine foreskins. 1 Sam.18:27

Killed all Amalekite men and women. 1 Sam.27:9-11

Had many wives and concubines. 2 Sam.3:2-5, 5:13, 1 Chr.14:3

Commanded his young men to kill some guys, cut off their hands and feet, and hang their bodies up over a pool in Hebron. 2 Sam.4:12

Danced naked, or nearly naked, in front of God and everyone. 2 Sam.6:14, 20-23

Committed adultery with Bathsheba and then had her husband killed in battle. (To punish David for this, God killed the Bathsheba's son.) 2 Sam.11:2-27, 2 Sam.12:15-18

Tortured the Ammonites with fire, saws, and axes. 2 Sam.12:31, 1 Chr.20:2-3

Delivered Saul's seven sons to the Gibeonites so that they could kill them and hang their bodies up before the Lord. 2 Sam.21:1-9

Samuel

Told Saul that he was rejected by God as King of Israel for failing to commit genocide. 1 Sam.15:2-33