Bible Commentaries
Judges 15

Introduction

Overview

Judges 15:1, Samson is denied his wife; Judges 15:3, He burns the Philistines’ corn with foxes and firebrands; Judges 15:6, His wife and her father are burnt by the Philistines; Judges 15:7, Samson smites them hip and thigh; Judges 15:9, He is bound by the men of Judah, and delivered to the Philistines; Judges 15:14, He kills them with a jawbone; Judges 15:18, God makes the fountain En-hakkore for him in Lehi.

Verse 1

a kid: Genesis 38:17, Luke 15:29

I will go: Genesis 6:4, Genesis 29:21

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 22:13 - General Judges 19:3 - went

Verse 2

I verily: Judges 14:16, Judges 14:20, Acts 26:9

I gave: Judges 14:20, Genesis 38:14

take her: Heb. let her be thine

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 22:13 - General

Verse 3

Now shall: etc. or, Now shall I be blameless from the Philistines

though: etc. Judges 14:15

Reciprocal: Genesis 34:13 - deceitfully

Verse 4

caught three: Dr. Kennicott and others contend, that for shualim, "foxes," we should read shoalim, "handfuls," or sheaves of corn. But:

1. The word lachad, rendered caught, never signifies simply to get or take but always to catch, seize, or take by assault or stratagem.

2. Though the proposed alteration is sanctioned by seven manuscripts, yet all the versions are on the other side.

3. Admitting this alteration, it will be difficult to prove that the word shoal means either a sheaf or a handful of corn in the ear, and straw. It occurs but thrice in Scriptures (1 Kings 20:10. Isaiah 40:12. Ezekiel 13:9): where it evidently means as much as can be contained in the hollow of the hand; but when handfuls of grain in the shock, or sheaves are intended, very different words are used. See note on Ruth 2:15-16, etc.

4. It is not hinted that Samson collected them alone, or in one day; he might have employed many hands and several days in the work.

5. The word shual properly denotes the jackal, which travellers describe as an animal in size between the wolf and fox, gregarious, as many as 200 having been seen together, and the most numerous of any in eastern countries; so that Samson might have caught many of them together in nets. Psalms 63:10, Song of Solomon 2:15, Lamentations 5:18

firebrands: or, torches

Reciprocal: Exodus 22:6 - so that the stacks of corn 2 Samuel 14:30 - go and set

Verse 5

he let them go: Exodus 22:6, 2 Samuel 14:30

Verse 6

and burnt: Judges 12:1, Judges 14:15, Proverbs 22:8, 1 Thessalonians 4:6

Reciprocal: Esther 4:14 - but thou

Verse 7

Though: Judges 14:4, Judges 14:19, Romans 12:19

Reciprocal: Esther 7:10 - Then was the king's Zechariah 6:8 - quieted

Verse 8

Isaiah 25:10, Isaiah 63:3, Isaiah 63:6

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 33:22 - General Judges 14:6 - rent him Judges 16:24 - which slew many of us Judges 16:30 - So the dead 1 Samuel 23:25 - into a rock 2 Chronicles 11:6 - Etam Job 16:14 - runneth Psalms 108:13 - tread

Verse 9

Lehi: Judges 15:17, Judges 15:19

Verse 11

went: Heb. went down

the rock Etam: Probably near the town Etam, mentioned in 1 Chronicles 4:32.

Philistines: Judges 13:1, Judges 14:4, Deuteronomy 28:13, Deuteronomy 28:47, Deuteronomy 28:48, Psalms 106:41

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 28:43 - General 1 Kings 20:4 - I am thine Proverbs 24:29 - I will do Revelation 8:10 - the fountains

Verse 12

to bind thee: Matthew 27:2, Acts 7:25

fall: Judges 8:21, 1 Kings 2:25, 1 Kings 2:34

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 28:43 - General

Verse 13

Reciprocal: Acts 21:33 - be

Verse 14

the Philistines: Judges 5:30, Judges 16:24, Exodus 14:3, Exodus 14:5, 1 Samuel 4:5, Job 20:5, Micah 7:8

the Spirit: Judges 3:10, Judges 14:6, Judges 14:19, Zechariah 4:6

the cords: Judges 16:9, Judges 16:12, 1 Samuel 17:35, Psalms 18:34, Psalms 118:11, Philippians 4:3

loosed: Heb. were melted

Reciprocal: Exodus 32:17 - There is a noise Judges 6:34 - the Spirit 2 Samuel 23:10 - the Lord Psalms 51:11 - take Isaiah 1:31 - as tow 2 Corinthians 10:4 - mighty Hebrews 11:34 - out of

Verse 15

new jawbone: Heb. moist

slew: Judges 3:31, Judges 4:21, Judges 7:16, Leviticus 26:8, Joshua 23:10, 1 Samuel 14:6, 1 Samuel 14:14, 1 Samuel 17:49, 1 Samuel 17:50, 1 Corinthians 1:27, 1 Corinthians 1:28

a thousand: Some would render the words aileph ish, "a chief;" but it is alluph, and not aileph, which signifies a chief; besides which, the Hebrew idiom would, even in that case, require it to be ish alluph, "a man, a chief," and not alluph ish, "a chief, a man." Add to which, that every version renders it "a thousand men."

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 33:22 - General Judges 14:6 - rent him Judges 16:30 - So the dead 1 Samuel 17:40 - staff 1 Corinthians 1:25 - the foolishness

Verse 16

with the jawbone: There is here a fine paronomasia upon the word chamor, "an ass," which also signifies "a heap;" bilchee hachamor, chamor chamorathayim, "With the jaw-bone of an ass, a heap upon two heaps."

heaps upon heaps: Heb. an heap, two heaps, Judges 15:16

Reciprocal: Judges 16:24 - which slew many of us 1 Samuel 17:40 - staff 1 Corinthians 1:25 - the foolishness

Verse 17

Ramathlehi: that is, the lifting up of the jaw-bone, or, the casting away of the jaw-bone, Judges 15:17

Reciprocal: Judges 15:9 - Lehi

Verse 18

he was sore: Judges 8:4, Psalms 22:14, Psalms 22:15, John 19:28, 2 Corinthians 4:8, 2 Corinthians 4:9

Thou hast given: Psalms 3:7, Psalms 3:8, Psalms 18:31-40

shall: Genesis 32:31, 2 Corinthians 12:7, 2 Corinthians 12:8

and fall: Genesis 12:12, Genesis 12:13, Genesis 20:11, 1 Samuel 27:1, 2 Corinthians 1:8, 2 Corinthians 1:9, Hebrews 11:32

the uncircumcised: 1 Samuel 17:26, 1 Samuel 17:36, 2 Samuel 1:20

Reciprocal: Genesis 45:7 - to preserve you a posterity Judges 14:3 - uncircumcised Judges 16:2 - kill him 1 Samuel 14:6 - uncircumcised 2 Samuel 23:10 - the Lord 1 Kings 17:6 - the ravens 1 Chronicles 10:4 - uncircumcised Psalms 107:5 - General Proverbs 25:25 - cold Isaiah 41:17 - I the Lord Jeremiah 48:18 - and sit Hosea 2:3 - and slay

Verse 19

the jaw: or, Lehi, This reading is certainly preferable: it was in the place called Lehi where a spring was supernaturally opened.

there came: Isaiah 44:3

his spirit: Genesis 45:27, 1 Samuel 30:12, Isaiah 40:26

Enhakkore: Samson gave this expressive name to the miraculously springing water, to be as a memorial of the goodness of God to him. En-hakkore, the well of him that cried, which kept him in remembrance both of his own distress which caused him to cry, and the favour of Jehovah to him in answer to his cry. Many a spring of comfort God opens to his people, which may fitly be called by the name En-hakkore, and this instance of Samson's relief should encourage us to trust in God, for when he pleases he can open rivers in high places. Isaiah 41:17, Isaiah 41:18, Samson at first gave the name of Ramath-lehi - the lifting up of the jaw-bone which denoted him great and triumphant, but now he gives it another name, En-hakkore, which denotes him wanting and dependent. Genesis 16:13, Genesis 22:14, Genesis 28:19, Genesis 30:30, Exodus 17:15, Psalms 34:6, Psalms 120:1

Reciprocal: Judges 15:9 - Lehi 1 Kings 17:6 - the ravens Psalms 107:5 - General Proverbs 25:25 - cold

Verse 20

Judges 13:1, Judges 13:5, Judges 16:31,"He seems to have judged South-west Israel during twenty years of their servitude of the Philistines.

Reciprocal: Genesis 49:16 - General Genesis 49:17 - shall be