(12) Swear unto me, that ye will not fall upon me yourselves.—It seems as if Samson were parleying with them from some point of vantage which he could easily have defended for a time. read more
(13) Brought him up from the rock.—Again the details are uncertain. Was Samson’s cave down the steep side of a cliff? Such caves are common in Palestine, and such a situation would explain these expressions. (See Josephus, Antt. xiv. 15, § 5, where he says that the brigands’ caves were inaccessible against a few defenders, either from below or from above, and that Herod could only attack the robbers by letting down soldiers in chests from the top of the precipices.) read more
Judges 15:15 Is it fair to call the famous Drapier's Letters patriotism? They are masterpieces of dreadful humour and invective: they are reasoned logically enough too, but the proposition is as monstrous and fabulous as the Lilliputian island. It is not that the grievance is so great, but there is his enemy the assault is wonderful for its activity and terrible rage. It is Samson, with a bone in his hand, rushing on his enemies and felling them: one admires not the cause so much as the... read more
DAUNTLESS IN BATTLE, IGNORANTLY BRAVEJudges 15:1-20GIVEN a man of strong passions and uninstructed conscience, wild courage and giant energy, with the sense of a mission which he has to accomplish against his country’s enemies, so that he reckons himself justified in doing them injury or killing them in the name of God, and you have no complete hero, but a real and interesting man. Such a character, however, does not command our admiration. The enthusiasm we feel in tracing the career of... read more
CHAPTER 15 The Conflict with the Philistines: Bound Yet Free 1. The damage done to the Philistines (Judges 15:1-8 ) 2. Bound by his own brethren (Judges 15:9-13 ) 3. The deed with the jawbone (Judges 15:14-17 ) 4. His prayer and the answer (Judges 15:18-20 ) He discovered next the true character of the Philistines. His wife has been given to another. Nothing came of his alliance with the Philistines but trouble and unpleasantness for himself. Was it of the Lord when he took the 300... read more
15:13 And they spake unto him, saying, No; but we will bind thee fast, and {h} deliver thee into their hand: but surely we will not kill thee. And they bound him with two new cords, and brought him up from the rock.(h) Thus they would rather betray their brother than use the means that God had given for their deliverance. read more
SAMSON THE NAZARITE The close of chapter 12 furnishes the history of three other civil judges, and then we reach that of another warrior as picturesque as Gideon or Jephthah. Sampson’s life is so full of inconsistencies and mysteries from the divine standpoint, that again we can only await the explanations until we shall know as we are known. THE PROMISED SON (Judges 13:0 ) Here is another theophany, for “the angel of the Lord” is none other than Jehovah Jesus. The beginning of this... read more
Samson Light and Shadow Judges 14-16 IT would be unjust to consider this as a finished picture of the man of strength. In all that we have said we have endeavoured to establish by good reasoning and clear reference. But it would be unjust to pronounce upon any life after merely looking at a few incidental points in its course. That is a danger to which all criticism is exposed. We are prone to look upon vivid incidents, and to omit all the great breadths and spaces of the daily life, and to... read more
I would not willingly or knowingly strain the pure word of God to bear a construction the Holy Ghost had not in view; but I think, without violence to the passage before us, in these verses, we may see, some things which bear resemblance to the ever blessed Jesus. And especially, as Samson was, on many accounts, a type of Jesus, it is hardly possible to overlook the representation Samson here makes, of the apprehending of the Lord Jesus by the Chief Priests, and Elders; before his crucifixion.... read more
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John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 15:1-20
Samson Slaughters the PhilistinesSamson, being denied his wife, burns the corn of the Philistines. He is delivered up to them by the men of Judah, but bursts his bonds, and slaughters many of the Philistines.1, 2. Samson is denied his wife.1. Wheat harvest] i.e. about May: cp. Judges 15:4. The reason for the last clause is given in Judges 14:19, Judges 14:20. 2. The father still desires to be conciliatory to one who might prove so valuable a son-in-law.3-8. Samson’s Revenge.3. More blameless... read more