19. a hollow place . . . in the jaw—"in Lehi"—taking the word as a proper noun, marking the place. there came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again—His strength, exhausted by the violent and long-continued exertion, was recruited by the refreshing draft from the spring; and it was called En-hakkore—the "supplication well," a name which records the piety of this heroic champion. read more
3. Samson’s vengeance on the Philistines ch. 15Samson’s weaknesses dominate chapter 14, but his strengths shine forth in chapter 15. read more
Samson’s victory at Ramath-lehi 15:14-20Note again that the Spirit of God gave Samson his supernatural strength (Judges 15:14). He slew 1,000 of the enemy (or one unit) on this occasion (Judges 15:15). The unlikely instrument Samson used, a dead donkey’s dentures, proved more than adequate for this slaughter (cf. Judges 3:31).The Hebrew words translated "donkey" and "heaps" constitute wordplay. Samson loved riddles and rhymes. Moffatt’s translation rendered the first part of Samson’s poem,... read more
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
(18) He was sore athirst.—It was in the heat of harvest time, and he had pursued the Philistines till he was exhausted.Into the hand.—Rather, by the hand. read more
(19) Clave an hollow place that was in the jaw.—Rather, the (fountain called the) “socket,” which is in Lehi. The notion that God made a miraculous fountain in one of the tooth-sockets of the jawbone of the ass is one of the childish misinterpretations with which Scripture exegesis is constantly defaced. Lehi is here the name of the place, and if the fountain is said to have sprung up in Hammaktesh, “the tooth-socket” (Vulg., molarem), that is only due to the play on words which characterises... 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
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Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Judges 15:19
Judges 15:19. But God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw— It is very evident, from what follows in this verse, that our translation is erroneous; since, if God had caused water to come from the jaw only for the present satisfying of Samson's necessities, it is reasonable to suppose, that Samson would have given it the name of a well or fountain, or that the sacred historian would have told us, that it remained in Lehi unto this day. The rendering in the margins of our Bibles, therefore,... read more