Judges 15:8 NIV

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Judges 15:1-20

3. Samson’s vengeance on the Philistines ch. 15Samson’s weaknesses dominate chapter 14, but his strengths shine forth in chapter 15. read more

John Dummelow

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

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Judges 15:8

(8) Hip and thigh.—There is no doubt that the expression intensifies the words “with a great slaughter;” but the origin of the phrase is a matter of conjecture. It may be purely general, like the German expression “Arm und Bein,” or “er hieb den Feind in die Pfanne,” or “in Kochstücke” (“A blow strikes a fugitive on the hip, and that would be enough; another blow on the thigh ends him”). “Hence,” says Ewald, “it means thigh over and above”—i.e., besides the hip. It cannot possibly mean “cavalry... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Judges 15:1-20

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

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Judges 15:1-20

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

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Judges 15:1-20

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

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Judges 15:1-20

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

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Judges 15:1-20

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

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Judges 15:4-8

I pass over the other considerations here noticed to remark the most interesting, namely, of the suitable punishment on the house of Samson's wife's father. The Reader will recollect the treachery of his wife to get out of Samson the riddle, was to prevent the threatened destruction of her father's house by fire; and now the Lord suffers the very ruin which she had studied to avoid to fall upon her and her house, from the instrumentality of the husband she had injured. Our blessed Lord sweetly... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Judges 15:8

Thigh. Striking this part is often mentioned as a mark of consternation, Jeremias xxxi. 19. (Menochius) --- Hebrew, "and he smote them thigh and leg, with a great slaughter." (Haydock) --- Vatable supposes this means an entire destruction. Chaldean, "he smote both horse and foot." He rendered them incapable of fleeing, or of making resistance, Nahum ii. 5. (Calmet) --- Cavern. Hebrew sahiph, signifies, "the top, branch, &c. The rock might be covered with wood, (Calmet) and was situated in... read more