Judges 16:16 NIV

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 16:1-31

Samson’s Escape from Gaza. Delilah’s Treachery. Samson’s Death1-3. Samson and Gaza.1. Gaza] 2 m. from the coast, and the last town of Palestine on the coast road to Egypt. Here Samson would be a whole day’s journey from his mountain home, in his enemies’ territory.2, 3. They appear not to have surrounded the house, but waited to kill him when he found the gates closed in the morning. He suspects their plan, and does not wait till morning. The two gates would turn on pins, and be made by locks... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 16:5-31

History of the Judges (Judges 3:5 to Judges 16:31)On this, the main section of the book, see Intro. § 2 and List of Oppressions and Judges. The larger part of the book is concerned with six of the Judges, one of whom is not properly a Judge at all (Abimelech), and in the case of another (Samson) isolated forays are recorded, but no actual deliverance.7-11. Chushan-rishathaim and Othniel.7. The groves] RV ’the asheroth.’ The word (another plural) means the sacred poles set up near an altar,... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Judges 16:16

(16) His soul was vexed.—He at last reveals the secret, because he is wearied—literally, his soul is shortened—to death. (Comp. Numbers 21:4-5.) Even the dangerous use which Delilah had made of his last revelation did not rouse his mind from its besotted stupefaction.“Swollen with pride, into the snare I fellOf fair fallacious looks, venereal trains,Softened with pleasure and voluptuous life,At length to lay my head and hallowed pledgeOf all my strength in the lascivious lapOf a deceitful... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Judges 16:1-31

Judges 16:4 In the preface to The Character of the Happy Warrior, Wordsworth notes that 'the cause of the great war with the French naturally fixed one's attention upon the military character, and, to the honour of our country, there were many illustrious instances of the qualities that constitute its highest excellence. Lord Nelson carried most of these virtues that the trials he was exposed to in his department of the service necessarily call forth and sustain, if they do not produce the... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Judges 16:4-31

THE VALLEY OF SOREK AND OF DEATHJudges 16:4-31THE strong bold man who has blindly fought his battles and sold himself to the traitress and to the enemy, "Eyeless in Gaza at the mill with slaves," the sport and scorn of those who once feared him, is a mournful object. As we look upon him there in his humiliation, his temper and power wasted, his life withered in its prime, we almost forget the folly and the sin, so much are we moved to pity and regret. For Samson is a picture, vigorous in... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Judges 16:1-31

CHAPTER 16 Delilah, and Samson 1. In Gaza (Judges 16:1-3 ) 2. Delilah and her victory over him (Judges 16:4-20 ) 3. The captive of the Philistines (Judges 16:21 ) 4. The feast of Dagon and Samson’s death (Judges 16:22-31 ) Down he goes again, and this time to Gaza, the Philistine stronghold. There he unites himself with a harlot. We are here reminded of the history of the Church. The harlot typifies that system which in Revelation is called by the same name, she who seduces to commit... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Judges 16:1-31

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 16:1-31

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 16:5-19

I see no reason to interrupt the progress of the history through the several relations given, of this artful woman ' s persevering spirit to ruin Samson. But I rather pass on to the spiritual improvements the history furnisheth. And here we see to what a degree of folly, and presumption, sin reduceth the mind. Samson could not but know that, as a Nazarite to God, the unshaven head was as an outward sign, or mark, of a spiritual state. What madness, what presumption therefore, was it thus to... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Judges 16:16

Death. Hebrew, "and pressed him so, that his soul was straitened unto death." It would be well if Christians would always make as stout a resistance against manifest temptations to sin, as Samson did on this occasion, when he might consider the revealing of the truth rather as an indiscretion than as a crime. It is difficult to determine in what precisely the fault consisted, which was followed by so severe a punishment. Perhaps he may have been placed as a pattern of patience, like holy Job,... read more