CHAP. XVI. Samson carries away the gates of Gaza: falls in love with Delilah, to whom he confesses that his strength would leave him if his head should be shaven. His hair being shaven off while he is asleep, he is taken by the Philistines; his eyes are put out, and he grinds in the prison-house. The manner of his death. Before Christ 1135. read more
1, 2. Gaza—now Guzzah, the capital of the largest of the five Philistine principal cities, about fifteen miles southwest of Ashkelon. The object of this visit to this city is not recorded, and unless he had gone in disguise, it was a perilous exposure of his life in one of the enemy's strongholds. It soon became known that he was there; and it was immediately resolved to secure him. But deeming themselves certain of their prey, the Gazites deferred the execution of their measure till the... read more
Samson’s weakness and strength at Gaza 16:1-3Gaza lay on the sunny Mediterranean coast in the heart of Philistine territory. It was probably a popular vacation site for compromising Israelites as well as the Philistines. Perhaps Samson went there to enjoy the amusements that flourish in such places and to show off his physique on the "muscle beach" of his day. As the judge assigned to destroy the Philistines, his presence there for recreational purposes was inappropriate to say the least. It... read more
4. Samson’s final fatal victory ch. 16To this point in his history Samson had demonstrated some faith in God, even though "the exploits of Samson read like the actions of an uncontrollable juvenile delinquent." [Note: Cundall and Morris, p. 155.] However, his unwillingness to remain dedicated to God resulted eventually in his loss of strength, his enslavement, and his death. read more
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
(1) Then went Samson to Gaza.—Rather, And Samson, &c. The narrative is brief and detached. Gaza is near the sea, and was the chief town of the Philistines, in the very heart of their country. It is useless to inquire how Samson could venture there in safety, or whether he went in disguise, or what was his object in going there; to such side-questions the narrative gives us no reply. read more
(2) And it was told.—Our version rightly supplies these words. They are found in all the versions, and there can be no doubt that the word vayyuggar (Genesis 22:20) has in this case accidentally dropped out of the text.They compassed him in.—They apparently did not know in what house he was. The word might mean “they went round the city” (Psalms 59:7), i.e., to look for him.Were quiet—i.e., they made no attack. Thinking that they had secured him, they seem to have retired to rest. (Comp. Acts... read more
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
PLEASURE AND PERIL IN GAZAJudges 16:1-3By courage and energy Samson so distinguished himself in his own tribe and on the Philistine border that he was recognised as judge. Government of any kind was a boon, and he kept rude order, as much perhaps by overawing the restless enemy as by administering justice in Israel. Whether the period of twenty years assigned to Samson’s judgeship intervened between the fight at Lehi and the visit to Gaza we cannot tell. The chronology is vague, as might be... read more
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Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Judges 16:1
THE TRAGIC STORY ENDS WITH THE DEATH OF SAMSONWe are annoyed by the RIDICULOUS assertions of some scholars, claiming that: "The Samson story terminated in Judges 15:19, and that in Judges 16 is a `later addition'";[1] or that, "The attitude of the Deuteronomic editor is reflected here in what he did not say."[2] Neither comment can be accepted because, "Whoever heard of the story of any man, much less that of a hero like Samson, ending BEFORE his death?" As for that alleged Deuteronomic editor,... read more