Judges 16:5 NIV

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 16:5

Princes, ( seranim; ) the five satraps, who had the chief sway in the nation, either came in person or sent messengers to Cephar-Sorec. They were convinced that the strength of Samson was supernatural; but they wished to learn whether it depended on some magical charm, or on some religious observation, or whether he was vulnerable only in some particular part, like Achilles, who could only be slain by a wound in the heel, according to the pagans. (Calmet) --- If Dalila would learn, and... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Judges 16:4-17

4-17 Samson had been more than once brought into mischief and danger by the love of women, yet he would not take warning, but is again taken in the same snare, and this third time is fatal. Licentiousness is one of the things that take away the heart. This is a deep pit into which many have fallen; but from which few have escaped, and those by a miracle of mercy, with the loss of reputation and usefulness, of almost all, except their souls. The anguish of the suffering is ten thousand times... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Judges 16:4-21

Samson and Delilah v. 4. And it came to pass afterward, some time after this exploit, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah. This was not very far from his home place, and he entered into an unlawful union with this woman, whose name is purposely mentioned, for she, by her sinful fascination, debilitated his strength. v. 5. And the lords of the Philistines, well acquainted with the power of voluptuousness, came up unto her and said unto her, Entice him, and... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Judges 16:4-20

Samson’s fall. He loves a Philistine woman, and, confiding to her the secret of his strength, is betrayed into the hands of his enemies.Judges 16:4-20.4And it came to pass afterward [after this], that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. 5And the lords [princes] of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice [Persuade] him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict [lit.... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - Judges 16:1-14

Playing with the Enemy Judges 16:1-14 Three women, one after another, brought Samson down. If only a noble woman could have influenced him, as Deborah did Barak, how different his record would have been. Let those who are eminent in spiritual capacity guard against the swing of their nature to the opposite, sensual side. It is clear that Samson’s strength was not wholly accounted for by huge stature nor massive muscles, else Delilah would not have needed to ask his secret; and he lost his... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Judges 16:1-31

Here we have the sad and awful account of Samson's relapse and final fall. He went to Gaza. It is easy to imagine how much there must have been in Gaza which should have appealed to one acting for the fulfillment of the divine purpose. There were idolatries and evil things against which he should have flung himself in force. But he did not. He was still swayed by the strength of his animal nature, and the tragic sentence is written, ". . . Samson went to Gaza, and saw there a harlot." In the... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 16:5

‘And the lords of the Philistines came up to her, and said to her, “Entice him and discover in what his great strength lies, and by what means we may prevail against him, so that we may bind him to afflict him. And we will each one of us give you eleven hundred pieces of silver.” ’ Probably the destruction of the gates of Gaza had been the last straw. If he could do that nowhere was safe. So the five Tyrants of the Philistines were probably initially determined to kill him. But they put it more... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 16:4-22

Judges 16:4-Song of Solomon : . Samson and Delilah.— It was quite near his own home, in the Vale of Sorek (“ Grape Valley” ), that the Philistines, a ided by the woman who had him in thrall, ultimately got the giant under their power. A ruined site near Zorah is still called Sû rî k. The Jaffa-Jerusalem railway now runs through the valley. The meaning of “ Delilah” is unknown: perhaps it was a Philistine word, as the term for “ lords” or “ tyrants” ( seren, pl. sarnç) certainly was. Delilah... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Judges 16:5

The lords of the Philistines; the lords of their five principal cities, who seem to have been united together at this time in one aristocratical government; or at least were leagued together against him as their common enemy. To afflict him; to chastise him for his injuries done to us. They mean to punish him severely, as they did; but they express it in mild words, lest the horror of it might move her to pity him. Pieces of silver, i.e. shekels, as that phrase is commonly used, as Numbers... read more