Judges 15

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 15

Samson, when he courted an alliance with the Philistines, did but seek an occasion against them, Jdg. 14:4. Now here we have a further account of the occasions he took to weaken them, and to avenge, not his own, but Israel's quarrels, upon them. Everything here is surprising; if any thing be thought incredible, because impossible, it must be remembered that with God nothing is impossible, and it was by the Spirit of the Lord coming upon him that he was both directed to and strengthened for... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 15:1-8

Here is, I. Samson's return to his wife, whom he had left in displeasure; not hearing perhaps that she was given to another, when time had a little cooled his resentments, he came back to her, visited her with a kid, Jdg. 15:1. The value of the present was inconsiderable, but it was intended as a token of reconciliation, and perhaps was then so used, when those that had been at variance were brought together again; he sent this, that he might sup with her in her apartments, and she with him,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 15:9-17

Here is, I. Samson violently pursued by the Philistine. They went up in a body, a more formidable force than they had together when Samson smote them hip and thigh; and they pitched in Judah, and spread themselves up and down the country, to find out Samson, who they heard had come this way, Jdg. 15:9. When the men of Judah, who had tamely submitted to their yoke, pleaded that they had paid their tribute, and that none of their tribe had given them any offence, they freely own they designed... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 15:18-20

Here is, I. The distress which Samson was in after this great performance (Jdg. 15:18): He was sore athirst. It was a natural effect of the great heat he had been in, and the great pains he had taken; his zeal consumed him, ate him up, and made him forget himself, till, when he had time to pause a little, he found himself reduced to the last extremity for want of water and ready to faint. Perhaps there was a special hand of God in it, as there was in the whole transaction; and God would hereby... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 15

INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES 15 This chapter relates, that Samson being denied his wife, did by a strange stratagem burn the corn fields, vineyards, and olives of the Philistines, Judges 15:1 , and that because of their burning her and her father, he made a great slaughter of them, Judges 15:6 , which brought the Philistines against the men of Judah, who took Samson and bound him, to deliver him to the Philistines, when he, loosing himself, slew a thousand of them with the jaw bone of an... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 15:1

But it came to pass within a while after ,.... Or "after days", a year after, the same phrase as in Judges 14:8 in the time of wheat harvest; which began at Pentecost, as barley harvest did at the passover; this circumstance is mentioned for the sake of the following piece of history: that Samson visited his wife with a kid ; by this time his passion of anger subsided, and he "remembered" his wife, as the Targum expresses it, and thought proper to return to her, and attempt a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 15:2

And her father said, I verily thought that thou hadst utterly hated her ,.... Not only thought so, but said so, and had said it over and over again; for the words are, "saying I said" F20 אמר אמרתי "dicendo dixi", Pagninus, Montanus, Piscator. , affirmed it confidently and constantly, that "in hating thou hast hated her" F21 שנא שנאתה "odiendo odires eam", Pagninus, Montanus; so Piscator. , with an implacable hatred, that there was no hope of any reconciliation: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 15:3

And Samson said concerning them ,.... His wife's father, and other relations, and the citizens of Timnath; this, which is what follows, he said either within himself respecting them, or he said it to them openly and publicly before them all: now shall I be more blameless than the Philistines, though I do them a displeasure ; signifying, that if he did them an ill thing, or what might be reckoned an injury to their persons or properties, and which would be disagreeable and displeasing to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 15:4

And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes ,.... Nor should this be thought at all incredible, since Canaan and Palestine abounded with foxes; hence several places therein had their names of Shual, which signifies a fox, Joshua 15:28 . A traveller F23 Morrison's Voyage, l. 2. c. 31. apud Calmet in the word "Fox". in those parts says that foxes swarm there, and that there are very great numbers of them in the hedges, and ruins of buildings: and these creatures were very pernicious... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 15:5

And when he had set the brands on fire ,.... Disposed as before related; and foxes being naturally fearful of, and frightened with fire, and especially so near them as at their tails, would run into the first place they could for shelter: he let them go into the standing corn of the Philistines ; which being ripe, as it was now wheat harvest, would soon take fire; and taking fire, this would in course cause the foxes to run still further to other parts of standing corn, and set fire to... read more

Group of Brands