Judges 15:15

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

John Gill

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

And he found a new jawbone of an ass ,.... That is, the jawbone of an ass lately killed, which perhaps had some of the flesh upon it, the blood or purulent matter on it; for Jarchi says, he had read in the books of physicians, that the word here used signifies the sanies or purulent matter of a wound; however, it was moist, and fresh, and so tough and strong, and would bear to strike with, and give hard blows with, when an old jawbone would have been dry and brittle; and perhaps the asses of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 15:15

He found a new jaw-bone of an ass - I rather think that the word טריה teriyah , which we translate new, and the margin moist, should be understood as signifying the tabia or putrid state of the ass from which this jawbone was taken. He found there a dead ass in a state of putrefaction; on which account he could the more easily separate the jaw from its integuments; this was a circumstance proper to be recorded by the historian, and a mark of the providence of God. But were... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 15:15

Slew a thousand men therewith - Compare the marginal references. The Philistines, seized with a panic at seeing Samson suddenly burst his cords and rush at them, offered no resistance, but fell an easy prey to the blows of their mighty foe. Some perhaps were dashed down the cliffs in their flight. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 15:15

Judges 15:15. He found a new jaw-bone of an ass New, and therefore more tough and strong; and slew a thousand men therewith Some, to account partly for this wonderful achievement, have observed that these Philistines were, probably, unarmed, and that they were struck with a great panic, thinking that the three thousand men of Judah would aid Samson. But doubtless it is chiefly to be ascribed to the power and providence of God, who thus fulfilled his promise to his people, that one of them... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Judges 15:1-20

Samson’s exploits (14:1-16:31)So dominant were the Philistines in Israel, that the Israelites had decided to live with them peacefully rather than try to rise up in armed rebellion. Samson had other ideas. He thought that his marriage to a Philistine woman would give him the opportunity to do some harm to the enemy (14:1-4).In spite of Samson’s desire to help Israel, he had little respect for either his Nazirite vow or the Israelite law. He handled a dead lion, married a Philistine woman and... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Judges 15:15

jawbone of an ass. One of the seven "weak things" in Judges. See note on Judges 3:21 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Judges 15:15

Judges 15:15. A new jaw-bone of an ass— Of an ass that had not been long dead, properly rendered moist in the margin of our Bibles; not so brittle as one that was dry, and had long lain in the air and the sun. No doubt, this event must be ascribed to the providence of God, who thus fulfilled the promise he had made to the Israelites, that no one should be able to stand before them, and that one man of them should chase a thousand; Leviticus 26:8. Bochart. Hieroz. pars 1: lib. 2: cap. 15 and a... read more

Thomas Constable

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

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Judges 15:14-20

Samson’s victory at Ramath-lehi 15:14-20Note again that the Spirit of God gave Samson his supernatural strength (Judges 15:14). He slew 1,000 of the enemy (or one unit) on this occasion (Judges 15:15). The unlikely instrument Samson used, a dead donkey’s dentures, proved more than adequate for this slaughter (cf. Judges 3:31).The Hebrew words translated "donkey" and "heaps" constitute wordplay. Samson loved riddles and rhymes. Moffatt’s translation rendered the first part of Samson’s poem,... read more

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