Judges 15:1-8

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

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 15:6

Then the Philistines said, who hath done this ?.... They asked and inquired one of another, who they thought could be the author of such mischief: and they answered, Samson, the son in law of the Timnite ; this they said either by conjecture, which might be the case of some; and others more confidently asserted it, having heard what he said, Judges 15:3 and they assign a very good reason for it: because he had already taken away his wife, and given her to his companion , which had... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 15:7

And Samson said unto them ,.... After they had burnt his wife and her father in their dwelling house, by which they thought to appease him, being afraid of him: though ye have done this, yet will I be avenged of you ; not for burning his wife and father-in-law; his sense is, that though they had done this, in order to ingratiate themselves with him, yet he should not stop on this account, but be avenged on them, not for private injuries done to him, or any that had been in connection... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 15:8

And he smote them hip and thigh with a great slaughter ,.... Either smote them on their hips and thighs with his hands (for it does not appear he had any weapon of war), so that they were sadly bruised, and maimed, and lamed, that they could not stir, and of which blows and bruises multitudes died: or he smote them with his legs on their thighs, kicked them about at pleasure, which kicks numbers of them never got over; or the meaning of the proverbial expression is, he laid on them at a... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 15:1

Visited his wife with a kid - On her betraying him, he had, no doubt, left her in great disgust. After some time his affection appears to have returned; and, taking a kid, or perhaps a fawn, as a present, he goes to make reconciliation, and finds her given to his brideman; probably, the person to whom she betrayed his riddle. read more

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