Judges 15:14-16 NIV

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 15:14

And when he came unto Lehi ,.... The place which was afterwards so called, from what happened there at this time, and where the Philistines were spread, Judges 15:9 this, according to Bunting F11 Travels, p. 116. , was six miles from Etam: the Philistines shouted against him : for joy that they had got him into their hands, and in the circumstances he was, being bound, so that they had nothing to fear from him: and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him : as it at... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 15:16

And Samson said ,.... In a kind of triumphant song: with the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps ; that is, with such an instrument he had slain heaps of men, who lay dead in heaps upon one another; in the words for an "ass", and for an "heap", is an elegant "paronomosia", not easy to be expressed in our language: with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men : this he said not in a proud and haughty manner, ascribing it to himself, as Josephus suggests F13 Antiqu. l. 5. c.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 15:14

When he came unto Lehi - This was the name of the place to which they brought him, either to put him to death, or keep him in perpetual confinement. Shouted against him - His capture was a matter of public rejoicing. 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 15:14

The cords ... became as flax ... - i. e. were as weak against his strength as half-burned flax which yields to the least pressure. 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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 15:16

There is a play upon the word, three times repeated, which means both “an ass” and also “a heap.” The spirit of riddle-making Judges 14:12, Judges 14:18 is apparent in this song of triumph (compare Judges 5:1; Exodus 15:1; 1 Samuel 18:6-7). read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 15:14

Judges 15:14. The Philistines shouted against him Because they had now, as they supposed, their enemy in their hands. The cords became as flax, &c. As easily broken by him. His bands loosed from off his hands Hebrew, were melted; that is, were dissolved as things which are melted in the fire. “This,” says Henry, “typified the resurrection of Christ, by the power of the Spirit of holiness. In this he loosed the bands of death, it being impossible he should be holden of them. And... read more

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 15:14

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 15:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 15:14

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

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 15:14

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

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 15:16

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 15:14

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