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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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 15:9

Then the Philistines went up ,.... From Palestine, which lay low on the shore of the Mediterranean sea: and pitched in Judah ; in the laud of Judea, which lay higher, particularly in the tribe of Judah, whither they came with an army, and encamped there: and spread themselves in Lehi ; their forces were so many, that they extended a considerable way, and particularly reached to Lehi, that is, which was afterwards so called; for it has its name by anticipation from the jaw bone, which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 15:10

And the men of Judah said ,.... To the Philistines, very probably by a deputation, which they sent unto them, to know the reason of this formidable appearance: why are ye come up against us ? in this hostile manner, with such a number of forces, since they were not conscious to themselves that they had done anything to offend them; they had not attempted to cast off their yoke, they quietly submitted to their government, and had paid their whole tribute, as Josephus F6 Ut supra.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 15:11

Then three thousand of Judah went up to the top of the rock of Etam ,.... Or "went down" F7 וירדו , "et descenderunt", Pagninus, Montanus; "descenderunt ergo", V. L. Tigurine version. ; that is, into the cave of the rock of Etam, as the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions; and so it is taken by David de Pomis F8 Tzemach David, fol. 112. 3. for a cave dug in the rock: this was a large number that went to take one man; the reason is, they knew his great strength: and said to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 15:12

And they said unto him, we are come down to bind thee ,.... That is, they were come down into the cave where he was; otherwise more properly they were come up to the top of the rock: that we may deliver thee into the hands of the Philistines ; they own what was their intention in binding him, and what put them upon it was not ill will to him, but fear of the Philistines: and Samson said unto them, swear unto me that ye will not fall upon me yourselves ; which shows he did not fear... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 15:13

And they spake unto him, saying, no ,.... They declared they would not fall upon him themselves and slay him; nor would the Jews put Christ to death themselves, though they were virtually his betrayers and murderers, John 18:31 . but we will bind thee fast and deliver thee into their hands ; as the Jews did Christ, and not only delivered him bound to the high priest, but also to the Roman governor, Matthew 27:2 . but surely we will not kill thee : not with their own hands, but... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 15:17

And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking ,.... Of delivering out the above song, which very probably consisted of much more than what is here expressed: that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand ; which he held in his hand had wrought by him through the means of it, and so served to animate him to praise and thankfulness; but having no further use for it, he threw it away: and called the place Ramathlehi ; that is, the casting away the jawbone, so Kimchi; but Ben... read more

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