Judges 16:17-19 NLT

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 16:4-17

The burnt child dreads the fire; yet Samson, that has more than the strength of a man, in this comes short of the wisdom of a child; for, though he had been more than once brought into the highest degree of mischief and danger by the love of women and lusting after them, yet he would not take warning, but is here again taken in the same snare, and this third time pays for all. Solomon seems to refer especially to this story of Samson when, in his caution against uncleanness, he gives this... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 16:18-21

We have here the fatal consequences of Samson's folly in betraying his own strength; he soon paid dearly for it. A whore is a deep ditch; he that is abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein. In that pit Samson sinks. Observe, 1. What care Delilah took to make sure of the money for herself. She now perceived, by the manner of his speaking, that he had told her all his heart, and the lords of the Philistines that hired her to do this base thing are sent for; but they must be sure to bring the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 16:17

That he told her all his heart ,.... All that was in his heart concerning this affair, all that he knew relating to it; he had told her something before, or at least what came nearer to the truth of the matter, when he directed her to the weaving of his locks into the web; but now he told her all, which is as follows: and said unto her, there hath not come a razor upon mine head ; his head had never been shaved since he was born; which was the order of the angel that foretold his birth,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 16:18

And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart ,.... Which she perceived by his countenance, and the serious manner in which he expressed himself; and Abarbinel conjectures that he might swear to her that what he said was truth; and who observes from their Rabbins, as does also Kimchi, that she concluded he had told her the truth, by his making mention of the name of God, saying he was a Nazarite unto God, whose name she knew he would not take in vain; and with the account he gave... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 16:19

And she made him sleep upon her knees ,.... Giving him, as some think, a sleepy potion; or however encouraged him to take a nap upon her knees, and by her fondness lulled him to sleep: and she called for a man; a barber ; in former times to shave was the work of a servant F6 Vid. Pignorium de servis, p. 89, 90, 91. & Popma de servis, p. 57, 58. and sometimes of a woman; she gave orders for one to be sent for; for Jarchi calls him a messenger of the lords of the Philistines: ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 16:17

If I be shaven , then my strength will go from me - The miraculous strength of Samson must not be supposed to reside either in his hair or in his muscles, but in that relation in which he stood to God as a Nazarite, such a person being bound by a solemn vow to walk in a strict conformity to the laws of his Maker. It was a part of the Nazarite's vow to permit no razor to pass on his head; and his long hair was the mark of his Nazirate, and of his vow to God. When Samson... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 16:19

She began to affect him - She had probably tied his hands slyly, while he was asleep, and after having cut off his hair, she began to insult him before she called the Philistines, to try whether he were really reduced to a state of weakness. Finding he could not disengage himself, she called the Philistines, and he, being alarmed, rose up, thinking he could exert himself as before, and shake himself, i.e., disengage himself from his bonds and his enemies: but he wist not that the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 16:17

Judges 16:17. There hath not come a razor upon my head Though we have no account of it before, yet it seems from this, that it had been revealed by God to Samson, either by a dream or in some other manner, that his supernatural strength should continue as long as he continued in a Nazarite state, and did not suffer a razor to come upon his head to take off his hair. If I be shaven Not that his hair was in itself the cause of his strength, but because it was the chief condition of that... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 16:18

Judges 16:18. When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart From the seriousness and solemnity with which he spoke, she concluded that she was at length mistress of the important secret. The lords of the Philistines brought money in their hands See one of the bravest men then in the world bought and sold as a sheep for the slaughter! How does this instance sully all the glory of man, and forbid the strong man ever to boast of his strength! read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 16:19-20

Judges 16:19-20. She made him sleep By some sleepy potion; upon her knees Resting his head upon her knees. She began to afflict him To humble and bring him low, in which sense the original word is often used. For, it seems, as soon as the razor touched his head, his strength began to be diminished, which she perceived by some means or other. He awoke and said, within himself, I will go out as at other times Samson probably did not find, immediately after he was awake, that his hair... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 16:4-17

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 16:18-21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 16:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 16:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 16:19

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 16:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 16:19

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 16:17

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 16:18

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 16:19-20

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