Verse 8
8. Smote them hip and thigh Rather, leg upon thigh. A proverbial expression that seems most naturally to denote a ferocious and indiscriminate slaughter, as when we say of slaughtered troops, “They were utterly cut to pieces.” Gesenius explains that he smote them so that the scattered limbs fell one upon another. It was a great slaughter, and convinced the Philistines, if they knew it not before, that Samson was their great national enemy.
Top of the rock Better, cleft of the rock. Some deep and wild gorge or cleft, such as abound in the hill country of Judea.
Etam This many have been inclined to identify with Etam of 2 Chronicles 11:6, a city which Rehoboam fortified, and which Dr. Robinson and others have supposed to be the modern Urtas, about a mile south of Bethlehem. But to this place, which is located on high ground, Samson could hardly have been said to go down, and hence the Etam of the tribe of Simeon, mentioned 1 Chronicles 4:32, is more probably intended here. Its exact location has not been certainly identified.
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