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Judges Chapter
Sixteen
Judges 16
Outlines
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES 16
In
this chapter we have an account of Samson's too great familiarity with two
harlots; by the one he was brought into great danger
and narrowly escaped
Judges 16:1
and by
the other he was betrayed into the hands of the Philistines
having got the
secret out of him wherein his great strength lay
Judges 16:4 who
having him in their hands
put out his eyes
imprisoned him
and in their idol
temple made sport of him
Judges 16:21
where
praying for renewed strength from the Lord
he pulled down the temple
and
destroyed multitudes with the loss of his own life
Judges 16:26.
Judges 16:1 Now
Samson went to Gaza and saw a harlot there
and went in to her.
YLT
1And Samson goeth to Gaza
and seeth there a woman
a harlot
and goeth in unto her;
Then went Samson to Gaza
.... One of the five
principalities of the Philistines
which was ten miles from Ashkelon
as SandysF17Travels
l. 3. p. 118. says; who also describesF18Travels
l. 3. p. 116. it
as standing upon an hill environed with valleys
and these again well nigh
enclosed with hills
most of them planted with all sorts of delicate fruits;
and
according to BuntingF19Ut supra. (Travels
l. 3. p. 118.)
forty two miles from Ramathlehi
the place where we last hear of him; see Gill
on Amos 1:6
Zephaniah 2:4 what
he went hither for is not easy to say; it showed great boldness and courage
after he had made such a slaughter of the Philistines
to venture himself in
one of their strongest cities
where he must expect to be exposed to danger;
though it is highly probable this was a long time after his last encounter with
them:
and saw there an harlot
and went in unto her; the Targum
renders it an innkeeper
one that kept a victualling house; so Kimchi
Ben
Gersom
and Ben Melech interpret it; into whose house he went for entertainment
and lodging
and very probably in the dusk of the evening; and the woman that
kept this house might herself be an harlot
or
however
Samson saw one in her
house
with whom he was captivated
and went in unto her
or had criminal
conversation with her; it seems as if he did not turn in thither with any such
wicked design
but on sight of the person was ensnared to commit lewdness with
her; and
as Lyra says
there were many hostesses in some places
and so here
who too easily prostituted themselves to their guests.
Judges 16:2 2 When
the Gazites were told
“Samson has come here!” they surrounded the
place and lay in wait for him all night at the gate of the city. They were
quiet all night
saying
“In the morning
when it is daylight
we will kill
him.”
YLT
2[it is told] to the
Gazathites
saying
`Samson hath come in hither;' and they go round and lay
wait for him all the night at the gate of the city
and keep themselves silent
all the night
saying
`Till the light of the morning -- then we have slain
him.'
And it was told the Gazites
.... The inhabitants of
Gaza
the principal ones of it
the magistrates of the city
either by some
persons that saw him come in
who knew him
or by the harlot into whose company
he fell
to whom he made himself known:
saying
Samson is come hither; the man so famous for
his strength
and such an enemy to the Philistines; his name was well known for
his great exploits
and rung throughout Palestine
and was a terror to the
whole country:
and they compassed him in; not that they surrounded
the house where he was
which perhaps they might not certainly know
but they
secured all the avenues and gates of the city
made them fast
and placed
guards there
that he might not escape their hands:
and laid wait for him all night in the gate; particularly
at that gate
where
if he went out for his country
he must pass:
and were quiet all the night; did not attempt to disturb
Samson
or seize on him
if they knew where he was; knowing his great strength
and what a tumult might be raised in the city
they said nothing of it to
anybody that passed
what they were placed there for
lest it should come to
his ears; they made as if they were deaf and dumb
as some interpret it
and
heard and knew nothing:
saying
in the morning
when it is day
we shall kill him; when they
should better know him
and make sure their blow at him
and do it suddenly
unawares to him
as he came to the gate
to pass through it.
Judges 16:3 3 And Samson lay low
till midnight; then he arose at midnight
took hold of the doors of the gate of
the city and the two gateposts
pulled them up
bar and all
put them on
his shoulders
and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron.
YLT
3And Samson lieth down till
the middle of the night
and riseth in the middle of the night
and layeth hold
on the doors of the gate of the city
and on the two side posts
and removeth
them with the bar
and putteth on his shoulders
and taketh them up unto the
top of the hill
which [is] on the front of Hebron.
And Samson lay till midnight
and arose at midnight
.... Either
not being able to lie any longer through the conviction of his conscience for
his lewdness
or being warned by a dream
or having an impulse upon his spirit
which suggested to him that wait was laid for him
and the danger he was in;
and coming to the gate of the city
which he found shut and fast barred and
bolted
and the watch perhaps asleep
not expecting his coming until daylight:
and took the doors of the gate of the city
and the two posts
and
went away with them
bar and all; did not stand to break
open the doors of the gate
but took the two side posts up
on which the
folding doors of the gate were hung
out of the ground in which they were
fastened
with the bar which went across the doors for the security of them:
and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron; if this hill
was near Hebron
as the words thus read seem to intimate
he must carry the
gates twenty miles upon his shoulders
for so far was Hebron from Gaza; so
Josephus says it was over Hebron; but according to AdrichomiusF20"Theatrum
Terrae Sanet". p. 133.
it was near Gaza
looking towards Hebron; and so
Sandys saysF21Ut supra
(Travels l. 3.) p. 117.
in the valley
on
the east side of the city
are many straggling buildings
beyond which there is
a hill more eminent than the rest
on the north side of the way that leads to
Babylon
said to be that to which Samson carried the gates of the city. It is
very probable
as some think
that it was between Gaza and Hebron
in sight of
both cities
which may be meant by the phrase "before"
or "on
the face of"; being so high might be seen as far as Hebron
as well as at
Gaza. This was an emblem of Christ's resurrection
of whom Samson was a type
who being encompassed in a sepulchre
and sealed and watched by soldiers
broke
through the bars of death and the grave
and carried off the doors in triumph;
and in a short time ascended to heaven
whereby he declared himself to be the
Son of God with power. It was usual for doors and bars of gates to be carried
in triumph
and laid up in templesF23"----sacris in postibus
arma: ----et portarum ingentia claustra." Virgil. Aeneid. 7. ver. 185. ;
and the Jews say these doors were not less than sixty cubits
and suppose
Samson's shoulders to be as broadF24T. Bab. Sotah
fol. 10. 1. .
Judges 16:4 4 Afterward it happened that
he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek
whose name was Delilah.
YLT
4And it cometh to pass
afterwards that he loveth a woman in the valley of Sorek
and her name [is]
Delilah
And it came to pass afterwards
that he loved a woman in the
valley of Sorek
.... Which
according to AdrichomiusF25Ut supra
(Theatrum Terra Sanct.) p. 24. was but half a mile from the brook Eshcol
from
whence the spies brought a bunch of grapes
as a specimen of the fruit of the
land of Canaan; and this valley of Sorek seems to have been famous for the best
wine
and hither Samson retired for refreshment and pleasure; but
according to
JeromF26De loc. Heb. fol. 94. L.
it was on the north of
Eleutheropolis
where
he says
was shown a village in his time called
Capharsorech
near the village Zorah
from whence Samson was; and BuntingF1Travels
p. 116
117. makes it to be twelve miles from Hebron
and twelve from Jerusalem;
where he met with a woman he loved; whether she was an Israelite
or one of the
daughters of the Philistines
they now being the rulers of Israel
is not said;
most likely the latter
as say Ben Gersom and Abarbinel
since the lords of the
Philistines were so intimate with her
and were entertained in her house
and
she showed more respect to them than to Samson. The Jews say she became a
proselyte
but if she did
there is very little evidence of her being a sincere
one: some have thought
that the courtship to her was a lawful conjugal love;
that falling in love with her
he courted and married her; but this is not very
likely
since no mention is made of his marriage to her
nor did he take her
home
but dwelt in her house: it rather seems to be an impure and unlawful love
he had to her
and that she was an harlot
as JosephusF2Ut supra
(Antiqu. l. 5. c. 8.) sect. 11. ; and all her conduct and behaviour confirm the
same:
whose name was Delilah; the Jews sayF3T.
Bab. Sotah
fol. 9. 2. she was so called because she weakened the heart and
spirit of Samson
and weakened his strength
and weakened his works; and
therefore
if this had not been her name
they say it was one very proper for
her.
Judges 16:5 5 And the lords of the
Philistines came up to her and said to her
“Entice him
and find out where his
great strength lies
and by what means we may overpower him
that
we may bind him to afflict him; and every one of us will give you eleven
hundred pieces of silver.”
YLT
5and the princes of the
Philistines come up unto her
and say to her
`Entice him
and see wherein his
great power [is]
and wherein we are able for him -- and we have bound him to
afflict him
and we -- we give to thee
each one
eleven hundred silverlings.'
And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her
.... Having
heard that Samson kept company with her
she being a noted strumpet
like Lais
among the Grecians. These were in number five
as appears from Judges 3:3 and had
under them five principalities
into which Palestine was divided; and these
if
not united in their government
which possibly might be the case at this time
yet were united against their common enemy Samson; and being great personages
it is thought by some they came not themselves to this harlot's house
but sent
a deputation of five persons in their names
though the text is very express
here and after: they are said to come up to her
because their country lay on
the shore of the sea
and lower than Judea:
and said unto her
entice him; persuade him with
soothing and flattering words; take an opportunity when in an amorous mood to
improve her interest in his affections:
and see wherein his great strength lieth; for it might
not appear by the size of his body
or from his natural constitution
and in
the common actions of life
but only at certain times
and as it should seem
when he pleased; and he might have been heard to say that it was a secret he
kept to himself
and no man knew it; or they might suspect something of magic
in the case
that he carried something about with him
which
if it could be
gotten from him
would deprive him of his strength:
and by what means we may prevail against him
that we may bind him
to afflict him; to humble him
bring him low
and reduce him to the common
condition of men; they did not propose to kill him
which they might think she
would not agree to
and so reject their proposal at once
but at most to
distress him
and to chastise him with mockings and scourgings
bonds and
imprisonment
for the mischief he had indeed done them
and prevent him from
doing more:
and we will give thee
everyone of us
eleven hundred pieces
of silver or shekels; it may seem strange that they should promise each
1100: some think their principalities offered each 1000 shekels
and the
princes themselves one hundred; but Abarbinel supposes that this was
on some
account or another
in those times an usual sum or computation
since the same
is mentioned in the following chapter; though it may be observed that these
five several sums put together make a round number
5500 pieces of silver;
which
taking them to be shekels
according to WaserusF4De Antiquis
Numis
l. 2. c. 5. : they amounted to 1375 rix dollars
and of Helvetian money
3666 pounds
and a little more
and of our money near seven hundred pounds
sterling; a considerable bribe
and very tempting to a person of such a
character
and which she readily embraced
as appears by what follows.
Judges 16:6 6 So Delilah said to Samson
“Please tell me where your great strength lies
and with what you may be
bound to afflict you.”
YLT
6And Delilah saith unto
Samson
`Declare
I pray thee
to me
wherein thy great power [is]
and
wherewith thou art bound
to afflict thee.'
And Delilah said to Samson
.... At a proper
opportunity
when in his hands and caresses
as Josephus relatesF5Ut
supra. (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 8. sect. 9.)
and introduced it in an artful manner
admiring his strange exploits
and wondering how he could perform them:
tell me
I pray thee
wherein thy great strength lieth; which she
proposed seemingly out of mere curiosity
and as it would be a proof of his
affection to her
to impart the secret to her:
and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee; not that she
suggested to him that she was desirous to have him afflicted
or to try the
experiment herself in order to afflict him
but to know by what means
if he
was bound
it would be afflicting to him so that he could not relieve himself;
she knew he might be bound
if he would admit of it
as he had been
but she
wanted to know how he might be bound
so as to be held
and could not loose
himself.
Judges 16:7 7 And Samson said to her
“If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings
not yet dried
then I shall
become weak
and be like any other man.”
YLT
7And Samson saith unto her
`If they bind me with seven green withs which have not been dried
then I have
been weak
and have been as one of the human race.'
And Samson said unto her
.... In answer to her
pressing solicitations:
if they bind me with seven green withs that were never dried; the word is
sometimes used for nerves
and cords or ropes; but neither of these can be here
meant
since these
if moistened or made wet
are the less fit to bind with
and the drier the better; but rods or branches of trees just cut off
such as
faggots are bound up with
or green osiers
which are easily bent and twisted
and may bind with; JosephusF21Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 8. sect.
9.) calls them vine branches:
then shall I be weak
and be as another man; which cannot
well be excused from a lie; for Samson knew full well that being bound would
not weaken his strength; but as he had fallen into one sin
it is no wonder he
was drawn into another: unless this can be understood
as it is by some
as
jesting with her; however
it shows that he was "compos mentis"
as
JosephusF23Ibid. observes
and was upon his guard with respect to
the secret of his strength.
Judges 16:8 8 So the lords of the
Philistines brought up to her seven fresh bowstrings
not yet dried
and she
bound him with them.
YLT
8And the princes of the
Philistines bring up to her seven green withs which have not been dried
and
she bindeth him with them.
Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her
.... To the
chamber where she was with Samson
she having acquainted them with what he had
told her:
seven green withs
which had not been dried; just such as
he had described and directed to:
and she bound him with them; taking an opportunity
very likely
when he was asleep
and drunk too
according to JosephusF24Antiqu.
l. 5. c. 8. sect. 11. : the Philistines did not attempt to bind him
supposing
that he would not admit them to do it
if aware of them; and they might fear
if asleep
he might awake before they could do it
and fall upon them and
destroy them; but as for Delilah
if she had been found at it
she could have excused
it as a piece of curiosity
being willing to try whether he told her truth or
not.
Judges 16:9 9 Now men were lying
in wait
staying with her in the room. And she said to him
“The Philistines are
upon you
Samson!” But he broke the bowstrings as a strand of yarn breaks when
it touches fire. So the secret of his strength was not known.
YLT
9And the ambush is abiding
with her in an inner chamber
and she saith unto him
`Philistines [are] upon
thee
Samson;' and he breaketh the withs as a thread of tow is broken in its
smelling fire
and his power hath not been known.
Now there were men lying in wait
.... Very likely some of
the servants of the lords of the Philistines
who were placed privately on
purpose
that when an opportunity offered
they might rush out
and fall upon
Samson; JosephusF25Antiqu. l. 5. c. 8. sect. 11. calls them
soldiers:
abiding with her in the chamber; in a private part of it
or otherwise they could not be said to lie in wait; in it may mean near it;
perhaps it was in the next apartment to hers
where they were set:
and she said unto him
the Philistines be upon thee
Samson; are just
ready to fall upon thee
and seize thee; this she said to arouse him
and try
whether he could break the withs or not
before she called in the men that lay
in wait
and whether he had told her the truth or not:
and he brake the withs as a thread of tow is broken when it
toucheth the fire; or "smells it"F26בהריחו
"cum olfecerit"
Drusius
so Piscator. ; as soon as it comes near it;
a thread of tow or linen catches the fire presently
it being so weak that it
cannot stand before the least force of it; so easily did the withs give way
and were broken
when Samson did but just stir himself
and move his arms:
so his strength was not known; by Delilah
nor by the
Philistines; that is
where it lay
so as that it might be weakened; for
otherwise it was known by the easy breaking of the withs.
Judges 16:10 10 Then Delilah said to
Samson
“Look
you have mocked me and told me lies. Now
please tell me what
you may be bound with.”
YLT
10And Delilah saith unto
Samson
`Lo
thou hast played upon me
and speakest unto me lies; now
declare
I pray thee
to me
wherewith thou art bound.'
And Delilah said unto Samson
.... Not on the same day
but some time after
as Kimchi observes
when an opportunity offered
and he
was in like circumstances as before; for had she immediately attacked him
it
might have created some suspicion in him of a design against him:
behold
thou hast mocked me
and told me lies; deceived her
with lies
by telling her the other day that if he was bound with green withs
he should become as weak as other men; which she
out of curiosity as she might
pretend
had tried
and had found to be false; and which
she might add
was an
argument of want of true love to her
to mock her in such a manner:
now tell me
I pray thee
wherewith thou mightest be bound; so as to be
held.
Judges 16:11 11 So he said to her
“If
they bind me securely with new ropes that have never been used
then I shall
become weak
and be like any other man.”
YLT
11And he saith unto her
`If
they certainly bind me with thick bands
new ones
by which work hath not been
done
then I have been weak
and have been as one of the human race.'
And he said unto her
.... Abarbinel presents
Samson replying to her
that he had told her the truth at first
only forgot
one circumstance
that the "cords"
for so he takes the word for
"withs" to signify
should be "new"
such as were never used
as follows:
if they bind me fast with new ropes
that never were occupied; the word
signifies thick ropes
which
according to Kimchi and Ben Melech
were trebled
or made of three cords twisted together
and those such as were just made
and
had never been put to any use
and so strong and firm:
then shall I be weak
and be as another man; see Judges 16:7.
Judges 16:12 12 Therefore Delilah took new
ropes and bound him with them
and said to him
“The Philistines are
upon you
Samson!” And men were lying in wait
staying in the room. But
he broke them off his arms like a thread.
YLT
12And Delilah taketh thick
bands
new ones
and bindeth him with them
and saith unto him
`Philistines [are]
upon thee
Samson;' and the ambush is abiding in an inner chamber
and he
breaketh them from off his arms as a thread.
Delilah therefore took new ropes
and bound him therewith
.... Tried
this experiment with him
according to his directions
being very desirous of
getting the sum of money offered her:
and said unto him
the Philistines be upon thee
Samson: using the
same words
and with the same view as she had done before
Judges 16:9.
(and there were liers in wait abiding the chamber); as before
ready upon occasion to rush in upon him
as soon as any notice was given them:
and he brake them from off his arms like a thread; as easily as
a thread of linen can be snapped asunder.
Judges 16:13 13 Delilah said to Samson
“Until now you have mocked me and told me lies. Tell me what you may be bound
with.”
And he said to her
“If you weave the seven locks of my head into
the web of the loom”—
YLT
13And Delilah saith unto
Samson
`Hitherto thou hast played upon me
and dost speak unto me lies;
declare to me wherewith thou art bound.' And he saith unto her
`If thou
weavest the seven locks of my head with the web.'
And Delilah said unto Samson
.... At another time
when she thought it most proper to upbraid him with his deception of her:
hitherto thou hast mocked me
and told me lies; both the
times that she had solicited him to impart the secret of his strength to her:
tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound; tell me the
real truth
and deceive me no more:
and he said unto her
if thou weavest the seven locks of my head
with the web; it seems that Samson's hair was parted into seven locks
which
no doubt hung down very long; and now he tells her
that if these were
interwoven with the warp which was upon the beam in a loom near by; perhaps in
the same room
where Delilah used to weave
as was the custom of those times
and in various nationsF1"Arguto conjux"
&c. Virgil.
Georgie. l. 1. v. 294. So Penelope in Homer
Minerva & Arachne in Ovid.
Metamorph. l. 6. fab. 1. v. 55
&c. Vid. Pignorium de servis
p. 418.
Braunium de Vest. Sacerd. Hebr. l. 1. c. 17. sect. 33. ; his strength would be
weakened; for BrauniusF2"De Vest". Sacerd. Hebr. l. 1. c.
16. sect. 8. is mistaken in supposing this to be the beam about which the web
was rolled
as he is also in the pin next mentioned
which he takes to be the
"spatha"
or lathe
with which the threads are knocked together.
Judges 16:14 14 So she wove it
tightly with the batten of the loom
and said to him
“The Philistines are
upon you
Samson!” But he awoke from his sleep
and pulled out the batten and
the web from the loom.
YLT
14And she fixeth [it] with
the pin
and saith unto him
`Philistines [are] upon thee
Samson;' and he
awaketh out of his sleep
and journeyeth with the pin of the weaving machine
and with the web.
And she fastened it with the pin
.... That is
after she
had interwoven the locks of his hair into the warp
she fastened the beam on
which it was with the pin
that it might not roll back; or else her machine or
loom to the ground
that it might stand more firmly; or the web into which the
hair was woven
with the hair itself; which of them is right
it is difficult
to say: but if the addition of the Septuagint version can be admitted as
genuine
which supplies some things which seem to be wanting
and which best
agrees with what follows
the whole will be plain and easy
and which after the
preceding verse runs thus;"and fastenest "them" with a pin to
the wall
then shall I be weak as another man; and it came to pass when he
slept
and Delilah took seven locks of his head
and wove "them" in
the web
and fastened them with a pin to the wall;'and then it follows as here:
and said unto him
the Philistines be upon thee
Samson; as she had
twice before:
and he awaked out of his sleep; in which he was during
her weaving his locks into the web; and this makes it probable that he was in
the same circumstances when she bound him both with withs and ropes
though it
is not expressed:
and went away with the pin of the beam
and with the web; carried off
not the pin of the beam only
but the beam itself
and the warp on it
and the
whole web into which his hair was woven. The Septuagint version is
he took the
pin of the web out of the wall; and the Vulgate Latin
the pin with the hairs
and web.
Judges 16:15 15 Then she said to him
“How
can you say
‘I love you
’ when your heart is not with me? You have
mocked me these three times
and have not told me where your great strength lies.”
YLT
15And she saith unto him
`How dost thou say
I have loved thee
and thy heart is not with me? these
three times thou hast played upon me
and hast not declared to me wherein thy
great power [is].'
And she said unto him
how canst thou say
I love thee
when thine
heart is not with me?.... She took an opportunity
when he was caressing her
to
upbraid him with dissembled love
and a false heart: thou hast mocked me these
three times; she had urged him to tell her where his strength lay
and by what
it might be weakened
first pretending it might be done by binding him with
green withs
and then with new ropes
and a third time by weaving his locks
into the web:
and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth; the thing so
frequently and so importunately requested.
Judges 16:16 16 And it came to pass
when
she pestered him daily with her words and pressed him
so that his soul
was vexed to death
YLT
16And it cometh to pass
because she distressed him with her words all the days
and doth urge him
and
his soul is grieved to death
And it came to pass
when she pressed him daily with her words
and urged him
.... Lay at him day after day to communicate the secret to him
gave him no rest
but was incessant in her applications to him:
so that his soul was vexed unto death: could hardly
bear to live
but wished to die
being in the utmost perplexity what to do
between two different passions
love and fear; on the one hand chained by his
lust to this harlot
that was continually teasing him
and whom he had not an
heart to leave
or otherwise that would have cleared him of his difficulties;
and on the other hand
should he disclose the secret
he feared
and was in
danger of losing his strength
in which his glory lay: or"his soul was
shortened unto death'F3תקצר
"abbreviata est"
Montanus
Drusius. So Munster. ;it was the means of
shortening his days
and hastening his death. Abarbinel thinks that Samson was
sensible of this
that his days were short
and the time of his death at hand;
which made him the more willing to impart the secret. This may put in mind of
the story of Milo
a man famous for his great strength
said to carry an ox
upon his shoulders a furlong without breathing; of whom it is reported
that none
of his adversaries could deliver themselves out of his hands
but his whore
could
often contending with him; hence it is observed of him
that he was
strong in body
but not of a manly soulF4Aelian. Var. Hist. l. 2. c.
24. ; and there are many other things saidF5Vid. Pausan. Eliac. 2.
sive. l. 6. p. 309. of him concerning his great strength
which seem to be
taken from this history of Samson.
Judges 16:17 17 that he told her all his
heart
and said to her
“No razor has ever come upon my head
for I have
been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaven
then my
strength will leave me
and I shall become weak
and be like any other
man.”
YLT
17that he declareth to her
all his heart
and saith to her
`A razor hath not gone up on my head
for a
Nazarite to God I [am] from the womb of my mother; if I have been shaven
then
hath my power turned aside from me
and I have been weak
and have been as any
of the human race.'
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
and it had been carefully observed to that time:
for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother's womb; one condition
of which
or what was enjoined a Nazarite
was
that he should not be shaved
and which had been religiously observed in Samson; and whereas abstinence from
wine and strong drink was another part of the law of Nazariteship
or what such
persons were obliged unto
what Josephus says concerning Samson being drunk in
the above cases could not be true; since his Nazariteship would have been made
void by it
and so have affected his strength: but it must be owned that there
were other things Nazarites were obliged to
which were dispensed with
as has
been observed in the case of Samson
a perpetual Nazarite; and therefore it is
probable
that the principal thing he was to regard
and upon which his
strength was continued
was not shaving his head:
if I be shaven
then my strength will go from me
and I shall
become weak
and be like any other man; in which he says more
than he ever did before
namely
that his strength should go from him; for
though that did not arise from his hair
yet the keeping on of that was the
condition of his retaining it.
Judges 16:18 18 When Delilah saw that he
had told her all his heart
she sent and called for the lords of the
Philistines
saying
“Come up once more
for he has told me all his heart.” So
the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their
hand.
YLT
18And Delilah seeth that he
hath declared to her all his heart
and she sendeth and calleth for the princes
of the Philistines
saying
`Come up this time
for he hath declared to me all
his heart;' and the princes of the Philistines have come up unto her
and bring
up the money in their hand.
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 agreed the long hair he wore:
she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines
saying
come
up this once; for it seems as they were returned home
finding that she could
do nothing with him
and was not able to get the secret out of him; but now
believing she had it
sends to them
and entreats them to come once more
being
very desirous of having the money they had offered her:
for he hath showed me all his heart; there is a double
reading of this clause; the Keri or marginal reading
which our version
follows
is
"hath showed me"
as being the words of Delilah to the
lords of the Philistines; but the Cetib or textual reading is
"he hath showed
her"
as being the words of the messengers to them:
then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her; that is
from
their own country; for it can hardly be understood of their coming up into her
room
or chamber; and especially since it follows:
and brought money in their hand; 1100 shekels of silver
apiece
the sum they first proposed to give her; and now being pretty well
assured of success
brought it along with them to pay her for the service done.
Judges 16:19 19 Then she lulled him to sleep
on her knees
and called for a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his
head. Then she began to torment him
[a] and his strength
left him.
YLT
19and she maketh him sleep on
her knees
and calleth for a man
and shaveth the seven locks of his head
and
beginneth to afflict him
and his power turneth aside from off him;
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 servantF6Vid. 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:
and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; this shows
that they were not wove into one another
and made but one lock
as some
interpret what she was before directed to do:
and she began to afflict him; as his hair was shaving
off; though he was asleep
yet he discovered some uneasiness
the effects of it
began to appear: though the word "began" here may be redundant
as in
Numbers 25:1 and
then the meaning is
that she afflicted him
or again afflicted him; for she
had afflicted him
or at least attempted it
three times before
and therefore
did not begin now; this Hebraism is used in Mark 4:1 and
frequently in Jewish writingsF7See Lightfoot. Hor. Heb. in Mark iv.
1. Vid. Sterringae Animadv. Philolog. Sacr. p. 248. :
and his strength went from him; sensibly and gradually;
though some understand it of her shaking him in a violent manner to awake him
and shrieking and crying out terribly to frighten him
with her old cry of the
Philistines being on him
and of her binding him
though not expressed; whereby
she perceived his strength was gone
and he could not loose himself.
Judges 16:20 20 And she said
“The
Philistines are upon you
Samson!” So he awoke from his sleep
and said
“I will go out as before
at other times
and shake myself free!” But he did
not know that the Lord
had departed from him.
YLT
20and she saith
`Philistines
[are] upon thee
Samson;' and he awaketh out of his sleep
and saith
`I go out
as time by time
and shake myself;' and he hath not known that Jehovah hath
turned aside from off him.
And she said
the Philistines be upon thee
Samson
.... In like
manner as she had before
that she might have full proof that the case was
really such
that his strength was gone from him:
and he awoke out of his sleep; upon the cry she made:
and said; within himself
purposing and determining in his own mind:
I will go out as at other times before; as he had
done at the three former times
and did not meet with any Philistines to fall
upon him
and so concluded it would be the case now
and he
if he did
should
be able to defend himself against them:
and shake myself; that he might be thoroughly awake
and be
on his guard and defence:
and he wist not that the Lord was departed from him; might have
forgot what he had told Delilah of
and knew not what had been done to him
that his hair was shaved off; or if he did
was not sensible that the Lord had
removed from him; but might hope that he would renew his strength
when he
should stand in need of it; but he soon found his mistake; he was quickly taken
by the Philistines
and ill used
and in a little time lost his life. And from
hence it is thought sprung the story of Nisus
king of the Megarenses
who is
supposed to reign about this time; of whom it is reportedF8Pausaniae
Attica
sive
l. 1. p. 33. Ovid Metamorph. l. 8. Fab. 1.
that the hair of his
head was of a purple colour
and was told by the oracle
that so long as that
was kept on he should be safe
but if it was shaved off he should die; and so
it was
that when the Cretians besieged him
his daughter falling in love with
Minos
the king of the Cretians cut off her father's hair
and so both he and
his country were delivered into the hands of the enemy.
Judges 16:21 21 Then the Philistines took
him and put out his eyes
and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with
bronze fetters
and he became a grinder in the prison.
YLT
21And the Philistines seize
him
and pick out his eyes
and bring him down to Gaza
and bind him with two
brazen fetters; and he is grinding in the prison-house.
But the Philistines took him
.... Being assured by
Delilah that his strength was gone from him
of which perhaps she had made
trial by binding him
and found he could not free himself from the bonds till
she loosed them; or otherwise they would have been afraid to have ventured to
lay hold upon him:
and put out his eyes; that should his strength
return to him
be might not be able to see where and whom to strike
and so be
incapable of doing much mischief any more; the word signifies
they
"dug" or "bored them"F9ינקרו
"effoderant"
Pagninus
Montanus
Tigurine version
Junius &
Tremelius
Piscator out; they plucked or cut out his eye balls
so that it was
impossible his sight should ever be recovered; according to the Arabic version
they blinded him by putting fire to his eyes; the Jews observe
that this was
done in just retaliation
measure for measure; Samson
they sayF11Misn.
Sotah. c. sect. 8.
went after his eyes; that is
by taking one harlot after
another; therefore the Philistines put out his eyes:
and brought him down to Gaza: which lay on the sea
coast
and therefore they are said to bring him down to it; here he had been
before of his own will
now against it; for in one instance he had acted to his
own shame
by going in to an harlot; and in another
to the shame and disgrace
of the city
and the inhabitants of it
by carrying off their city gates;
through which they now brought him in triumph
in order to repair the dishonour
done them: though
perhaps
the true reason of carrying him thither was
that
he might be at the greater distance from the Israelites
should they think of
rescuing him out of their hands; and especially because it was a very strong
fortified city
it had its name from strength; hence MelaF12De Situ
Orbis
l. 1. c. 11. calls it "Munita admodum Gaza"
and says
that
when Cambyses made war in Egypt
he carried his wealth and money to this place:
and bound him with fetters of brass; the Targum calls them
chains of brass
and the word being of the dual number
it is probable there
were two of them
with which he was bound the greater security:
and he did grind in the prison house; the motion of
mills by water or wind was as yet not invented
but it was usual
as it is
still in the eastern countries
to grind with hand mills
at which one or more
worked; or with mills moved around by beasts or slaves
and was a work
prisoners were employed in
Exodus 11:5 and
Samson being a strong man
they might expect much service from him this way.
The TalmudistsF13T. Bab. Sotah
fol. 10. 1. understand this in a
criminal sense
as they do Job 31:10 but this
is justly rejected by Kimchi.
Judges 16:22 22 However
the hair of his
head began to grow again after it had been shaven.
YLT
22And the hair of his head
beginneth to shoot up
when he hath been shaven
Howbeit
the hair of his head began to grow again after he was
shaven. It began to grow immediately no doubt
as it naturally would do;
but it is highly probable it grew in an extraordinary manner
and in a short
time became as when it was shavedF14כאשר גלח "ut rasus fuerat"
Tigurine version
Vatablus; "ut quum abraderetur"
Junius & Tremellius.
as it may
be rendered
and upon which his strength was renewed; not that his strength
naturally lay in his hair
and so naturally increased as that grew; but he
being made sensible of his sin
and repenting of it
renewed his Nazariteship
of which letting his hair grow was a token; and it pleased God
who accepted of
his repentance as genuine
of his own good will and pleasure to renew his
strength; particularly upon his prayer to him
after related.
Judges 16:23 23 Now the lords of the
Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god
and to rejoice. And they said: “Our god has delivered into our hands Samson our
enemy!”
YLT
23and the princes of the
Philistines have been gathered together to sacrifice a great sacrifice to Dagon
their god
and to rejoice; and they say
`Our god hath given into our hand
Samson our enemy.'
Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together
.... The five
lords
with their friends
not directly upon Samson's being taken and committed
to prison
but some time after; perhaps some months:
for to get a great sacrifice to Dagon their god; in later
times their god was called MarnasF15Hicron. in Isa. xvii. fol. 39.
K.
which signifies the lord of men
but now Dagon; who also had a temple at
Ashdod
another of the five principalities of the Philistines
1 Samuel 5:2 and
seems to have been at this time their common and chief deity: according to
Jarchi in the place referred to
it was in the form of a fish
for
"dag" in Hebrew signifies a fish; and Kimchi on the same place says
that from its navel upwards it was in the form of a man
and from thence
downwards in the form of a fishF16So David de Pomis Lexic. fol. 18.
3. & Milton in his Paradise Lost
l. 1. v. 462
463. "Dagon his name;
sea monster! upward man
And downward fish." ; and Diodorus SiculusF17Bibliothec.
l. 2. p. 92. & Ovid Metamorph. l. 4. Fab. 1. v. 44
&c. relates that
Derceto
a goddess of Ashkelon
another of the five principalities of
Palestine
its face was human
and the other part of its body resembled a fish;
and the same Lucian says of the Syrian goddess; and CiceroF18De
Natura Deorum
l. 3. testifies
that the Syrians worshipped a fish
and
PorphyryF19De Abstinentia
l. 2. sect. 6. says they will not eat
any; and Gaza being a maritime city
a sea port
this might be their sea god in
this form: but Ben Gersom in the above place says
it was in the form of a man;
and SanchoniathoF20Apud Euseb. Evangel. Praepar. l. 1. p. 36
37.
making mention of Dagan
a brother of Saturn
Philo Byblius
who translated his
history into Greek
interprets it by Siton
which signifies corn
deriving it
from Dagan
which so signifies; as if this deity presided over corn
as Ceres
in other nations
and Jupiter Frumentarius
or Aratrius; yea
he says he
invented corn and the plough; however this be
the Philistine princes met
together to sacrifice to him
not a common offering
but a great sacrifice. It
is very probable that this was a public festival of the Philistines
as
JosephusF21Antiqu. l. 5. c. 8. sect. 12. says
an anniversary one;
and perhaps was held in a more grand manner on the present occasion
since it
is added:
and to rejoice: for they said
our god hath delivered Samson our
enemy into our hands; for though Samson's harlot had done it
and they had paid her
for it
yet they attribute it to their god
such was their blindness and
stupidity; and yet this may shame us believers in the true God
who are so
backward to ascribe to him the great things he does for us
when such Heathens
were so forward to give glory to their false deities
without any foundation
for it.
Judges 16:24 24 When the people saw him
they praised their god; for they said: “Our god has delivered into our hands our
enemy
The destroyer
of our land
And
the one who multiplied our dead.”
YLT
24And the people see him
and
praise their god
for they said
`Our god hath given in our hand our enemy
and
he who is laying waste our land
and who multiplied our wounded.'
And when the people saw him
.... In the condition he
was
blinded and fettered
of whom and of his great exploits they had heard so
much: they praised their god; as Belshazzar did his
Daniel 5:4 in hymns
and songs composed for them
the substance of which was as follows:
for they said
our god hath delivered into our hands our enemy
and the destroyer of our country; as he had been
by tying
firebrands to the tails of three hundred foxes
and letting them go into their
cornfields
vineyards
and oliveyards:
which slew many of us; thirty men at Ashkelon
more at Timnath
and 1000 with the jawbone of an ass at Lehi.
Judges 16:25 25 So it happened
when their
hearts were merry
that they said
“Call for Samson
that he may perform for
us.” So they called for Samson from the prison
and he performed for them. And
they stationed him between the pillars.
YLT
25And it cometh to pass
when
their heart [is] glad
that they say
`Call for Samson
and he doth play before
us;' and they call for Samson out of the prison-house
and he playeth before
them
and they cause him to stand between the pillars.
And it came to pass when their hearts were merry
.... With
wine
for which Gaza is famous in many writersF23Vid. Rivinum de
Majumis
&c. c. 6. sect. 13. ; with eating and drinking
dancing
and
music; for it was usual for the Heathens to feast in their temples
and
especially no doubt they would on such an occasion as this:
and they said
call for Samson
that he may make us sport; by which it
seems that what is before said
"when the people saw him"
Judges 16:24 is
said by anticipation; for as yet he was not in the temple
but in the prison;
and therefore a motion was made by some of the great personages
that he might
be fetched from thence
and they might have some diversion with him:
and they called for Samson out of the prison house; sent some
messengers to fetch him from thence:
and he made them sport; not actively
but
passively; it cannot well be thought
that a man of so great a spirit as Samson
was
and in such circumstances as he now was
would ever
either by words or
gestures
do anything on purpose to divert his enemies
and make them laugh;
but he was the object of their sport and scorn
and he bore it patiently
their
cruel mockings
buffetings
and spittings; in which he was a type of Christ. It
was a diversion to them to see him in his rattling chains
groping
and blundering
along from post to pillar
one perhaps giving him a box of the ear
or a slap
of the face
another plucking him by his nose or beard
and another spitting in
his face
and others taunting at him
and reproaching him:
and they set him between the pillars; that he might
be the better seen
and in which there was the direction of Providence to bring
about what follows.
Judges 16:26 26 Then Samson said to the
lad who held him by the hand
“Let me feel the pillars which support the
temple
so that I can lean on them.”
YLT
26And Samson saith unto the
young man who is keeping hold on his hand
`Let me alone
and let me feel the
pillars on which the house is established
and I lean upon them.'
And Samson said to the lad that held him by the hand
.... And led
him about; as nothing is more common now than for a blind man to be led by a
boy:
suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth; he might by
information know in what manner the house was built
that it was supported by
pillars
if he had never been in it before when he had his sight; and he might
understand
by some means or another
that he was near these pillars
and
placed between them
though being blind
did not know which way to direct his
hands towards them to feel them
as he proposed to do
and therefore desired
the lad that led him to guide his hands towards them:
that I may lean upon them; being
as he might at
least pretend to be
weary
as Josephus saysF24Ut supra. (Antiqu. l.
5. c. 8. sect. 12.) ; either by grinding at the mill
or through being led to
and fro in this house
that all might see him
and cast their flouts and jeers
at him
Judges 16:27 27 Now the temple was full of
men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there—about three
thousand men and women on the roof watching while Samson performed.
YLT
27And the house hath been
full of men and of women
and thither [are] all the princes of the Philistines
and on the roof [are] about three thousand men and women
who are looking on
the playing of Samson.
Now the house was full of men and women
.... Within
it
who were gathered together from all parts of the city
and perhaps from
other places on this occasion:
and all the lords of the Philistines were there; their five
lords
the lords of Gaza
Ashdod
Ashkelon
Gath
and Ekron:
and there were upon the roof three thousand men and women; it being a
flat roof
as the houses in Canaan and Phoenicia
and the places adjacent
were; see Deuteronomy 22:8
and there might be some openings or windows in several parts of it
through
which the people might see who were below them
and were within the house
and
what was doing there
and particularly could have a sight of Samson through
them as follows:
that beheld while Samson made sport; or was made a sport of;
while he was buffeted and used in a ludicrous manner.
Judges 16:28 28 Then Samson called to the Lord
saying
“O
Lord God
remember me
I pray! Strengthen me
I pray
just this once
O God
that I may
with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!”
YLT
28And Samson calleth unto
Jehovah
and saith
`Lord Jehovah
remember me
I pray Thee
and strengthen me
I pray Thee
only this time
O God; and I am avenged -- vengeance at once --
because of my two eyes
on the Philistines.'
And Samson called unto the Lord
.... In an ejaculatory
manner
by mental prayer; though he might possibly express it aloud
without
being heard and observed by the people
amidst their noise and mirth; and if it
was heard
it might only furnish out more ridicule and contempt; and be it as
it may
the prayer must have been preserved by the Lord himself
and given by
inspiration to the writer of this book; since there were none that heard it
that lived to relate it to others
no
not Samson himself:
and said
O Lord God
remember me
I pray thee; the office
that I bear as judge of Israel
the reproaches cast upon me
and which fall
upon thy people
cause
and interest; remember thy lovingkindness
formerly
expressed to me
the gracious promises made unto me
and the help and
assistance I have had from thee:
and strengthen me
I pray thee
only this once
O God; and it was a
prayer of faith
as appears by its being heard
accepted
and answered; and
shows that his strength did not come with his hair
but was owing to the
immediate communication of it from the Lord:
that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes; once for all
and no more; take his last and final vengeance on them; or one vengeance for
his two eyes
or vengeance for one of his two eyes; either senses will bear.
This was said not from a private spirit of revenge for personal injuries; but
as a civil magistrate
a judge of Israel
whose office it was to be a revenger
to execute wrath; and though he mentions only his own eyes
yet he suffered the
loss of them
and every other indignity and injury
as a public person
the
common enemy of the Philistines
and destroyer of their country
and protector
of Israel; and in this character he now acted.
Judges 16:29 29 And Samson took hold of
the two middle pillars which supported the temple
and he braced himself
against them
one on his right and the other on his left.
YLT
29And Samson turneth aside
[to] the two middle pillars
on which the house is established
and on which it
is supported
[to] the one with his right hand
and one with his left;
And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars
upon which the
house stood
and on which it was borne up
.... Some have objected
that a building so large and so capacious as this was could not be supported by
two pillars
and those placed in the middle
and so near to each other that
Samson could lay hold on them; on which it has been observed
that the
architecture of the ancients is little known to us
and they might have curious
and ingenious arts of building
now lost; and several authors have taken notice
of two Roman theatres built by Curio
that held abundantly more people than
this house did
which were supported only by a single pin or hinge
as PlinyF25Nat.
Hist. l. 36. c. 15. relates; and our Westminster hall
which was built by
William Rufus
and is two hundred and seventy feet long
and seventy four broadF26Rapin's
History of England
vol. 1. p. 188.
and has a roof the largest in all Europe
is supported without any pillars at all; add to all which
that mention being
made of the two middle pillars of this house
supposes that there were others
in other parts of it
though these were the main and principal ones
on which
the weight of the building chiefly lay. Kimchi observes
that the word
signifies to incline or bend
as if Samson made the pillars to bend or bow; but
it is a better sense that he laid hold of them:
of the one with his right hand
and the other with his left; and thus he
stood with his arms stretched out
as Jesus on the cross
of whom he was a
type
as often observed.
Judges 16:30 30 Then Samson said
“Let me
die with the Philistines!” And he pushed with all his might
and the
temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead
that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life.
YLT
30and Samson saith
`Let me
die with the Philistines
' and he inclineth himself powerfully
and the house
falleth on the princes
and on all the people who [are] in it
and the dead
whom he hath put to death in his death are more than those whom he put to death
in his life.
And Samson said
let me die with the Philistines
.... He sought
their death
and was content to lose his own life to be avenged on them; in
neither of which did he act a criminal part as a judge of Israel; and from a
public spirit he might desire the death of their enemies
and seek to effect it
by all means possible; and was the more justifiable at this time
as they were
not only insulting him
the representative of his nation
but were affronting
the most high God with their idolatries
being now in the temple of their idol
and sacrificing to him. As for his own death
he did not simply desire that
only as he could not be avenged on his enemies without it
he was willing to
submit to it; nor did he lay hands on himself
and cannot be charged with being
guilty of suicide
and did no other than what a man of valour and public spirit
will do; who for the good of his country will not only expose his life to
danger in common
but for the sake of that will engage in a desperate
enterprise
when he knows most certainly that he must perish in it. Besides
Samson said this
and did what he did under the direction and influence of the
Spirit of God; and herein was a type of Christ
who freely laid down his life
for his people
that he might destroy his and their enemies:
and he bowed himself with all his might
having fresh
strength
and a large measure of it given him at this instant
which he had
faith in
and therefore made the attempt
and for which he is reckoned among
the heroes for faith in Hebrews 11:32.
and the house fell upon the lords
and upon all the people that
were therein; who were all killed
and Samson himself; an emblem this of the
destruction of Satan
and his principalities and powers
by the death of
Christ:
so the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which
he slew in his life; for besides the lords
and they that were in the house
there
were 3000 men and women on the roof
which fell in
and lost their lives also
so that it is very likely there were at least 6000 or 7000 slain; Philo Byblius
says 40
000
which is not probable; whereas in his life we only read of 1000
slain by him with the jawbone
besides thirty men at Ashkelon
and the
slaughter made when he smote hip and thigh
the number of which is not known.
As this house pulled down by Samson is generally thought to be the temple of
Dagon
a travellerF1Baumgarten. Perogrinatio
l. 2. c. 3. p. 27.
Vid. Adrichom. Theatrum Terrae S. p. 134. in those parts tells us
that there
is now extant the temple of Dagon in half demolished
and the pillars of it are
yet to be seen; but he doubtless mistakes an edifice of a later construction
for it: and another travellerF2Sandy's Travels
l. 3. p. 116. of our
own country says
on the northeast corner and summit of the hill (on which the
city is built) are the ruins of huge arches sunk low in the earth
and other
foundations of a stately building; the Jews
adds he
do fable this place to
have been the theatre of Samson pulled down on the heads of the Philistines; but
he takes it to be the ruins of a later building; See Gill on 1 Samuel 5:2.
Judges 16:31 31 And his brothers and all
his father’s household came down and took him
and brought him up and
buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of his father Manoah. He had
judged Israel twenty years.
YLT
31And his brethren come down
and all the house of his father
and lift him up
and bring him up
and bury
him between Zorah and Eshtaol
in the burying-place of Manoah his father; and
he hath judged Israel twenty years.
Then his brethren
and all the house of his father
came down
.... To Gaza
having heard of what had befallen him there. This must be understood of his
kindred and near relations
those of his father's family; though it is not
unlikely that he had brethren in a proper sense
since though his mother was
barren before his birth
yet afterwards might have many children
as Hannah
had
whose case was similar to her's:
and took him and brought him up; took his body out of the
ruins of the house
and brought him up on a bier
or some proper carriage
to
his own country; and perhaps in great funeral pomp
as a judge of Israel; nor
need it be wondered at that the Philistines should admit of it
it being usual
in all ages
and among all people
to allow even an enemy to bury their dead;
besides Samson's friends had done them no injury
only Samson himself
and the
Israelites in general were quiet and peaceable under their government; add to
this
they were now in distress themselves for their own dead
and might be in
some fear of the Israelites falling upon them
and attempting to deliver
themselves out of their hands
since their five lords were dead
and no doubt
many more of their principal men with them; so that they might judge this was
not a proper time to refuse such a favour
lest it should occasion a quarrel
which they were not in a condition to engage in; and had Israel taken this
opportunity
in all likelihood they might have freed themselves from them:
and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol
in the burying place of
Manoah his father; the former of these seems to have been his native place
and the
other was near it; and between these the Spirit of the Lord first began to move
him
and here his father's sepulchre was
in which he was laid; see Judges 13:2 and he
judged Israel twenty years; by distressing and weakening their enemies; and
though he did not complete their deliverance out of their hands
yet no doubt
their oppressions were fewer
and their burdens easier
on his account; the
time of his judging Israel is observed before
Judges 15:20 and
here repeated for the confirmation of it
and the rather because they were now
ended by his death. Ben Gersom observes
that this is said to show that the
time that Samson dwelt in the land of the Philistines is included in these
twenty years; some would infer from hence that he judged Israel forty years
twenty in the days of the Philistines
as it is expressed in the above place;
that is
when they had the dominion over Israel
and twenty more afterwards;
but it does not appear that their dominion over Israel ceased in his time. In
the Jerusalem TalmudF3T. Hieros. Sotah
fol. 17. 2. it is also said
that he judged Israel forty years
but for it there is no foundation; nor is
the reason given of any force
that the Philistines feared him twenty years
after his death; the other TalmudF4T. Bab. Sotah
fol. 10. 1. says
he judged Israel twenty two years; but the word "two" is put into a
parenthesis.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)