Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 15:4
And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between two tails.
4. three hundred foxes ] The fox is a solitary animal, and to catch 300 would be impossible for any one but Samson. It seems a pity to lessen the marvel in the interests of prosaic probability by translating jackals, animals which roam in packs, though the word can mean this, Psa 63:10, Neh 4:3 RVm. etc. The grotesque trick was thoroughly relished by the story-tellers. Curious parallels to it are quoted from different quarters. Among the heathen Arabs in time of drought cattle, with lighted torches tied to their tails, were driven to the mountains in the hope of bringing down rain (Wellhausen, Reste Arab. Heidentums 2 , 167). At Rome foxes, treated in the same way, were let loose into the Circus during the Cerealia (April 12 19), the intention being to represent symbolically, and by substitute, the fires which were so often fatal to the ripe corn in the heat of the Dog-days. Ovid gives a rationalistic explanation of the custom in Fasti iv. 679 712 (see Preller, Rmische Mythologie 3 , ii. 43 f.). Possibly a symbolic rite of this kind may have been practised, as an exorcism, among the Canaanites or even the Israelites in the Danite district, and Samson associated with it in popular story. If such was the case, Samson was made to play the part which properly belonged to the Sun-god.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Foxes – Rather, jackals, which are still very common in Palestine, especially about Joppa and Gaza. 1Sa 13:17 and Jos 15:28; Jos 19:3, are indications of the abundance of foxes or jackals giving names to places, especially in the country of the Phililstines. It belongs to Samsons character, and agrees with the incident about the lion, that he should be an expert hunter. Ovid relates a very curious custom at Rome of letting loose foxes with lighted torches fastened to their tails in the circus at the Cerealia, in commemoration of the damage once done to the standing grain by a fox which a rustic had wrapped in hay and straw and set on fire, and which, running away, put the grain-fields in a blaze. This custom, which may have had a Phoenician origin, is a curious illustration of the narrative.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 4. Went and caught three hundred foxes] There has been much controversy concerning the meaning of the term shualim, some supposing it to mean foxes or jackals, and others handfuls or sheaves of corn. Much of the force of the objections against the common version will be diminished by the following considerations: –
1. Foxes, or jackals, are common and gregarious in that country.
2. It is not hinted that Samson collected them alone; he might have employed several hands in this work.
3. It is not said he collected them all in one day; he might have employed several days, as well as many persons, to furnish him with these means of vengeance.
4. In other countries, where ferocious beasts were less numerous, great multitudes have been exhibited at once. Sylla, in a public show to the Roman citizens, exhibited one hundred lions; Caesar, four hundred, and Pompey, nearly six hundred. The Emperor Probus let loose in the theatre, at one time, one thousand ostriches, one thousand stags, one thousand wild boars, one thousand does, and a countless multitude of other wild animals; at another time he exhibited one hundred leopards from Libya, one hundred from Syria, and three hundred bears. – See Flavius Vopiscus in the Life of Probus, cap. xix., beginning with Dedit Romanis etiam voluptates, c.
That foxes, or the creature called shual, abounded in Judea, is evident from their frequent mention in Scripture, and from several places bearing their name. 1. It appears they were so numerous that even their cubs ruined the vineyards see Canticles: So 2:15: Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil our vines. Jeremiah complains that the foxes had occupied the mountains of Judea, La 5:18. They are mentioned as making incursions into enclosures, c., Ne 4:3. Ezekiel compares the numerous false prophets to these animals, Eze 13:4. In Jos 15:28 we find a place called Hazar Shual, “the court of the foxes:” and in Jos 19:42 a place called Shaal-abbin, “the foxes” no doubt from the number of those animals in that district. And mention is made of the land of Shual, or of the fox, 1Sa 13:17.
The creature called shual is represented by travellers and naturalists who have been in Judea as an animal between a wolf and a fox. Hasselquist, who was on the spot, and saw many of them, calls it the little Eastern fox. They are frequent in the East, and often destroy infirm persons and children.
Dr. Kennicott, however, objects to the common interpretation; and gives reasons, some of which are far from being destitute of weight. “The three hundred foxes,” says he, “caught by Samson, have been so frequently the subject of banter and ridicule, that we should consider whether the words may not admit a more rational interpretation: for, besides the improbability arising here from the number of these foxes, the use made of them is also very strange. If these animals were tied tail to tail, they would probably pull contrary ways, and consequently stand still; whereas a firebrand tied to the tail of each fox singly would have been far more likely to answer the purpose here intended. To obviate these difficulties it has been well remarked, that the word shualim, here translated foxes, signifies also handfuls, Eze 13:19, handfuls of barley; if we leave out that one letter vau, which has been inserted or omitted elsewhere, almost at pleasure. No less than seven Hebrew MSS. want that letter here, and read shealim. Admitting this version, we see that Samson took three hundred handfuls or sheaves of corn, and one hundred and fifty firebrands; that he turned the sheaves end to end, and put a firebrand between the two ends in the midst; and then, setting the brands on fire, sent the fire into the standing corn of the Philistines. The same word is now used twice in one chapter, (Eze 13:4; Eze 13:19); in the former verse signifying foxes, in the latter handfuls: and in 1Kg 20:10, where we render it handfuls, it is , foxes, in the Greek version.” – Remarks on Select Passages.
The reasoning of Dr. Kennicott in the first part of this criticism has already been answered; other parts shall be considered below. Though there are seven MSS., which agree in the reading contended for by Dr. Kennicott, yet all the versions are on the other side. I see no improbability in the common version.
Turned tail to tail] Had he put a firebrand to each, which Dr. Kennicott thinks more reasonable, the creature, naturally terrified at fire, would have instantly taken to cover, and thus the design of Samson would have been frustrated. But, tying two of them together by their tails, they would frequently thwart each other in running, pull hither and thither, and thus make the greater devastation. Had he tied them all together, the confusion would have been so great that no execution could have been done.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
There were great numbers of foxes in Canaan, as appears from Neh 4:3; Psa 63:10; Son 2:15; Lam 5:18; Eze 13:4. So that divers places there have their names from the foxes which abounded there; as Jos 15:28; 19:42; 1Sa 13:17. Add to this, that some learned men conceive that the Hebrew name schual is more general, and contains not only the foxes, but another sort of creature very like to them, called thoes, whereof there were so many, there, that sometimes two hundred of them have been met together in one company, its some who have lived in those parts have left upon record. But infidels are much scandalized at this history, and pretend it incredible that Samson should catch so many foxes together; so nice and delicate is the faith of these men in things concerning God and Scripture, that can devour things ten times more difficult and absurd, concerning the production of the world, and of men, &c. But there is no cause of wonder here, for any man that is tolerably wise; for it is not said that Samson caught them all, either at one time, or by his own hands; for being so eminent a person, and the judge of Israel, he might require assistance of as many persons as he pleased, and all his people would readily assist him; nor can it at all perplex any mans reason or faith, if it be allowed that the God who made the world, and by his singular providence watched over Israel, and intended them deliverance at this time, could easily dispose things so that they might be taken. He chose to do this exploit, not by his brethren, whom he would preserve from the envy, and hatred, and mischief which that might have occasioned to them, but by brute creatures, thereby to add scorn and contempt to their calamity, and particularly by foxes; partly, because they were fittest for the purpose, being creatures very fearful of fire; and having such tails as the firebrands might most conveniently be tied to; and not going directly forward, trot crookedly and involvedly, whereby the fire was likely to be dispersed in more places.
Fire-brands; made of such matter as would quickly take fire, and keep it for a long time; which was easy to procure.
Between two tails, that the foxes might not make too much haste, nor run into their holes, but one of them might delay and stop another in his course, and so continue longer in the places where they were to do execution.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4, 5. went and caught three hundredfoxesrather, “jackals”; an animal between a wolf anda fox, which, unlike our fox, a solitary creature, prowls in largepacks or herds and abounds in the mountains of Palestine. Thecollection of so great a number would require both time andassistance.
took firebrandstorchesor matches which would burn slowly, retaining the fire, and blazefiercely when blown by the wind. He put two jackals together, tail bytail, and fastened tightly a fire match between them. At nightfall helighted the firebrand and sent each pair successively down from thehills, into the “Shefala,” or plain of Philistia, lying onthe borders of Dan and Judah, a rich and extensive corn district. Thepain caused by the fire would make the animals toss about to a wideextent, kindling one great conflagration. But no one could renderassistance to his neighbor: the devastation was so general, the panicwould be so great.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes,…. Nor should this be thought at all incredible, since Canaan and Palestine abounded with foxes; hence several places therein had their names of Shual, which signifies a fox, Jos 15:28. A traveller w in those parts says that foxes swarm there, and that there are very great numbers of them in the hedges, and ruins of buildings: and these creatures were very pernicious to vines, and so may reasonably be thought to be about Timnath in great numbers, because of the vineyards there, Jud 14:5, besides, there is no necessity of supposing that Samson took all these himself, he might employ others in catching them for him, nor that he took them at the same time, on one and the same day; he might be many days and weeks about it, and keep them up until he had got his number: to which may be added, there was a creature in those parts very much like a fox, called Thoes, which, as Bellonius x says, were about Caesarea and Palestina, and go two hundred in company; and so making use of proper means, which Samson was not unacquainted with, great numbers might be taken together; but, above all, it may be observed, that as this was under the direction of the divine Providence, God could easily cause such a number of creatures to be gathered together, and taken, as he ordered all the living creatures, as by an instinct, to come into the ark to Noah:
and he took fire brands; or rather torches, made of oily and resinous matter, which were not easily extinguished:
and turned tail to tail; took two foxes, and tied their tails together with a cord, giving them room enough to run about, as such creatures do, not forward, but in a crooked, flexuous manner, here and there:
and put a firebrand in the midst between two tails: which torch seems to have been fastened to the cord with which the tails were tied; he did not put a firebrand or torch to the tail of every single fox, which then would have made its way to its own den, but between two, which could not enter into one hole, and would draw different ways, and stop each other, and so do greater damage to the fields and vineyards into which they came.
w Morrison’s Voyage, l. 2. c. 31. apud Calmet in the word “Fox”. x L. 2. c. 11. apud Scheuchzer. Physic. Sacr. vol. 3. p. 476.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
He therefore went and caught three hundred shualim, i.e., jackals, animals which resemble foxes and are therefore frequently classed among the foxes even by the common Arabs of the present day (see Niebuhr, Beschr. v. Arab. p. 166). Their European name is derived from the Persian schaghal. These animals, which are still found in great quantities at Joppa, Gaza, and in Galilee, herd together, and may easily be caught (see Rosenmller, Bibl. Althk. iv. 2, pp. 155ff.). He then took torches, turned tail to tail, i.e., coupled the jackals together by their tails, putting a torch between the two tails, set the torches on fire, and made the animals run into the fields of standing corn belonging to the Philistines. Then he burned “ from the shocks of wheat to the standing grain and to the olive gardens, ” i.e., the shocks of wheat as well as the standing corn and the olive plantations. are joined together in the construct state.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(4) Caught three hundred foxes.Rather, three hundred jackals. The word Shualim is used for both; but it would be difficult to catch three hundred foxes, whereas the jackals are still heard howling in herds about these very regions at night. They must have been still more common in Palestine in ancient days, and hence we find such names as the land of Shual (1Sa. 13:17), Hazar-shual (jackals enclosure, Jos. 15:28), Shalim (1Sa. 11:4), Shaalabbin (place of foxes or jackals, Jos. 19:42). There would be no difficulty in trapping them; nor is it said that they were all let loose at once.
Turned tail to tail.This implies that he tied the tails together (LXX., sunedsen; Vulag.,junxit).
Put a firebrand in the midst.The firebrands were pieces of resinous wood, like Gideons torches (Jdg. 7:20), which were loosely trailed between the tails of the jackals. The object of tying two together was to impede their motion a little, so that they might not dart away so violently as to extinguish the torch.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4. Caught three hundred foxes We are not to suppose that he caught them alone, or in a single day, nor that foxes were as scarce in Palestine then as they are now. The Hebrew word for foxes, shualim, is also used of jackals, and these latter are, doubtless, the animals which Samson caught for his purpose. They are gregarious in their habits, and may be easily taken in large numbers by means of traps and pitfalls. Dr. Kennicott felt that this narrative was so improbable that he sought out what he thought a more rational explanation, and, on the authority of seven Hebrew MSS., he read , handfuls, instead of , foxes, and supposed that Samson “ took three hundred handfuls, or sheaves, of corn, and one hundred and fifty firebrands; that he turned the sheaves end to end, and put a firebrand between the two ends,” and so accomplished his work of destruction. To this, however, it is replied: 1. Even granting the proposed reading handfuls, the word cannot mean sheaves. 2. The verb , rendered caught, is never used of taking handfuls or sheaves of grain, but always of seizing something by violence or stratagem, and is specially used of catching animals. 3. Then the task of bringing three hundred sheaves together in the open field, and using them as Kennicott supposes, would have been a difficulty as great as the one he seeks to explain away, and would have exposed Samson to detection and opposition before he could well have accomplished his purpose. We abide, therefore, by the common reading, and on the supposed difficulty of catching three hundred foxes we give Dr. Thomson’s very comprehensive statement: “It is probable that by foxes jackals are intended; and these are even now extremely numerous. I have had more than one race after them, and over the very theatre of Samson’s exploit. When encamped out in the plain with a part of Ibrahim Pasha’s army, in 1834, we were serenaded all night long by troops of these hideous howlers. But if we must limit Samson to the ordinary fox, even these are to be found here. I started up and chased one when I passed over that part of the plain where Timnath is believed to have been situated. In those days this country was infested with all sorts of wild animals to an extent which seems to us incredible. This is evident from the almost numberless incidental allusions in the Bible; but the use of firearms for so many centuries has either totally exterminated whole classes, or obliged them to retire into the remote and unfrequented deserts. Not having firearms, the ancients were much more skilful than the moderns in the use of snares, nets, and pits for capturing wild animals. A large class of biblical figures and allusions necessarily presuppose this state of things. Job and David, and all the poets and prophets, continually refer in their complaints to snares, nets, pits, etc. We are justified, therefore, in believing that, at the time in question, the commander of Israel could, with no great difficulty, collect even three hundred foxes. We want no correction of the text to render the whole account credible, nor need we call in the aid of miracles.
It was merely a cunning device of Israel’s champion to inflict a terrible chastisement upon his enemies.”
Firebrands Or, torches. The Hebrew word is the same as that rendered lamps in Jdg 7:16. These torches, one hundred and fifty in number, and made of material that would probably long hold fire and burn, were what Samson set on fire, not the tails of the foxes.
Turned tail to tail The sense obviously is that two foxes were fastened together by a cord tied to their tails a cord perhaps several yards long and when he put a firebrand in the midst between two tails, they would probably at first pull in opposite directions; but when they saw the brands on fire, and themselves freed from the hands of their captors, they would be likely to learn very soon to run in parallel lines, and would thus scatter the fire with most disastrous effect through the neighbouring corn-fields. “On this and on many other matters,” says Dr. Kitto, “people write large dissertations to prove or disprove points which might be determined in five minutes by a simple experiment. We happened lately to see two dogs somewhat similarly attached, and paused to see how they would act. They wasted some minutes in rather awkward movements, but, finding the futility of their efforts, they inclined their heads to each other, and, after a hasty consultation, turned round so as to bring their bodies parallel to each other, and then ran off with considerable speed. Now foxes have not the reputation of being duller than dogs.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ And Samson went and caught three hundred jackals, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand between each set of two tails.’
Samson then caught three hundred jackals, which move in packs and are easier to catch than foxes (the word can mean either fox or jackal), and, tying them in twos, fitted a torch or firebrand between each pair, thus fitting about one hundred and fifty torches in all.
His task was carried out purposefully. The collecting of three hundred jackals would take some time, and he would then require assistance to attach the torches (or firebrands). But he knew what he was going to do and set his face to do it. The torches would smoulder and burst into flame when the jackals started running. And the more they flamed the more the jackals would run. It was not very pleasant for the jackals, and would certainly not have been appreciated today, but such scavenging animals were given little consideration in those days. The fastening in pairs was in order to prevent them from seeking refuge down holes.
“Three hundred.” It is noticeable throughout the account that ‘three’ is predominant in numbering men and animals, and that there is progression as his impact increases. Thirty companions (Jdg 14:11), thirty men slain in Ashkelon (Jdg 14:19), three hundred jackals released among their crops, three thousand men of Judah who arrested him (Jdg 15:11) followed by three thousand men and women on the roof of the Temple where Samson died (Jdg 16:27). The stress is on completeness of judgment and God’s progression towards that completeness.
There may here be another significance in the numbers. The jackals were tied in pairs making one hundred and fifty messengers of judgment, five times more than the initial ‘theft’ from Samson. The Law stated that restitution for theft should be fivefold in the case of an ox (Exo 22:1). Samson was exacting his own restitution for the theft of his wife.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jdg 15:4. And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes Samson was moved to take a wife from the Philistines, in order to find occasion against them: such occasions are seldom long wanting where marriages of this kind are contracted between persons of different countries, different religions, or different interests. Samson had sufficient cause for that resentment which he executed, as we read in this and the following verses. 1. Some have thought it difficult to believe, that Samson could get together so great a number of foxes; but it should be remembered, First, That these creatures were, and at this time are extremely numerous in Judea; insomuch that several places had their names from them; see Jos 15:28; Jos 19:42. 1Sa 13:17 and they are spoken of very commonly in Scripture as thus numerous. See Son 2:15. Psa 63:10-11. Secondly, Under the name of foxes may be comprehended creatures nearly resembling that animal, called thocs, which go together in herds, so that two hundred have been seen in company together. Thirdly, It will not appear so incredible, that Samson should collect so many foxes, when we recollect from the Roman history, that Sylla produced at the shews which he gave the Roman people, one hundred lions, Caesar four hundred, Pompey near six hundred, and others innumerable different animals. Fourthly, If the sacred historian had said that Samson caught these three hundred foxes in one day, or one night, the difficulty might be greater; but, possibly, he might employ a month or more in the accomplishment of this design, and have been assisted in it by his servants, neighbours, and friends. These animals were caught in nets, and on account of their length of tail were most proper for his purpose. 2. These observations seem sufficiently to justify the present version; we must not, however, omit to mention, that another has been offered, though we apprehend it will not stand the test of critical inquiry. It is proposed to render the words, now translated three hundred foxes, by three hundred sheaves of corn; to support which, it is to be observed, that instead of shualim in the Hebrew, we should read schealim, which properly signifies sheaves: and that zanab, which we translate tail, signifying the end, or utmost part of any thing, we may, according to this version, suppose that Samson set fire to three hundred standing shocks of corn, by laying two sheaves between each shock to make a communication, and by putting fire to those intermediate sheaves. See Mr. Chais on the passage, where the reader will find a refutation of this criticism.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
I pass over the other considerations here noticed to remark the most interesting, namely, of the suitable punishment on the house of Samson’s wife’s father. The Reader will recollect the treachery of his wife to get out of Samson the riddle, was to prevent the threatened destruction of her father’s house by fire; and now the Lord suffers the very ruin which she had studied to avoid to fall upon her and her house, from the instrumentality of the husband she had injured. Our blessed Lord sweetly explains, in a reference to his holy gospel, the wisdom of doing what the Lord appoints, and of leaving the issue with him. He that will save his life, saith Christ, shall lose it: and he that will lose his life for my sake, and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. Mar 8:35 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jdg 15:4 And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between two tails.
Ver. 4. And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes. ] Whereof that country was full, Son 2:15 Psa 63:10 and he might herein use the help of his friends. The Philistines vulpinando had got away his wife from him, as Herod that fox had done his brother Philip’s: by foxes therefore they are fitly plagued.
And put a firebrand in the midst between two tails.
a Evag., lib. i. cap. 9. Schluss., de Stanc., p. 87. Schluss., de Sect. Manich.
foxes = jackals These go in packs, foxes go alone.
firebrands = torches.
caught three: Dr. Kennicott and others contend, that for shualim, “foxes,” we should read shoalim, “handfuls,” or sheaves of corn. But:
1. The word lachad, rendered caught, never signifies simply to get or take but always to catch, seize, or take by assault or stratagem.
2. Though the proposed alteration is sanctioned by seven manuscripts, yet all the versions are on the other side.
3. Admitting this alteration, it will be difficult to prove that the word shoal means either a sheaf or a handful of corn in the ear, and straw. It occurs but thrice in Scriptures (1Ki 20:10. Isa 40:12. Eze 13:9): where it evidently means as much as can be contained in the hollow of the hand; but when handfuls of grain in the shock, or sheaves are intended, very different words are used. See note on Rth 2:15-16, etc.
4. It is not hinted that Samson collected them alone, or in one day; he might have employed many hands and several days in the work.
5. The word shual properly denotes the jackal, which travellers describe as an animal in size between the wolf and fox, gregarious, as many as 200 having been seen together, and the most numerous of any in eastern countries; so that Samson might have caught many of them together in nets. Psa 63:10, Son 2:15, Lam 5:18
firebrands: or, torches
Reciprocal: Exo 22:6 – so that the stacks of corn 2Sa 14:30 – go and set
Jdg 15:4. Samson went and caught three hundred foxes Foxes were extremely numerous in Canaan, and several places received their name from them, as Hazar-shual, or, the gate of the fox, in the tribe of Judah; and Shaalbim, or Shaalabbim, in the tribe of Dan, Jos 19:42; Jdg 1:35. They are accordingly frequently spoken of in Scripture as numerous: see Son 2:15; Psa 63:10. Under this name foxes, likewise, as Bishop Patrick observes, may be comprehended a species of creatures called thoes, and by the Hebrews, ijim, which go together in large herds, so that, as authors of undoubted veracity have asserted, two hundred have been seen in a company. The Hebrew word, , shual, a fox, will likewise comprehend other animals of the same size. It must be further observed, that it is not said that Samson caught all these foxes at one time, or by his own hands. There might be a week, or even a months time allowed for the accomplishment of his design, in which his servants and friends may be supposed to have assisted him. Again, they were not caught, as some imagine, only by hunting, but in snares and nets, as Bochart has shown in his Hierozoicon, in which he treats of the animals mentioned in the Scriptures: see lib. 3. cap. 13., where, in answer to those who inquire why Samson chose foxes rather than dogs, or some other creatures, that learned man thinks it sufficient to say, that Samson accomplished two ends by this proceeding, both freeing the country from a large number of obnoxious animals, and making them instrumental in executing his revenge on the Philistines. And took firebrands Made of such matter as would quickly take fire, and keep it for a long time. This he might easily procure. And turned tail to tail, &c. It was an artful contrivance of Samson to fix the brands to the foxes in pairs, because their efforts to run different ways, or not directly in the same track, would lessen their speed, and keep them longer in the places where they were to do execution. It would also prevent the foxes from running into their holes, and from expatiating further than he intended: for his design was to consume only the corn of the Philistines, and not that of the Israelites, which was secured by this precaution.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments