Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 15:11
Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines [are] rulers over us? what [is] this [that] thou hast done unto us? And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so have I done unto them.
The dispirited men of Judah were prepared to give up their champion, in order to conciliate their masters. This shows how hard was the task of the Judge, whose office it was to restore his countrymen to freedom and independence.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 11. Three thousand men of Judah went] It appears evidently from this that Samson was strongly posted, and they thought that no less than three thousand men were necessary to reduce him.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
What is this that thou hast done unto us? thou hast by these actions punished not them, as thou intendest; but us, who being under their dominion, are sure to smart for it.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Then three thousand of Judah went up to the top of the rock of Etam,…. Or “went down” g; that is, into the cave of the rock of Etam, as the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions; and so it is taken by David de Pomis h for a cave dug in the rock: this was a large number that went to take one man; the reason is, they knew his great strength:
and said to Samson, knowest thou not that the Philistines are rulers over us? and therefore it must be a very unwise thing to disoblige and provoke them, when it lay in their power to oppress them yet more and more, to increase their tribute, and make their burdens heavier, and even take away their lives:
what is this that thou hast done unto us? they ask not what he had done to them, but unto us; though they mean that, but express themselves thus, because what he had done to the Philistines was the occasion of their coming up against them, and so eventually it was doing them ill:
and he said unto them, as they did unto me, so have I done to them; they had done him ill, and therefore he did ill to them; they had burnt his wife and her father with fire, and he had slain many of them; at least this was what he thought fit to say in his own vindication; otherwise what he did was not in a way of private revenge, but on account of the injury done to the people of Israel, he taking what was done to them as done to himself, the chief magistrate and judge of Israel.
g , “et descenderunt”, Pagninus, Montanus; “descenderunt ergo”, V. L. Tigurine version. h Tzemach David, fol. 112. 3.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(11) Went to the top of the rock Etam.Rather, went down to the cave of the rock Etam. They would easily gain information as to Samsons hiding-place.
What is this that thou hast done unto us?The abject condition into which the Lion Tribe had sunk can best be estimated by this reproach against the national hero, and still more by their baseness in betraying him. He finds no sympathy. There are no patriots in search of heroes. What might not this 3,000 have achieved if they had been like Gideons 300?
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
11. Went to the top of the rock Hebrew, went down, that is, from the higher hill country of Judah.
Knowest thou not that the Philistines are rulers over us The lion of Judah was cowed by the presence of the enemy; and so utterly humbled and subdued by the Philistines were the leaders of this tribe that they readily became instruments in their hands to capture and deliver up to them their nation’s great champion.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jdg 15:11 a
‘Then three thousand of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Etam.’
The onus was on the men of Judah to hand Samson over, but they were aware what a great task they had. So they sent three military units down from the hill country to arrest him, and even with that many they were wary.
What a contrast is found between the men of Judah here and those described in Jdg 1:2-20. How were the mighty fallen. They were no longer mighty warriors but submissive tributaries pleading with a hero to give himself up. In its disunity and lack of faith in Yahweh the tribal confederacy had failed. It awaited a strong and godly leader. And while Samson’s activities were partially successful he was not a leader of men. He tended to be a loner.
Jdg 15:11 b
‘And said to Samson, “Do you not realise that the Philistines are rulers over us? What then is this that you have done to us?” And he said to them, “As they have done to me, so have I done to them.” ’
Their words were probably tongue in cheek for they had probably had many a good laugh over what Samson had done, but officially they had to express disapproval. So a formal statement was issued to him by messenger. Why had he rebelled against their masters? His reply was simple. He had only done to them what they had done to him. It was just that he liked solid revenge. Both were aware that what he had done had mainly been as an effort to weaken the Philistines. Others were planning a rebellion (1Sa 4:1) but he was preparing the way.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jdg 15:11 Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines [are] rulers over us? what [is] this [that] thou hast done unto us? And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so have I done unto them.
Ver. 11. As they did unto me. ] He pleadeth ius talionis, for his own defence. This would not have held good if Samson had been a private person, and the wrong had been done to himself only, Pro 20:22 ; Pro 24:19 ; Pro 17:13 Rom 12:17 ; Rom 12:19 though tallying of injuries is by carnal people held but justice, and counted manhood; whereas indeed it is doghood rather. But public revenge is justly exercised by the magistrate; who yet must not rashly make war, but remember what was once gravely spoken by our Henry VII: If we princes should take every occasion that is offered, the world should never be quiet, but wearied with continual brawls.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
went: Heb. went down
the rock Etam: Probably near the town Etam, mentioned in 1Ch 4:32.
Philistines: Jdg 13:1, Jdg 14:4, Deu 28:13, Deu 28:47, Deu 28:48, Psa 106:41
Reciprocal: Deu 28:43 – General 1Ki 20:4 – I am thine Pro 24:29 – I will do Rev 8:10 – the fountains
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jdg 15:11-12. What hast thou done unto us? Thou hast by these actions punished, not them only, but us, who are sure to smart for it. We are come down to bind thee Why not rather to fight under thy banner? Because sin dispirits men, nay, infatuates them, and hides from their eyes the things that belong to their peace. That we may deliver thee to the Philistines This shows how dastardly the tribe of Judah was grown, and how much they stood in fear of the Philistines, that they should so readily give up a person of such extraordinary strength and courage, and who was so capable of annoying their enemies. But they seem not to have considered him as a judge or deliverer appointed for them by God, but as a mere private man, who acted of his own will, and who had rashly stirred up the anger of the Philistines, with whom they were afraid to contend: and Samson, to make them easy, and that no damage might come upon them, consented that they should deliver him bound to the Philistines; knowing that his strength would be sufficient to break whatever cords they should bind him with. Swear unto me Not that he feared them, or could not as easily have conquered them as he did the host of the Philistines: but because he would be free from all temptation of doing them harm, though it were in his own defence.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
15:11 Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines [are] rulers over us? {g} what [is] this [that] thou hast done unto us? And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so have I done unto them.
(g) Such was their gross ignorance, that they judged God’s great benefits to be a plague to them.