Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 16:25
And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.
25. he made sport before them ] in the court, we may suppose, in front of the house, i.e. the temple of Dagon. When the sport was over, Samson was set among the pillars of the open hall or porch of the temple, where the crowd could satisfy their curiosity by a nearer view.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
That he may make us sport – Rather, that he may play for us, i. e. dance and make music. At an idolatrous feast, dancing was always accompanied with vocal and instrumental music.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 25. Call for Samson, that he may make us sport] What the sport was we cannot tell; probably it was an exhibition of his prodigious strength. This seems to be intimated by what is said, Jdg 16:22, of the restoration of his hair; and the exertions he was obliged to make will account for the weariness which gave him the pretence to ask for leave to lean against the pillars. Some think he was brought out to be a laughing-stock, and that he was variously insulted by the Philistines; hence the version of the Septuagint: , and they buffeted him. Josephus, Antiq. Jud. lib. v., cap. 8, s. 12, says: He was brought out, , that they might insult him in their cups.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He made them sport; either, first, Passively, being made by them the matter of their sport and derision, and of many bitter scoffs, and other indignities or injuries; or, secondly Actively, by some ridiculous actions, or some proofs of more than ordinary strength yet remaining in him, like the ruins of a great and goodly building; whereby he halted them asleep in security, until by this seeming complaisance he prepared the way for that which he designed; otherwise his generous soul would never have been forced to make them sport, save in order to their destruction.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And it came to pass when their hearts were merry,…. With wine, for which Gaza is famous in many writers w; 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”, Jud 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.
w Vid. Rivinum de Majumis, &c. c. 6. sect. 13.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(25) When their hearts were merry.Comp. Jdg. 9:27; 1Sa. 25:36; Est. 1:10.
That he may make us sport.Whether by his forced jests, or by feats of strength, or merely by being made to submit to insults, we cannot tell. Josephus says that they sent for Samson that they might insult him over their wine.
He made them sport.The LXX says (Cod. B), And he played before them, and they beat him with rods.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
25. When their hearts were merry By songs and dances, eating and drinking. “They were in high spirits over a victory for which they had not fought.” Cassel.
Made them sport Probably by exhibitions of strength, but especially by the awkward movements caused by his blindness, and exhibitions of his natural wit and buffoonery. “The closing scenes of his life,” observes Stanley, who gives special prominence to this characteristic of Samson, “breathe throughout the same terrible yet grotesque irony. When the captive warrior is called forth, in the merriment of his persecutors, to exercise for the last time the well known raillery of his character, he appears as the great jester or buffoon of the nation; the word employed expresses alike the roars of laughter and the wild gambols with which he made them sport; and as he puts forth the last energy of his vengeance, the final effort of his expiring strength, it is in a stroke of broad and savage humour that his indignant spirit passes away. ‘Strengthen me now, only this once, O God, that I may be avenged of the Philistines (not for both of my lost eyes but) for one of my two eyes.’ That grim playfulness, strong in death, lends its paradox even to the act of destruction itself, and overflows into the touch of triumphant satire with which the pleased historian closes the story: ‘The dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.’”
Set him between the pillars To rest awhile from the fatigue of his exertions.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And so it was that when their hearts were merry, they said, “Call for Samson, that he may make us sport.” And they called for Samson out of the prison house, and he made sport before them, and they set him between the pillars.’
Drunk with wine and success they brought Samson out, dirty and in rags, blind and fettered, with hair beginning to grow unnoticed, led by a small boy. A sight of total pathos. How they must have cheered as they made a mockery of him in the courtyard in front of the sanctuary. We do not know what sport they had with him but the great jester had become the laughingstock, a butt for humour and probably a target for rubbish and spittle. The Philistines had brought their keenness for ‘sport’ from the Aegean. Now deriding Samson was their sport. Then they set him between the two main supporting pillars where all could see him, apart from those on the roof, especially the nobles in the covered section directly under the roof.
Three successive temples have been discovered at Tel Qasile which have similarities with temples found in the Aegean and in Cyprus. It is possible that the temple of Gaza was of a similar pattern. In all probability the Tyrants and officials were in a covered portion looking out on the courtyard where Samson was made a spectacle, separated from the courtyard by a series of wooden pillars set on stone bases, which supported the roof on which the large crowd was gathered for a good view. Once Samson was taken between the pillars the spectators on the roof, pressing forward to gain a good vantage-point, would make the whole structure, already overcrowded, dangerously unstable.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
How wonderful are all the ways and works of God! By what solemn and striking providences, doth the Lord carry on his designs in the world! Samson’s triumph was greater in his death, than in all the victories of his life. But Reader! let us pass by the mere circumstances of the history, with even all the moral improvements it affords, to attend to the spiritual views it exhibits. And here surely, if anywhere, we are called upon to behold this Nazarite of the Old Testament, as holding forth evident marks of similitude to the glorious Nazarite of the New. Did Samson pull down the temple of Dagon at his death: and did not Jesus overthrow to the ground every false god, when he died on the cross, and when he ruined the whole empire of sin and Satan? Did Samson die voluntarily for the destruction of the Philistines? And did not our Jesus give his life, a willing ransom for the sins of his people? Herein indeed, they differed. Samson died to crush his enemies with him. But Jesus died for his enemies to have life. Did Samson by his death obtain a most decisive victory! And what victory more decisive than that of the Lord Jesus, who by his death destroyed him that had the power of death, that is the devil, and delivered them, who through fear of death, are all their life time subject to bondage? Did Samson with his two hands push down the pillars of the house: and were not the arms of Jesus stretched, forth on the cross, when he made the pillars of the earth to move at their centre, and the gates of hell itself to be loosened forever? Yes! thou precious Almighty Nazarite, thy death was distinguished with every wonder heaven could give in testimony to its importance. Herein indeed again, Samson ‘ s death differed from thine. He fell to rise no more. But thou in thy death didst open the path to everlasting life; and in thy glorious resurrection that followed, thou hast forever destroyed that dreaded foe of our nature. Oh! blessed Lord! may my soul look on this, and learn by thy Spirit ‘ s teaching, to rejoice with trembling. While, as Samson ‘ s victory even in death, caused Israel to triumph over their enemies, so in the everlasting triumphs of the cross over the ungodly, (as in the instance of the Philistines), may my soul behold the sure destruction that awaits all them that know not God, nor obey the gospel of Jesus. For in that final hour when thou shalt come to be glorified in thy saints, and to be admired in all that believe; we know also that a tremendous judgment will take place on the enemies of thy truth, who shall, be driven from thy presence with everlasting destruction. 2Th 1:9-10 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jdg 16:25 And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.
Ver. 25. Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. ] At feasts they had their , such as made them merry. The Emperors of Rome presented the people with strange sights, as of lions, bears, panthers, tigers, &c., to exhilarate them: they also led their enemies before them in triumph: which Cleopatra not able to endure, killed herself: So did not Samson, but became the subject of his enemies’ scorn and malice, as did likewise Christ. Mat 27:29-31
And they set him between the pillars.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
make us sport. Some codices, with one early printed edition, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read “make sport before us”.
them sport = sport before them.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
their hearts: Jdg 9:27, Jdg 18:20, Jdg 19:6, Jdg 19:9, 2Sa 13:28, 1Ki 20:12, Est 3:15, Isa 22:13, Dan 5:2, Dan 5:3, Mat 14:6, Mat 14:7
them: Heb. before them
sport: Job 30:9, Job 30:10, Psa 35:15, Psa 35:16, Psa 69:12, Psa 69:26, Pro 24:17, Pro 24:18, Mic 7:8-10, Mat 26:67, Mat 26:68, Mat 27:29, Mat 27:39-44, Heb 11:36
Reciprocal: Jdg 19:22 – they were Rth 3:7 – his heart Est 1:10 – the heart Job 41:5 – play Psa 80:6 – our enemies Isa 57:4 – sport Jer 38:19 – mock Luk 22:64 – blindfolded
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jdg 16:25. Call for Samson, that he may make us sport May be the subject of our mirth and derision. Thus Christ was made the subject of the sport and derision of the chief priests and elders, Mat 26:67-68, and of the Roman soldiers, Mat 27:29. No doubt they loaded him with bitter scoffs and indignities, and perhaps required of him some proofs of the more than ordinary strength yet remaining in him, like the ruins of a great and goodly building. By this, it seems, he lulled them asleep, until, through this complaisance, he prepared the way for that which he designed.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
16:25 And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he {m} made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.
(m) Thus by God’s just judgments they are made slaves to infidels if they neglect their calling to defend the faithful.