Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 16:5
And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength [lieth], and by what [means] we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred [pieces] of silver.
5. his great strength lieth ] his strength is great; render similarly in Jdg 16:6 ; Jdg 16:15.
eleven hundred pieces of silver ] in uncoined metal, calculated by the scales (Gen 23:16): a large bribe when multiplied by five (Jdg 3:3). The odd number means a full thousand, cf. Jdg 17:2. In Jdg 14:15 the Philistines work upon the woman’s fear; now they appeal to the cupidity of the courtezan.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And the lords of the Philistines – See Jdg 3:3 note.
His great strength lieth – Rather, wherein his strength is great.
Eleven hundred pieces of silver – The greatness of the bribe offered to Delilah, 5,500 shekels of silver, nearly two talents (Exo 38:24, note), shows the importance attached to Samsons capture.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 5. See wherein his great strength lieth] They saw that his stature was not remarkable: and that, nevertheless, he had most extraordinary strength; therefore they supposed that it was the effect of some charm or amulet. The lords of the Philistines were the five following: Gaza, Gath, Askelon, Ekron, and Ashdod. All these considered Samson as a public enemy; and they promised this bad woman a large sum of money if she would obtain from him the important secret wherein his strength lay, that, depriving him of this supernatural power, they might be able to reduce him to bondage.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The lords of the Philistines; the lords of their five principal cities, who seem to have been united together at this time in one aristocratical government; or at least were leagued together against him as their common enemy. To afflict him; to chastise him for his injuries done to us. They mean to punish him severely, as they did; but they express it in mild words, lest the horror of it might move her to pity him.
Pieces of silver, i.e. shekels, as that phrase is commonly used, as Num 7:13,85; 2Sa 18:12; 2Ki 6:25.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
5. the lords of the PhilistinesThefive rulers deemed no means beneath their dignity to overcome thisnational enemy.
Entice him, and see whereinhis great strength liethThey probably imagined that he carriedsome amulet about his person, or was in the possession of someimportant secret by which he had acquired such herculean strength;and they bribed Delilah, doubtless by a large reward, to discover itfor them. She undertook the service and made several attempts, plyingall her arts of persuasion or blandishment in his soft andcommunicative moods, to extract his secret.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
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 Jud 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 Waserus d: 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.
d De Antiquis Numis, l. 2. c. 5.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(5) The lords of the Philistines.The five satraps. (See Note on Jdg. 3:3.) If she were what Josephus asserts, the Philistines might both get access to her, and tempt the cupidity of an unprincipled and degraded mind. Had she been of their own race, threats would probably have been even more effectual with her than with the lady of Timnath (Jdg. 13:15). The LXX. here begin to call the Philistines allophuloi, or aliens.
Entice him.See Pro. 2:16; Pro. 2:18-19.
Wherein his great strength lieth.Rather, wherein his strength is great. They attributed his strength to some amulet which might be removed.
Eleven hundred pieces of silver.That is, eleven hundred silver shekels. The same sum recurs in Jdg. 17:2 as the amount laid by for the construction of teraphim by the mother of Micah. If the five lords each gave 1,100 shekels, the amount would be nearly two talents of silver (Exo. 38:25-26)a most enormous bribe for that age, and especially to such a woman as Delilah. It may be regarded as an almost conclusive proof that Milton is mistaken in making her a Philistine.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
5. Entice him The same demand put upon his first female betrayer.
Jdg 14:15. The lords of the Philistines well knew wherein Samson’s great weakness lay, and by taking advantage of that knowledge they at last found out wherein his great strength lay; but the secret of his strength was yet to them a mystery. They thought, perhaps, that it arose from some amulet or charm which he wore about him.
Eleven hundred pieces of silver The silver shekel was worth about sixty-two cents of our currency, and eleven hundred shekels would be six hundred and eighty-two dollars. This amount from each of the five lords would make three thousand four hundred and ten dollars. Surely a tempting bribe.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And the lords of the Philistines came up to her, and said to her, “Entice him and discover in what his great strength lies, and by what means we may prevail against him, so that we may bind him to afflict him. And we will each one of us give you eleven hundred pieces of silver.” ’
Probably the destruction of the gates of Gaza had been the last straw. If he could do that nowhere was safe. So the five Tyrants of the Philistines were probably initially determined to kill him. But they put it more gently to Delilah as though they only wanted to punish him. They did not want it to appear unpalatable to her.
Although he was a powerfully made man they recognised that there was some extra secret to his amazing strength and they wanted to discover it. Then they would be able to overcome him and do what they wished with him. So they offered her five thousand five hundred pieces of silver in return for the secret. This was a huge sum. (Ten pieces of silver was a year’s wage for the Levite who was being enticed to act as a priest for Micah – Jdg 17:10). It demonstrated how seriously they saw him as a threat. And she was probably impressed by, and fearful at, the presence of these five hugely important men. It is possible, however, that they sent five lesser representatives, but even they would have been seen as important men by Delilah.
“Entice him.” As men themselves they knew the impact of a beautiful woman and what she could learn from a man, especially in bed.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jdg 16:5. We will giveeleven hundred pieces of silver By which, says Bishop Patrick, is commonly understood so many shekels; for the Jews make it a rule, that where pieces of silver are mentioned, shekels are meant; the whole sum amounted to about 344.
Jdg 16:7. Weak Worn away. Schult. p. 268.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
I see no reason to interrupt the progress of the history through the several relations given, of this artful woman ‘ s persevering spirit to ruin Samson. But I rather pass on to the spiritual improvements the history furnisheth. And here we see to what a degree of folly, and presumption, sin reduceth the mind. Samson could not but know that, as a Nazarite to God, the unshaven head was as an outward sign, or mark, of a spiritual state. What madness, what presumption therefore, was it thus to tempt God. But Reader, mark, and as you mark the instance of Samson, learn not to be high minded, but fear. What an easy prey is man, with all his boasted strength, to any and every temptation, when the Lord for one moment withdraws his support. Oh! how sweet is it to have Paul’s sentiments, and from the same spirit. I can do nothing by myself, saith he: but I can do all things, through Christ who strengtheneth me. 1Co 4:4 ; Phi 4:13 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jdg 16:5 And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength [lieth], and by what [means] we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred [pieces] of silver.
Ver. 5. Entice him, and see wherein, &c. ] Two engines they use against Samson, Muliere et Munere: these were as bad as those two great pieces of ordnance cast by Alphonsus, duke of Ferrara, the one whereof he called the Earthquake, and the other Grandiabolo, or the great devil.
That we may bind him to afflict him.
Eleven hundred pieces of silver.
a Lib. xviii, cap. 4.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
lords. See note on Jos 13:3.
afflict = humble.
eleven hundred. One of the two occurrences of this number. Eleven = the number of defective administration (= 12 – 1. See App-10). Compare Jdg 17:2, where similar want of rule is seen. This 1,100 ruined them politically; the other (Jdg 17:2) ruined them religiously.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the lords: Jdg 3:3, Jos 13:3, 1Sa 29:6
Entice: Jdg 14:15, Pro 2:16-19, Pro 5:3-11, Pro 6:24-26, Pro 7:21-27, 1Co 6:15-18
afflict: or, humble
we will: Jdg 17:2, Gen 33:16, Num 22:17, Num 22:18, Mic 7:3, Mat 26:15, 1Ti 6:9, 1Ti 6:10
Reciprocal: Jdg 16:18 – brought money 1Sa 6:16 – the five Job 31:9 – If mine Mic 7:5 – keep 1Co 2:4 – not
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jdg 16:5. The lords of the Philistines came unto her The lords of their five principal cities, which were leagued together against him as their common enemy. See wherein his great strength lieth They probably imagined that Samson attained his great strength by the use of some magic art; that we may bind him to afflict him To chastise him for his injuries to us. They meant to punish him severely, but they expressed it in mild words, lest it might move her to pity him. Every one eleven hundred pieces of silver That is, shekels, as that phrase commonly signifies.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
16:5 And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength [lieth], and by what [means] we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred {c} [pieces] of silver.
(c) Of the value of a shekel, read Gen 23:15.