Bible Commentary

And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand, and called that place Ramath-lehi. 17. was called ] The text here and in Jdg 15:19 is to be preferred to the marg. Ramath-lehi ] i.e. the height of Lehi, cf. Ramath-mizpeh … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 15:17”

And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men. 16. heaps upon heaps ] See marg., and cf. Exo 8:14 [Hebrews 10, lit. heaps, heaps ]. But a verb is wanted to complete the parallelism with clause b; and, simply … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 15:16”

And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith. 15. a thousand men ] The numbers of course belong to the extraordinary character of the story. Moore notes that, according to Moslem tradition, the first blood in the cause of Islam … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 15:15”

[And] when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that [were] upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands. 14. See on Jdg 14:19. Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 15:14”

And they spoke unto him, saying, No; but we will bind thee fast, and deliver thee into their hand: but surely we will not kill thee. And they bound him with two new cords, and brought him up from the rock. Verse 13. They bound him with two new cords] Probably his hands with one … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 15:13”

And they said unto him, We are come down to bind thee, that we may deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines. And Samson said unto them, Swear unto me, that ye will not fall upon me yourselves. Verse 12. That ye will not fall upon me yourselves.] He could not bear the thought … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 15:12”

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 … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 15:11”

And the men of Judah said, Why are ye come up against us? And they answered, To bind Samson are we come up, to do to him as he hath done to us. Verse 10. To bind Samson are we come up] It seems they did not wish to come to an open rupture with … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 15:10”

Then the Philistines went up, and pitched in Judah, and spread themselves in Lehi. 9. spread themselves in Lehi ] Better, made a raid against Lehi; 2Sa 5:18 ; 2Sa 5:22. The situation of Lehi is unknown; it must have been nearer to the Philistines than Etam, and in the neighbourhood of the other places … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 15:9”

And he smote them hip and thigh with a great slaughter: and he went down and dwelt in the top of the rock Etam. 8. hip and thigh ] lit. leg upon thigh, so that the limbs of the slain fall one upon another: such seems to be the force of the prep, upon, cf. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 15:8”