Verse 1

Introduction

Overview

Judges 15 . 1 , Samson is denied his wife; Judges 15 . 3 , He burns the Philistines’ corn with foxes and firebrands; Judges 15 . 6 , His wife and her father are burnt by the Philistines; Judges 15 . 7 , Samson smites them hip and thigh; Judges 15 . 9 , He is bound by the men of Judah , and delivered to the Philistines; Judges 15 . 14 , He kills them with a jawbone; Judges 15 . 18 , God makes the fountain En-hakkore for him in Lehi.

a kid . Genesis 38 . 17 , Luke 15 . 29

I will go . Genesis 6 . 4 , Genesis 29 . 21

Reciprocal . Deuteronomy 22 . 13 . General Judges 19 . 3 . went

Verse 2

I verily . Judges 14 . 16 , Judges 14 . 20 , Acts 26 . 9

I gave . Judges 14 . 20 , Genesis 38 . 14

take her . Heb. let her be thine

Reciprocal . Deuteronomy 22 . 13 . General

Verse 3

Now shall . etc. or , Now shall I be blameless from the Philistines

though . etc. Judges 14 . 15

Reciprocal . Genesis 34 . 13 . deceitfully

Verse 4

caught three . Dr. Kennicott and others contend , that for shualim , "foxes ," we should read shoalim , "handfuls ," or sheaves of corn. But .

The word lachad , rendered caught , never signifies simply to get or take but always to catch , seize , or take by assault or stratagem.

Though the proposed alteration is sanctioned by seven manuscripts , yet all the versions are on the other side.

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 (1 Kings 20 . 10. Isaiah 40 . 12. Ezekiel 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 onRuth 2 . 15-16 , etc.

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.

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. Psalm 63 . 10 , Song of Solomon 2 . 15 , Lamentations 5 . 18

firebrands . or , torches

Reciprocal . Exodus 22 . 6 . so that the stacks of corn 2 Samuel 14 . 30 . go and set

Verse 5

he let them go . Exodus 22 . 6 , 2 Samuel 14 . 30

Verse 6

and burnt . Judges 12 . 1 , Judges 14 . 15 , Proverbs 22 . 8 , 1 Thessalonians 4 . 6

Reciprocal . Esther 4 . 14 . but thou

Verse 7

Though . Judges 14 . 4 , Judges 14 . 19 , Romans 12 . 19

Reciprocal . Esther 7 . 10 . Then was the king's Zechariah 6 . 8 . quieted

Verse 8

Isaiah 25 . 10 , Isaiah 63 . 3 , Isaiah 63 . 6

Reciprocal . Deuteronomy 33 . 22 . General Judges 14 . 6 . rent him Judges 16 . 24 . which slew many of us Judges 16 . 30 . So the dead 1 Samuel 23 . 25 . into a rock 2 Chronicles 11 . 6 . Etam Job 16 . 14 . runneth Psalm 108 . 13 . tread

Verse 9

Lehi . Judges 15 . 17 , Judges 15 . 19

Verse 11

went . Heb. went down

the rock Etam . Probably near the town Etam , mentioned in 1 Chronicles 4 . 32.

Philistines . Judges 13 . 1 , Judges 14 . 4 , Deuteronomy 28 . 13 , Deuteronomy 28 . 47 , Deuteronomy 28 . 48 , Psalm 106 . 41

Reciprocal . Deuteronomy 28 . 43 . General 1 Kings 20 . 4 . I am thine Proverbs 24 . 29 . I will do Revelation 8 . 10 . the fountains

Verse 12

to bind thee . Matthew 27 . 2 , Acts 7 . 25

fall . Judges 8 . 21 , 1 Kings 2 . 25 , 1 Kings 2 . 34

Reciprocal . Deuteronomy 28 . 43 . General

Verse 13

Reciprocal . Acts 21 . 33 . be

Verse 14

the Philistines . Judges 5 . 30 , Judges 16 . 24 , Exodus 14 . 3 , Exodus 14 . 5 , 1 Samuel 4 . 5 , Job 20 . 5 , Micah 7 . 8

the Spirit . Judges 3 . 10 , Judges 14 . 6 , Judges 14 . 19 , Zechariah 4 . 6

the cords . Judges 16 . 9 , Judges 16 . 12 , 1 Samuel 17 . 35 , Psalm 18 . 34 , Psalm 118 . 11 , Philippians 4 . 3

loosed . Heb. were melted

Reciprocal . Exodus 32 . 17 . There is a noise Judges 6 . 34 . the Spirit 2 Samuel 23 . 10 . the Lord Psalm 51 . 11 . take Isaiah 1 . 31 . as tow 2 Corinthians 10 . 4 . mighty Hebrews 11 . 34 . out of

Verse 15

new jawbone . Heb. moist

slew . Judges 3 . 31 , Judges 4 . 21 , Judges 7 . 16 , Leviticus 26 . 8 , Joshua 23 . 10 , 1 Samuel 14 . 6 , 1 Samuel 14 . 14 , 1 Samuel 17 . 49 , 1 Samuel 17 . 50 , 1 Corinthians 1 . 27 , 1 Corinthians 1 . 28

a thousand . Some would render the words aileph ish , "a chief;" but it is alluph , and not aileph , which signifies a chief; besides which , the Hebrew idiom would , even in that case , require it to be ish alluph , "a man , a chief ," and not alluph ish , "a chief , a man." Add to which , that every version renders it "a thousand men."

Reciprocal . Deuteronomy 33 . 22 . General Judges 14 . 6 . rent him Judges 16 . 30 . So the dead 1 Samuel 17 . 40 . staff 1 Corinthians 1 . 25 . the foolishness

Verse 16

with the jawbone . There is here a fine paronomasia upon the word chamor , "an ass ," which also signifies "a heap;" bilchee hachamor , chamor chamorathayim , "With the jaw-bone of an ass , a heap upon two heaps."

heaps upon heaps . Heb. an heap , two heaps , Judges 15 . 16

Reciprocal . Judges 16 . 24 . which slew many of us 1 Samuel 17 . 40 . staff 1 Corinthians 1 . 25 . the foolishness

Verse 17

Ramathlehi . that is , the lifting up of the jaw-bone , or , the casting away of the jaw-bone , Judges 15 . 17

Reciprocal . Judges 15 . 9 . Lehi

Verse 18

he was sore . Judges 8 . 4 , Psalm 22 . 14 , Psalm 22 . 15 , John 19 . 28 , 2 Corinthians 4 . 8 , 2 Corinthians 4 . 9

Thou hast given . Psalm 3 . 7 , Psalm 3 . 8 , Psalm 18 . 31-40

shall . Genesis 32 . 31 , 2 Corinthians 12 . 7 , 2 Corinthians 12 . 8

and fall . Genesis 12 . 12 , Genesis 12 . 13 , Genesis 20 . 11 , 1 Samuel 27 . 1 , 2 Corinthians 1 . 8 , 2 Corinthians 1 . 9 , Hebrews 11 . 32

the uncircumcised . 1 Samuel 17 . 26 , 1 Samuel 17 . 36 , 2 Samuel 1 . 20

Reciprocal . Genesis 45 . 7 . to preserve you a posterity Judges 14 . 3 . uncircumcised Judges 16 . 2 . kill him 1 Samuel 14 . 6 . uncircumcised 2 Samuel 23 . 10 . the Lord 1 Kings 17 . 6 . the ravens 1 Chronicles 10 . 4 . uncircumcised Psalm 107 . 5 . General Proverbs 25 . 25 . cold Isaiah 41 . 17 . I the Lord Jeremiah 48 . 18 . and sit Hosea 2 . 3 . and slay

Verse 19

the jaw . or , Lehi , This reading is certainly preferable . it was in the place called Lehi where a spring was supernaturally opened.

there came . Isaiah 44 . 3

his spirit . Genesis 45 . 27 , 1 Samuel 30 . 12 , Isaiah 40 . 26

Enhakkore . Samson gave this expressive name to the miraculously springing water , to be as a memorial of the goodness of God to him. En-hakkore , the well of him that cried , which kept him in remembrance both of his own distress which caused him to cry , and the favour of Jehovah to him in answer to his cry. Many a spring of comfort God opens to his people , which may fitly be called by the name En-hakkore , and this instance of Samson's relief should encourage us to trust in God , for when he pleases he can open rivers in high places. Isaiah 41 . 17 , Isaiah 41 . 18 , Samson at first gave the name of Ramath-lehi . the lifting up of the jaw-bone which denoted him great and triumphant , but now he gives it another name , En-hakkore , which denotes him wanting and dependent. Genesis 16 . 13 , Genesis 22 . 14 , Genesis 28 . 19 , Genesis 30 . 30 , Exodus 17 . 15 , Psalm 34 . 6 , Psalm 120 . 1

Reciprocal . Judges 15 . 9 . Lehi 1 Kings 17 . 6 . the ravens Psalm 107 . 5 . General Proverbs 25 . 25 . cold

Verse 20

Judges 13 . 1 , Judges 13 . 5 , Judges 16 . 31 ,"He seems to have judged South-west Israel during twenty years of their servitude of the Philistines.

Reciprocal . Genesis 49 . 16 . General Genesis 49 . 17 . shall be