Chapter 15

1
a kid Gen 38:17; Luke 15:29

I will go Gen 6:4, Gen 29:21


2
I verily Judg 14:16, Judg 14:20; Acts 26:9

I gave Judg 14:20; Gen 38:14

take her Heb. let her be thine


3
Now shall etc. or, Now shall I be blameless from the Philistines

though etc. Judg 14:15


4
caught three Dr. Kennicott and others contend, that for shualim, "foxes," we should read shoalim, "handfuls," or sheaves of corn. But:

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

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

3. 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 (1Kgs 20:10. Isa 40:12. Ezek 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 on Ruth 2:15-16, etc.

4. 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.

5. 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. Ps 63:10; Song 2:15; Lam 5:18

firebrands or, torches


5
he let them go Exod 22:6; 2Sam 14:30


6
and burnt Judg 12:1, Judg 14:15; Prov 22:8; 1Thess 4:6


7
Though Judg 14:4, Judg 14:19; Rom 12:19


8
Isa 25:10, Isa 63:3, Isa 63:6


9
Lehi Judg 15:17, Judg 15:19


11
went Heb. went down

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

Philistines Judg 13:1, Judg 14:4; Deut 28:13, Deut 28:47-48; Ps 106:41


12
to bind thee Matt 27:2; Acts 7:25

fall Judg 8:21; 1Kgs 2:25, 1Kgs 2:34


14
the Philistines Judg 5:30, Judg 16:24; Exod 14:3, Exod 14:5; 1Sam 4:5; Job 20:5; Mic 7:8

the Spirit Judg 3:10, Judg 14:6, Judg 14:19; Zech 4:6

the cords Judg 16:9, Judg 16:12; 1Sam 17:35; Ps 18:34, Ps 118:11; Phil 4:3

loosed Heb. were melted


15
new jawbone Heb. moist

slew Judg 3:31, Judg 4:21, Judg 7:16; Lev 26:8; Josh 23:10; 1Sam 14:6, 1Sam 14:14, 1Sam 17:49-50; 1Cor 1:27-28

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."


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, Judg 15:16


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


18
he was sore Judg 8:4; Ps 22:14-15; John 19:28; 2Cor 4:8-9

Thou hast given Ps 3:7-8, Ps 18:31-40

shall Gen 32:31; 2Cor 12:7-8

and fall Gen 12:12-13, Gen 20:11; 1Sam 27:1; 2Cor 1:8-9; Heb 11:32

the uncircumcised 1Sam 17:26, 1Sam 17:36; 2Sam 1:20


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 Isa 44:3

his spirit Gen 45:27; 1Sam 30:12; Isa 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. Isa 41:17-18; 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. Gen 16:13, Gen 22:14, Gen 28:19, Gen 30:30; Exod 17:15; Ps 34:6, Ps 120:1


20
Judg 13:1, Judg 13:5, Judg 16:31 "He seems to have judged South-west Israel during twenty years of their servitude of the Philistines."


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