19 And she made him sleep H3462 upon her knees; H1290 and she called H7121 for a man, H376 and she caused him to shave off H1548 the seven H7651 locks H4253 of his head; H7218 and she began H2490 to afflict H6031 him, and his strength H3581 went H5493 from him.
20 And she said, H559 The Philistines H6430 be upon thee, Samson. H8123 And he awoke H3364 out of his sleep, H8142 and said, H559 I will go out H3318 as at other times before, H6471 and shake H5287 myself. And he wist H3045 not that the LORD H3068 was departed H5493 from him.
21 But the Philistines H6430 took H270 him, and put out H5365 his eyes, H5869 and brought him down H3381 to Gaza, H5804 and bound H631 him with fetters of brass; H5178 and he did grind H2912 in the prison H631 house. H1004
22 Howbeit the hair H8181 of his head H7218 began H2490 to grow again H6779 after H834 he was shaven. H1548
23 Then the lords H5633 of the Philistines H6430 gathered them together H622 for to offer H2076 a great H1419 sacrifice H2077 unto Dagon H1712 their god, H430 and to rejoice: H8057 for they said, H559 Our god H430 hath delivered H5414 Samson H8123 our enemy H341 into our hand. H3027
24 And when the people H5971 saw H7200 him, they praised H1984 their god: H430 for they said, H559 Our god H430 hath delivered H5414 into our hands H3027 our enemy, H341 and the destroyer H2717 of our country, H776 which slew H2491 many H7235 of us.
25 And it came to pass, when their hearts H3820 were merry, H2896 that they said, H559 Call H7121 for Samson, H8123 that he may make us sport. H7832 And they called H7121 for Samson H8123 out of the prison H631 house; H1004 and he made them H6440 sport: H6711 and they set H5975 him between the pillars. H5982
26 And Samson H8123 said H559 unto the lad H5288 that held H2388 him by the hand, H3027 Suffer H3240 me that I may feel H4184 H3237 the pillars H5982 whereupon the house H1004 standeth, H3559 that I may lean H8172 upon them.
27 Now the house H1004 was full H4390 of men H582 and women; H802 and all the lords H5633 of the Philistines H6430 were there; and there were upon the roof H1406 about three H7969 thousand H505 men H376 and women, H802 that beheld H7200 while Samson H8123 made sport. H7832
28 And Samson H8123 called H7121 unto the LORD, H3068 and said, H559 O Lord H136 GOD, H3069 remember H2142 me, I pray thee, and strengthen H2388 me, I pray thee, only this once, H6471 O God, H430 that I may be at once H259 avenged H5358 H5359 of the Philistines H6430 for my two H8147 eyes. H5869
29 And Samson H8123 took hold H3943 of the two H8147 middle H8432 pillars H5982 upon which the house H1004 stood, H3559 and on which it was borne up, H5564 of the one H259 with his right hand, H3225 and of the other H259 with his left. H8040
30 And Samson H8123 said, H559 Let me die H4191 H5315 with the Philistines. H6430 And he bowed H5186 himself with all his might; H3581 and the house H1004 fell H5307 upon the lords, H5633 and upon all the people H5971 that were therein. So the dead H4191 which he slew H4191 at his death H4194 were more H7227 than they which he slew H4191 in his life. H2416
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Judges 16
Commentary on Judges 16 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 16
Samson's name (we have observed before) signifies a little sun (solparvus); we have seen this sun rising very bright, and his morning ray strong and clear; and, nothing appearing to the contrary, we take it for granted that the middle of the day was proportionably illustrious, while he judged Israel twenty years; but the melancholy story of this chapter gives us such an account of his evening as did not commend his day. This little sun set under a cloud, and yet, just in the setting, darted forth one such strong and glorious beam as made him even then a type of Christ, conquering by death. Here is,
Jdg 16:1-3
Here is,
Jdg 16:4-17
The burnt child dreads the fire; yet Samson, that has more than the strength of a man, in this comes short of the wisdom of a child; for, though he had been more than once brought into the highest degree of mischief and danger by the love of women and lusting after them, yet he would not take warning, but is here again taken in the same snare, and this third time pays for all. Solomon seems to refer especially to this story of Samson when, in his caution against uncleanness, he gives this account of a whorish woman (Prov. 7:26), that she hath cast down many wounded, yea, many strong men have been slain by her; and (Prov. 6:26) that the adulteress will hunt for the precious life. This bad woman, that brought Samson to ruin, is here named Delilah, an infamous name, and fitly used to express the person, or thing, that by flattery or falsehood brings mischief and destruction on those to whom kindness is pretended. See here,
Jdg 16:18-21
We have here the fatal consequences of Samson's folly in betraying his own strength; he soon paid dearly for it. A whore is a deep ditch; he that is abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein. In that pit Samson sinks. Observe,
Jdg 16:22-31
Though the last stage of Samson's life was inglorious, and one could wish there were a veil drawn over it, yet this account here given of his death may be allowed to lessen, though it does not quite roll away, the reproach of it; for there was honour in his death. No doubt he greatly repented of his sin, the dishonour he had by it done to God and his forfeiture of the honour God had put upon him; for that God was reconciled to him appears,
Lastly, The story of Samson concludes,