Chapter 16:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
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Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Joshua Ruth
Judges 16
Samson is greatly endangered by his intercourse with an
harlot, ver. 1-3. Betrayed by Delilah to the Philistines thrice, ver.
4-14. Weakened and effectually betrayed, ver. 15-20. Seized,
blinded, bound, imprisoned and made sport of, ver. 21-25.
Avenged of the Philistines, ver. 26-31.
Verse 1. And saw - Going into an house of publick entertainment to
refresh himself. He there saw this harlot accidentally; and by
giving way to look upon her, was ensnared, Gen. iii, 6.
Verse 2. In the morning - This they chose to do, rather than to seize
upon him in his bed by night; either, because they knew not
certainly in what house he was; or, because they thought that
might cause great terror, and confusion, and mischief among their
own people; whereas in the day-time they might more fully
discover him, and more certainly use their weapons against him.
O that all who indulge any unholy desire, might see themselves
thus surrounded, and marked for destruction by their spiritual
enemies! The more secure they are, the greater is their danger.
Verse 3. Arose - Perhaps warned by God in a dream; or rather by the
checks of his own conscience. Went away - The watch-men not
expecting him 'till morning, and therefore being now retired into
the sides, or upper part of the gate-house, as the manner now is, to
get some rest, to fit themselves for their hard service intended in
the morning: nor durst they pursue him, whom they now again
perceived to have such prodigious strength, and courage; and to
be so much above the fear of them, that he did not run away with
all speed, but went leisurely. Hebron - Which was above twenty
miles from Gaza. And Samson did this not out of vain ostentation,
but as an evidence of his great strength, for the encouragement of
its people to join with him vigourously; and for the greater terror
and contempt of the Philistines. It may seem strange that Samson
immediately after so foul a sin should have courage and strength
from God, for so great a work. But first, it is probable, that
Samson had in some measure repented of his sin, and begged of
God pardon and assistance. 2.This singular strength and courage
was not in itself a grace, but a gift, and it was such a gift as did
not so much depend on the disposition of his mind, but on the
right ordering of his body, by the rule given to him, and others of
that order.
Verse 4. Loved - Probably as an harlot: because the dreadful punishment
now inflicted upon Samson for this sin, whom God spared for the
first offense, is an intimation, that this sin was not inferior to the
former.
Verse 5. The lords - The lords of their five principal cities, who were
leagued together against him as their common enemy. Afflict - To
chastise him for his injuries done to us. They mean to punish him
severely, but they express it in mild words, lest it might move her
to pity him. Pieces of silver - Shekels, as that phrase is commonly
used.
Verse 7. Samson said - Samson is guilty both of the sin of lying, and of
great folly in encouraging her enquiries, which he should at first
have checked: but as he had forsaken God, so God had now
forsaken him, otherwise the frequent repetition and vehement
urging of this question might easily have raised suspicion in him.
Verse 9. With her - That is, in a secret chamber within her call. Nor is it
strange that they did not fall upon him in his sleep, because they
expected an opportunity for doing their work more certainly, and
with less danger.
Verse 13. Web - Or, thread which is woven about a weaver's loom: or,
with a weaver's beam. If my hair, which is all divided into seven
locks, be fastened about a weaver's beam; or interwoven with
weaver's threads: then I shall be weak as another man.
Verse 15. Not with me - Not open to me.
Verse 16. Vexed - Being tormented by two contrary passions, desire to
gratify her, and fear of betraying himself. So that he had no
pleasure of his life.
Verse 17. If I be shaven - Not that his hair was in itself the cause of his
strength, but because it was the chief condition of that covenant,
whereby God was pleased to ingage himself to fit him for, and
assist him in that great work to which he called him: but upon his
violation of the condition, God justly withdraws his help. (EFN
Isaiah xl, 31 Psalm xxix, 11)
Verse 18. And brought money in their hand - See one of the bravest men
then in the world bought and sold, as a sheep for the slaughter.
How does this instance sully all the glory of man, and forbid the
strong man ever to boast of his strength!
Verse 19. Sleep - By some sleepy potion. Knees - Resting his head upon
her knees. To weaken or hurt, tho' he felt it not.
Verse 20. Said - Within himself. Shake myself - That is, put forth my
strength. Knew not - Not distinctly feeling the loss of his hair, or
not considering what would follow. Many have lost the
favourable presence of God, and are not aware of it. They have
provoked God to withdraw from them; but are not sensible of
their loss.
Verse 21. His eyes - Which was done both out of revenge and policy, to
disable him from doing them harm, in case he should recover his
strength; but not without God's providence, punishing him in that
part which had been instrumental to his sinful lusts. Gaza -
Because this was a great and strong city, where he would be kept
safely; and upon the sea-coast, at sufficient distance from
Samson's people; and to repair the honour of that place, upon
which he had fastened so great a scorn. God also ordering things
thus, that where he first sinned, ver. 1, there he should receive his
punishment. Grind - As slaves use to do. He made himself a slave
to harlots, and now God suffers men to use him like a slave. Poor
Samson, how art thou fallen! How is thine honour laid in the dust!
Wo unto him, for he hath sinned! Let all take warning by him,
carefully to preserve their purity. For all our glory is gone, when
the covenant of our separation to God, as spiritual Nazarites, is
profaned.
Verse 22. The hair - This circumstance, though in itself inconsiderable,
is noted as a sign of the recovery of God's favour, and his former
strength, in some degree, upon his repentance, and renewing his
vow with God, which was allowed for Nazarites to do.
Verse 23. Dagon - An idol, whose upper part was like a man, and whose
lower part was like a fish: probably one of the sea-gods of the
Heathens.
Verse 25. Made sport - Either being made by them the matter of their
sport and derision, of bitter scoffs, and other indignities: or, by
some proofs of more than ordinary strength yet remaining in him,
like the ruins of a great and goodly building: whereby he lulled
them asleep, until by this complaisance he prepared the way for
that which he designed.
Verse 26. Whereon the house standeth-Whether it were a temple, or
theatre, or some slight building run up for the purpose.
Verse 27. The roof - Which was flat, and had window's through which
they might see what was done in the lower parts of the house.
Verse 28. Samson called - This prayer was not an act of malice and
revenge, but of faith and zeal for God, who was there publickly
dishonoured; and justice, in vindicating the whole common-
wealth of Israel, which was his duty, as he was judge. And God,
who heareth not sinners, and would never use his omnipotence to
gratify any man's malice, did manifest by the effect, that he
accepted and owned his prayer as the dictate of his own Spirit.
And that in this prayer he mentions only his personal injury, and
not their indignities to God and his people, must be ascribed to
that prudent care which he had, upon former occasions, of
deriving the rage of the Philistines upon himself alone, and
diverting it from the people. For which end I conceive this prayer
was made with an audible voice, though he knew they would
entertain it only with scorn and laughter.
Verse 30. Two pillars - Instances are not wanting of more capacious
buildings than this, that have been supported only by one pillar.
Pliny in the 15th chapter of the 36th Book of his Natural History,
mentions two theatres built by C. Curio, in Julius Caesar's time;
each of which was supported only by one pillar, tho' many
thousands of people sat in it together. Let me die - That is, I am
content to die, so I can but contribute to the vindication of God's
glory, and the deliverance of God's people. This is no
encouragement to those who wickedly murder themselves: for
Samson did not desire, or procure his own death voluntarily, but
by mere necessity; he was by his office obliged to seek the
destruction of these enemies and blasphemers of God, and
oppressors of his people; which in these circumstances he could
not effect without his own death. Moreover, Samson did this by
Divine direction, as God's answer to his prayer manifests, and that
he might be a type of Christ, who by voluntarily undergoing
death, destroyed the enemies of God, and of his people. They
died, just when they were insulting over an Israelite, persecuting
him whom God had smitten. Nothing fills up the measure of the
iniquity of any person or people faster, than mocking or misusing
the servants of God, yea, tho' it is by their own folly, that they are
brought low. Those know not what they do, nor whom they
affront, that make sport with a good man.
Verse 31. Buried - While the Philistines were under such grief, and
consternation, that they had neither heart nor leisure to hinder
them.
Chapter 16:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Joshua Ruth
This version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1997, by Sulu D. Kelley. All rights reserved. Used by permission. It may not be modified or used commercially without permission of Wesleyan Heritage Publishing and Sulu Kelley. A special thanks to Mr. Kelley and Wesleyan Heritage Publishing for permission to create and post this version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible.
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