College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Judges 15 - Introduction
A DIGEST OF CHAPTER 15
Samson burns the Philistines-' fields. Samson left Philistia after he had killed thirty men to give changes of garments to the men who found out his riddle by their devious ways. Later he returned and found that his father-in-law had given his wife to another man. This so enraged Samson that he caught foxes, tied a firebrand to the tails of each pair, and set them loose in the standing grain-fields. This brought a great devastation on the land.
Samson delivered to the Philistines by the men of Judah. Samson went up into the hill country of Judah to hide from the Philistines after he had destroyed their fields. The men of Judah were distressed when the Philistines came after him and asked Samson to give up himself to the Philistines. When the men of Judah promised Samson that they would do no harm to him themselves, he allowed the men of Judah to deliver him into the hands of his enemies,
The slaughter of one thousand Philistines, Samson had no weapons of war with which to defend himself, but even the jawbone of an animal became a vicious weapon of destruction in the hands of the new leader among the Israelites. His secret of strength was in the Spirit of the Lord which came mightily upon him (Judges 15:14). Ramath-lehi received its name from this unusual event which took place there.
LESSONS FOR LEARNING
1.
A man's foes are those in his own household. Samson's marriage to the Philistine woman caused him a lot of trouble and brought much grief on both the Philistines and Samson. He was enraged because the Philistines used his wife to find the meaning of his riddle; and after he had killed thirty of them to get changes of raiment to give as a reward to his thirty companions, he left Philistia for awhile. Later he returned, thinking he would visit his wife, but on this occasion he learned his wife's father had supposed Samson was not pleased with his daughter and had given her to be another man's wife. This was an insult to Samson, and he vented his wrath on the Philistines by destroying their fields of grain. The Philistines in turn burned Samson's father-in-law because his treatment of Samson had brought this loss of grain upon them. Sin often causes grief to everyone, even those who are only remotely connected with a sinful situation.
2.
Sinners trouble their own houses. Samson's associations with the Philistines not only caused him to be unwelcome in their midst, but the men of Judah wanted him to stay out of their territory. They were afraid the Philistines would punish them on account of Samson's actions. The men of Judah, therefore, asked Samson to allow them to deliver him to his enemies. Samson agreed upon the condition that the men of Judah themselves not afflict him. Thus, a sinner often finds himself beset on every handboth friends and foes.
3.
God can strike a straight blow with a crooked stick. The many devious ways of Samson detract from what might otherwise be a very admirable character. Through him, one thousand Philistines were slain on the occasion when the men of Judah delivered him to the Philistines. Even though Samson had broken a part of his vow, God used him to effect a mighty deliverance against the oppressors of Israel. God does not approve of sinful deeds, but God does use men who sometimes sin to champion His causes of righteousness.
TEN QUESTIONS ON CHAPTER 15
1.
How many foxes did Samson catch?
2.
What did he tie between the tails of each pair of foxes?
3.
Who burned Samson's father-in-law and his wife?
4.
Where did Samson go to escape from the Philistines?
5.
How many men from Judah went out to catch Samson?
6.
With what did the men of Judah bind Samson to deliver him to the Philistines?
7.
What did Samson use to kill the thousand Philistines?
8.
What did Samson call the name of the place where he killed the one thousand Philistines?
9.
What did Samson call the name of the place where God gave him water to drink?
10.
How long did Samson judge Israel?