Judges 16:23-31

The Death of Samson Judges 16:23-31

23 Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.
24 And when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they said, Our god hath delivered into our hands our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, which slew many of us.
25 And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.
26 And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon them.
27 Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport.
28 And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.
29 And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left.
30 And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.
31 Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the burying place of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.

16.

What was the occasion for the sacrifice to Dagon? Judges 16:23

The lords of the Philistines went together to proclaim a time of national rejoicing among the Philistines. Since they had been able to capture Samson they believed God had wrought a great victory for them. They wanted to praise Dagon their god for this great accomplishment. Samson had been a great enemy of their country, and they rejoiced when he was captured.

17.

In what way had he destroyed their country? Judges 16:24

On account of Samson's presence among them the house of the father of his wife had been burned by the Philistines themselves. He had sent foxes among their crops to burn down the standing grain and the vineyards. He had personally broken down the doors to the gates to the city of Gaza. In all of these instances he had proved himself indeed worthy of the title of destroyer, as they said he had also slain many of themon one occasion, a thousand men; on another occasion, thirty men.

18.

In what way did Samson make them sport? Judges 16:25

The wicked Philistines with a sadistic turn to their nature summoned Samson and required him to entertain them. They probably tormented him. Since he was blind, they would be able to trip him. They could come at him from all sides without his being able to prepare himself for their attacks. No doubt, they had a riotous time as they humiliated the great man from Dan who had won many victories over them.

19.

In what house were the men and women? Judges 16:27

These Philistines must have gathered themselves in the great temple which was dedicated to Dagon. Three thousand of them were on the roof, and others must have been inside the house. It was customary for these heathen peoples to have these centers of worship where they could gather for such festive occasions as the feast made to Dagon in honor of the capturing of Samson.

20.

What was Samson's final prayer? Judges 16:28

Samson prayed, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. This was a prayer of great desperation, but it was a prayer made from a long period of meditation. Samson had let his hair grow in order again to proclaim he belonged to the Lord. Throughout these days he must have repented of the great wickedness he had committed and the headstrong way in which he had walked. As a result, God answered Samson's prayer and strengthened him for one great, final victory over the Philistines.

21.

How did Samson know the location of the pillars? Judges 16:26; Judges 16:29

Samson had asked the young lad who had led him from the prison house to the temple to let him lean upon the pillars which supported the temple. Some have supposed that this may have been a lad who was friendly to Samson's cause. Others have even believed it to be such a great Biblical character as Saul, the son of Kish, who later became the king of Israel. It is better to view the lad as one who was given the responsibility of leading Samson from the mill where he ground the grain of his captors to the temple where he entertained the raucous and impious devotees of Dagon.

22.

Was Samson justified in his final act of destruction?

Ancient commentators have discussed this question without arriving at any satisfactory conclusion. Many believe he actually committed suicide in this act, Others have called his deed the act of a hero. Samson felt it was necessary for him to plunge into the midst of his enemies although it certainly meant his own death. In this way he did effect the deliverance of his people and decide the victory which was the greatest of all his career. If Samson had been able to deliver himself in any way out of the hands of the Philistines, he would always carry about with him the mark of his shame in the blindness of his eyes. This would be a reminder of the unfaithfulness of a servant of God as well as of the triumph of his foes. Even through Samson's death the Lord was working a victory for Israel in Philistia. He may not have justified himself completely by this final feat, but he did die in an hour of triumph,