GAZA] 2 m. from the coast, and the last town of Palestine on the coast road to Egypt. Here Samson would be a whole day's journey from his mountain home, in his enemies' territory. 2, 3. They appear not to have surrounded the house, but waited to kill him when he found the gates closed in the mornin... [ Continue Reading ]
SAMSON'S ESCAPE FROM GAZA. DELILAH'S TREACHERY. SAMSON'S DEATH 1-3. Samson and Gaza.... [ Continue Reading ]
A WOMAN] For the third time Samson's reckless daring in love brings him into danger. SOREK] a long and fertile 'wady' or glen, running W. from near J erusalem to the plain: cp. Genesis 49:11. Zorah and Timnah are both in this valley.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORDS OF THE PHILISTINES] see on Judges 3:3. WHEREIN HIS GREAT STRENGTH _lieth_] properly 'by what means his strength is great.' The 'lords' fancy he must have some amulet or magical device. AFFLICT] properly, 'torment.' PIECES] i.e. shekels. The amount to be paid by each is about £150.... [ Continue Reading ]
Whether Samson suspects or not, he plays upon her credulity. The supposed secret of the 'green withs,' i.e. undried bowstrings made from the intestines of animals, has all the more verisimilitude because of the sacred (and magical) number seven (cp. Judges 16:13). The Philistines are deceived as rea... [ Continue Reading ]
OCCUPIED] RV 'wherewith no work hath been done': cp. Luke 19:13 (AV). 13, 14. The v. is incomplete. LXX helps us to fill the gap, thus: 'if thou weavest.. web, and beatest up with the pin, my strength will fail; so while he slept Delilah did so, and she beat up the web with the pin, and said.' Deli... [ Continue Reading ]
THINE HEART] thy mind or knowledge; cp. Judges 16:17; Judges 16:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
Delilah sees at once that Samson is no longer tricking her, and she makes the Philistines equally confident. The belief in the importance of the hair (see on Judges 13:5) was widespread in antiquity. 19, AFFLICT] how is not explained. He is still asleep.... [ Continue Reading ]
DEPARTED] when he was robbed of the hair which it was his duty to preserve. 21. See 2 Kings 25:7. Grinding was women's work. 23-31. Samson's Last Exploit and Death.... [ Continue Reading ]
DAGON] the chief Philistine god (1 Samuel 5). 25-29. He would make sport enough by being what he was, blind and in chains. PILLARS] Two columns on which rested the roof of a large verandah, perhaps attached to the temple. After being in the court in front, in the sight of all, both below and above,... [ Continue Reading ]
MY TWO EYES] RM 'for one of my two eyes.' A stroke of grim humour quite in keeping, at this supreme moment, with the character of Samson.... [ Continue Reading ]
ON WHICH IT WAS BORNE UP] RV 'leaned on them.'... [ Continue Reading ]
The Philistines had no wish, and perhaps no spirit, to interfere with Samson's burial in his own country. Milton has brought out the tragic elements of this wild story at the. end of 'Samson Agonistes.' Judged] see intro. to Judges 13.... [ Continue Reading ]