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Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Judges 15:9–17. His two-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
Here is, I. Samson violently pursued by the Philistine. They went up in a body, a more formidable force than they had together when Samson smote them hip and thigh; and they pitched in Judah, and spread themselves up and down the country, to find out Samson, who they heard had come this way, Jdg 15:9. When the men of Judah, who had tamely submitted to their yoke, pleaded that they had paid their tribute, and that none of their tribe had given them any offence, they freely own they designed nothing in this invasion but to seize Samson; they would fight neither against small nor great, but only that judge of Israel (Jdg 15:10), to do to him as he has done to us, that is, to smite his hip and thigh, as he did ours - an eye for an eye. Here was an army sent against one man, for indeed he was himself an army. Thus a whole band of men was sent to seize our Lord Jesus, that blessed Samson, though a tenth part would have served now that his hour had come, and ten times as many would have done nothing if he had not yielded.
II.Samson basely betrayed and delivered up by the men of Judah, Jdg 15:11.
Of Judah were they? Degenerate branches of that valiant tribe! Utterly unworthy to carry in their standard the lion of the tribe of Judah. Perhaps they were disaffected to Samson because he was not of their tribe. Out of a foolish fondness for their forfeited precedency, they would rather be oppressed by Philistines than rescued by a Danite. Often has the church's deliverance been obstructed by such jealousies and pretended points of honour. Rather it was because they stood in awe of the Philistines, and were willing, at any rate, to get them out of their country. If their spirits had not been perfectly cowed and broken by their sins and troubles, and they had not been given up to a spirit of slumber, they would have taken this fair opportunity to shake off the Philistine's yoke. If they had had the least spark of ingenuousness and courage remaining in them, having so brave a man as Samson was to head them, they would now have made one bold struggle for the recovery of their liberty; but no marvel if those that had debased themselves to hell in the worship of their dung-hill gods (Isa 57:9) thus debased themselves to the dust, in submission to their insulting oppressors. Sin dispirits men, nay, it infatuates them, and hides from their eyes the things that belong to their peace. Probably Samson went into the border of that country to offer his service, supposing his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them, as Moses did, Act 7:25. But they thrust him from them, and very disingenuously,
1.Blamed him for what he had done against the Philistines, as if he had done them a great injury. Such ungrateful returns have those often received that have done the best service imaginable to their country. Thus our Lord Jesus did many good works, and for these they were ready to stone him.
2.They begged of him that he would suffer them to bind him, and deliver him up to the Philistines. Cowardly unthankful wretches! Fond of their fetters and in love with servitude! Thus the Jews delivered up our Saviour, under pretence of a fear lest the Romans should come and take away their place and nation. With what a sordid servile spirit do they argue, Knowest thou not that the Philistines rule over us? And whose fault was that? They knew they had no right to rule over them, nor would they have been sold into their hands if they had not first sold themselves to work wickedness.
III.Samson tamely yielding to be bound by his countrymen, and delivered into the hands of his enraged enemies, Jdg 15:12, Jdg 15:13.
Now easily could he have beaten them off, and kept the top of his rock against these 3000 men, and none of them all could, or durst, have laid hands on him; but he patiently submitted,
1.That he might give an example of great meekness, mixed with great strength and courage; as one that had rule over his own spirit, he knew how to yield as well as how to conquer.
2.That, by being delivered up to the Philistine, he might have an opportunity of making a slaughter among them.
3.That he might be a type of Christ, who, when he had shown what he could do, in striking those down that came to seize him, yielded to be bound and led as a lamb to the slaughter. Samson justified himself in what he had done against the Philistines: "As they did to me, so I did to them; it was a piece of necessary justice, and they ought not to retaliate it upon me, for they began." He covenants with the men of Judah that, if he put himself into their hands, they should not fall upon him themselves, because then he should be tempted to fall upon them, which he was very loth to do. This they promised him (Jdg 15:13), and then he surrendered. The men of Judah, being his betrayers, were in effect his murderers; they would not kill him themselves, but they did that which was worse, they delivered him into the hands of the uncircumcised Philistines, who they knew would do worse than kill him, would abuse and torment him to death. Perhaps they thought, as some think Judas did when he betrayed Christ, that he would by his great strength deliver himself out of their hands; but no thanks to them if he had delivered himself, and, if they thought he would do so, they might of themselves have thought this again, that he could and would deliver them too if they would adhere to him and make him their head. Justly is their misery prolonged who, to oblige their worst enemies, thus abuse their best friend. Never were men so infatuated except those who thus treated our blessed Saviour.
IV.Samson making his part good against the Philistines, even when he was delivered into their hands, fast pinioned with two new cords.
The Philistines, when they had him among them, shouted against him (Jdg 15:14), so triumphing in their success, and insulting over him. If God had not tied their hands faster than the men of Judah had tied his, they would have shot at him (as their archers did at Saul) to dispatch him immediately, rather than have shouted at him, and given him time to help himself. But their security and joy were a presage of their ruin. When they shouted against him as a man run down, confident that all was their own, then the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, came mightily upon him, inspired him with more than ordinary strength and resolution. Thus fired,
1.He presently got clear of his bonds. The two new cords, upon the first struggle he gave, broke, and were melted (as the original word is) from off his hands, no doubt to the great amazement and terror of those that shouted against him, whose shouts were hereby turned into shrieks. Observe, When the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, his cords were loosed. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty, and those are free indeed who are thus freed. This typified the resurrection of Christ by the power of the Spirit of holiness. In it he loosed the bands of death, and its cords, the grave-clothes, fell from his hands without being loosed, as Lazarus's were, because it was impossible that the mighty Saviour should be holden of them; and thus he triumphed over the powers of darkness that shouted against him, as if they had him sure.
2.He made a great destruction among the Philistines, who all gathered about him to make sport with him, Jdg 15:15. See how poorly he was armed: he had no better weapon than the jaw-bone of an ass, and yet what execution he did with it! he never laid it out of his hand till he had with it laid 1000 Philistines dead upon the spot; and thus that promise was more than accomplished. One of you shall chase a thousand, Jos 23:10. A jaw-bone was an inconvenient thing to grasp, and, one would think, might easily be wrested out of his hand, and a few such blows as he gave with it might have crushed and broken it, and yet it held good to the last. Had it been the jaw-bone of a lion, especially that which he himself had slain, it might have helped to heighten his fancy and to make him think himself the more formidable; but to take the bone of that despicable animal was to do wonders by the foolish things of the world, that the excellency of the power might be of God and not of man. One of David's worthies slew 300 Philistines at once, but it was with a spear, Ch1 11:11. Another slew of them till his hand was weary and stuck to his sword, Sa2 23:10. But they all came short of Samson. What could be thought too hard, too much, for him to do, on whom the Spirit of the Lord came mightily! Through God we shall do valiantly. It was strange the men of Judah did not now come in to his aid: cowards can strike a falling enemy. But he was to be a type of him that trod the wine-press alone.
V.Samson celebrating his own victory, since the men of Judah would not do even that for him.
He composed a short song, which he sang to himself, for the daughters of Israel did not meet him, as afterwards they did Saul, to sing, with more reason, Samson hath slain his thousands. The burden of this song was, With the jaw-bone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, have I slain a thousand men, Jdg 15:16. The same word in Hebrew (chamor) signifies both an ass and a heap, so that this is an elegant paronomasia, and represents the Philistines falling as tamely as asses. He also gave a name to the place, to perpetuate the Philistines' disgrace, Jdg 15:17. Ramath-lehi, the lifting up of the jaw-bone. Yet he did not vain-gloriously carry the bone about with him for a show, but threw it away when he had done with it. So little were relics valued then.
Historical interpretation
Historical Reception
2 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
Select a marker to jump to its quote. Markers stagger vertically where authors wrote within a few decades of each other.
Their word being pledged he came out of the cave, and left his fastness on the rock, and was bound with two ropes. When he saw the mighty men of the Philistines drawing near to seize him, his spirit rose within him, and he brake all his bands, and taking up a jaw bone of an ass that lay near he slew a thousand men, and put to flight the rest by this exploit of valour, whole hosts of armed soldiers giving way to one unarmed man. Thus those who ventured to close with him hand to hand he slew without effort; the others saved themselves by flight. Wherefore to this day the place is called Agon, because there Samson by his great valour achieved a glorious contest.
And I would that his moderation in victory had been equal to his courage against the enemy. But as is frequently the case, with mind unused to prosperity, he ascribed to himself the issue of the battle, which was due to the Divine favour and protection, saying, "With the jaw bone of an ass have I slain a thousand men." Nor did he build an altar to God, nor offer a victim, but neglecting sacrifice and assuming to himself the glory, to immortalize his triumph by a memorial name he called the place, The slaying of the jaw bone.
Now when Samson destroyed a thousand men with a jawbone from the body of an ass, the Gentiles were prefigured in the ass; for thus Scripture speaks concerning both Jews and Gentiles: “An ox knows its owner, and an ass its master’s manger.” Before the coming of Christ all the Gentiles were torn to pieces by the devil and lay scattered like dry bones from the ass’s body, but when Christ the true Samson came, he seized them all in his holy hands. He restored them by the hands of his power, and with them overcame his and our adversaries. Thus, we who had given our members to the devil before so that he might kill us, were seized by Christ and became instruments of justice unto God.
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Summary
Judges 15:15 vividly portrays the extraordinary, divinely empowered strength of Samson, Israel's judge, as he single-handedly vanquishes a thousand Philistine adversaries. This remarkable feat, accomplished with nothing more than a freshly discovered jawbone of a donkey, powerfully underscores God's sovereign ability to utilize the most unconventional and seemingly inadequate means to achieve His mighty purposes and deliver His people from oppression.
Context
Literary Context
This verse is strategically placed at a pivotal moment in the narrative of Samson, immediately following his betrayal by the men of Judah and his surrender to the Philistines. Earlier in the chapter, Samson had exacted a fierce revenge on the Philistines for burning his wife and her father, setting fire to their fields with foxes (Judges 15:1-8). In retaliation, the Philistines assembled a large force and advanced into Judah, specifically to Lehi (Judges 15:9). Fearing the Philistines, three thousand men of Judah confronted Samson, bound him, and delivered him to his enemies (Judges 15:10-13). It is precisely at this moment of apparent defeat and vulnerability, as the Philistines shout in triumph, that the Spirit of the Lord rushes upon Samson, causing the ropes on his arms to become like burnt flax and his bonds to fall away. Verse 15 directly follows this supernatural empowerment, detailing the instrument and scale of his subsequent, miraculous victory, setting the stage for his song of triumph in the following verses.
Historical & Cultural Context
The period of the Judges, characterized by Israel's cyclical pattern of disobedience, foreign oppression, cries for deliverance, and God raising up a judge, saw the Philistines emerge as a dominant power. Renowned for their military prowess, advanced iron weaponry, and superior organization, the Philistines controlled the coastal plains and frequently encroached upon Israelite territory. Israel, by contrast, was largely disorganized, lacked a central government, and was often spiritually compromised, making them vulnerable to such formidable adversaries. The Philistine presence represented a significant existential threat to Israel's ability to live freely in the land God had promised them. Samson's actions, though often driven by personal vendettas, were part of God's larger, strategic plan to initiate the deliverance of Israel from Philistine subjugation, as prophesied in Judges 13:5. The use of a jawbone, a common animal bone, stands in stark contrast to the Philistines' sophisticated weaponry, powerfully highlighting the divine, rather than human, source of Samson's victory.
Key Themes
The central theme vividly displayed in Judges 15:15, and indeed throughout Samson's narrative, is Divine Empowerment. Samson's extraordinary strength is not inherent but a direct, supernatural gift from God, specifically manifested by the Spirit of the Lord rushing upon him at critical moments. This highlights God's ability to work through chosen, albeit flawed, individuals to accomplish His sovereign will. Another significant theme is God's Sovereignty and Unconventional Warfare. God frequently demonstrates His power by using weak, unexpected, or even foolish instruments to confound the strong, as seen in this instance where a common animal bone becomes a devastating weapon. This underscores that the victory belongs to the Lord, not to human might or conventional military means, echoing the principle found in Zechariah 4:6. Finally, the verse clearly portrays Deliverance and Judgment. Samson's act is a powerful blow against the Philistine oppressors, serving as a significant act of deliverance for Israel and a severe judgment upon their enemies, demonstrating God's justice and faithfulness to His covenant people, even when they are unfaithful.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This word (H2961) signifies "fresh" or "recently made." The detail that the jawbone was "new" is crucial; it implies that it was not brittle or decayed, but still retained a degree of strength and resilience suitable for the task. This emphasizes that while the weapon was unconventional, it was not entirely useless, yet its effectiveness was still overwhelmingly dependent on the supernatural power empowering Samson, rather than its inherent quality.
This term (H3895) refers to the cheek or jawbone. The specific mention of it being "of an ass" (H2543, chămôwr, meaning a male ass or donkey) is highly significant. Donkeys were common beasts of burden, and their bones would be readily found and considered lowly. The very name of the place where this event occurred, Lehi (Judges 15:9, 14, 19), means "jawbone," creating a powerful wordplay that memorializes the event through the instrument of victory. This humble, even contemptible, object sharply contrasts with the immense power unleashed through it, highlighting that the power was not in the weapon but in God's Spirit.
This verb (H5221) is a primitive root meaning "to strike," "to smite," or "to kill." It is a strong, decisive verb that conveys the force and finality of Samson's actions. The repeated use of this verb in the Old Testament for acts of divine judgment or powerful military victories underscores the devastating effectiveness of Samson's assault on the Philistines, indicating a complete and decisive defeat.
Verse Breakdown
"And he found a new jawbone of an ass"
This opening clause highlights the serendipitous, yet divinely orchestrated, discovery of the weapon. It was not something Samson prepared or sought out; it was "found," implying its commonness and immediate availability. The "new" quality suggests its suitability for the task, setting the stage for the extraordinary feat that follows and emphasizing that God provides the necessary means, however humble.
"and put forth his hand, and took it"
This describes Samson's immediate and decisive action. Empowered by the Spirit, he doesn't hesitate but seizes the unconventional tool. This demonstrates his readiness to act upon the divine empowerment, transforming an ordinary bone into an instrument of God's judgment and a testament to his faith in the Spirit's enabling power.
"and slew a thousand men therewith"
This is the climactic declaration of the verse, detailing the astonishing outcome. The number "a thousand men" is staggering, emphasizing the scale of the victory and the supernatural power at work. It signifies a complete and overwhelming rout of the Philistine force by a single individual using the most unlikely of weapons, unequivocally attributing the triumph to God's miraculous intervention through Samson and leaving no doubt about the divine hand in the victory.
Literary Devices
Judges 15:15 is rich in Irony, a prominent literary device in the Samson narrative. The irony lies in the stark contrast between the humble, common, and seemingly inadequate weapon—a donkey's jawbone—and the immense, devastating outcome of slaying a thousand well-armed Philistine warriors. This highlights that the power was not inherent in the instrument but derived from divine empowerment, making God's strength undeniable and confounding human expectations. The verse also employs Hyperbole, or at least a monumental scale, in stating that "a thousand men" were slain. While potentially a literal number given the miraculous context, it certainly emphasizes the extraordinary and overwhelming nature of Samson's feat, creating a sense of awe and wonder at God's capacity to deliver. Furthermore, the jawbone functions as powerful Symbolism. It symbolizes God's ability to use the weak and foolish things of the world to shame the strong, demonstrating that His power is not limited by human conventions or expectations. There is also an implicit Contrast between the Philistines' superior military technology and Samson's primitive weapon, further accentuating the divine hand at work and underscoring that victory comes from God, not from human might.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Judges 15:15 serves as a profound theological statement on God's sovereign power and His unconventional methods of deliverance. It unequivocally demonstrates that God is not limited by human resources, conventional weaponry, or the apparent weakness of His chosen instruments. The victory is not attributed to Samson's inherent strength or the jawbone's efficacy, but to the Spirit of the Lord empowering Samson. This event underscores God's faithfulness to His covenant promises to deliver Israel, even when His people are unfaithful and surrounded by overwhelming odds. It teaches that true power resides solely in God, who delights in manifesting His might through what the world considers weak or foolish, thereby ensuring that all glory redounds to Him alone.
Reflection and Application
The astonishing account of Samson and the jawbone in Judges 15:15 provides a powerful and enduring lesson for believers today: God is utterly unconstrained by our limitations, our resources, or the conventional wisdom of the world. When we face overwhelming challenges, seemingly insurmountable obstacles, or feel utterly inadequate for the tasks before us, this passage reminds us that God's power is made perfect in weakness. It calls us to relinquish our reliance on our own strength, intellect, or material possessions, and instead to surrender fully to the supernatural empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Just as God used a common bone to achieve an extraordinary victory, He can use our ordinary lives, our humble gifts, and our perceived weaknesses to accomplish His extraordinary purposes for His glory. This narrative encourages radical trust in God's unconventional methods and His infinite capacity to provide victory through the most unexpected means, reminding us that true effectiveness comes not from our might, but from His Spirit working through us.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why did Samson use a jawbone of an ass instead of a conventional weapon like a sword or spear?
Samson used a jawbone of an ass precisely because it was not a conventional weapon. This choice underscores a key theological principle: God's power is not dependent on human strength, sophisticated weaponry, or conventional means. By using a common, readily available, and seemingly insignificant object, God ensured that the victory was clearly attributed to His supernatural empowerment of Samson, rather than to the weapon's inherent quality or Samson's military skill. It highlights God's ability to use the "foolish things of the world to confound the wise" and the "weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty" (1 Corinthians 1:27).
Was it literally a thousand men that Samson slew, or is this number hyperbole?
While some ancient texts use large numbers hyperbolically to convey magnitude, in the context of Samson's divinely empowered feats, the "thousand men" is generally understood to be a literal number. The narrative consistently emphasizes the supernatural nature of Samson's strength, directly attributing it to the Spirit of the Lord rushing upon him. This extraordinary number serves to highlight the immense scale of God's miraculous intervention and the overwhelming victory He granted through Samson. It is a testament to God's power to deliver His people decisively, even against a vastly superior enemy force, demonstrating that nothing is impossible with Him.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
The raw, divinely empowered strength of Samson, manifested in his single-handed victory over a thousand Philistines with a lowly jawbone, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate, perfect deliverance achieved by Jesus Christ. Samson, though a flawed deliverer, was raised up by God's Spirit to begin the rescue of Israel from physical oppression. Christ, the true and perfect Deliverer, was fully empowered by the Spirit without measure, not to defeat physical enemies with a jawbone, but to overcome the spiritual enemies of sin, death, and Satan through His seemingly "weak" act of self-sacrifice on the cross. Just as the jawbone was an unconventional weapon, the cross, a symbol of shame and defeat, became the instrument of God's greatest triumph, disarming the powers and authorities (Colossians 2:15). Samson's temporary victory points to Christ's eternal triumph, who, as the Lamb of God, takes away the sin of the world and delivers all who believe from the bondage of spiritual death (Hebrews 2:14-15). In Christ, God's power is not merely displayed through a man, but perfectly embodied in the God-man, securing a complete and final victory far surpassing any physical feat, offering eternal freedom and life to all who call upon His name.