Judges 15:5

KJV

And when he had set the brands on fire, he let [them] go into the standing corn of the Philistines, and burnt up both the shocks, and also the standing corn, with the vineyards [and] olives.

KJV (with Strong's)

And when he had set {H1197} the brands {H3940} on fire {H784}, he let them go {H7971} into the standing corn {H7054} of the Philistines {H6430}, and burnt up {H1197} both the shocks {H1430}, and also the standing corn {H7054}, with the vineyards {H3754} and olives {H2132}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then he set the torches on fire and let the foxes loose in wheat fields of the P'lishtim. In this way he burned up the harvested wheat along with the grain waiting to be harvested, and the olive orchards as well.

Berean Standard Bible

Then he lit the torches and released the foxes into the standing grain of the Philistines, burning up the piles of grain and the standing grain, as well as the vineyards and olive groves.

American Standard Version

And when he had set the brands on fire, he let them go into the standing grain of the Philistines, and burnt up both the shocks and the standing grain, and also the oliveyards.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Judges 15:5 graphically portrays Samson's devastating act of retribution against the Philistines, employing a unique and widespread method to destroy their vital agricultural resources. By igniting torches attached to foxes and releasing them into the fields, Samson crippled the Philistine economy, burning up their standing grain, harvested shocks, vineyards, and olive groves. This strategic and comprehensive destruction served as his vengeful response to the betrayal concerning his Philistine wife, escalating the ongoing conflict between Israel and their oppressors into a cycle of escalating violence.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as the climactic execution of Samson's calculated vengeance, stemming from a profound personal slight. The narrative immediately preceding [Judges 15:5](/judges/15-5 "Judges 15:5 - Samson's Fiery Vengeance") establishes the provocation: Samson's return to Timnah to reconcile with his Philistine wife, only to discover her father had given her to his best man ([Judges 15:1-2](/judges/15-1-2 "Judges 15:1-2 - Samson's Wife Given Away")). Feeling deeply dishonored and betrayed, Samson declared his intent to exact revenge, stating, "Now shall I be more blameless than the Philistines, though I do them a displeasure" ([Judges 15:3](/judges/15-3 "Judges 15:3 - Samson's Vow of Revenge")). Verse 4 then describes his ingenious, albeit cruel, method: capturing 300 foxes, tying them tail-to-tail in pairs with a torch between them, and releasing them into the Philistine fields. [Judges 15:5](/judges/15-5 "Judges 15:5 - Samson's Fiery Vengeance") then vividly portrays the success of this scheme, leading directly to the Philistines' retaliatory burning of Samson's wife and her father ([Judges 15:6](/judges/15-6 "Judges 15:6 - Philistine Retaliation")), further intensifying the cycle of violence that characterizes Samson's interactions with them throughout his judgeship.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Philistines, a powerful "Sea Peoples" group who settled on the southwestern coast of Canaan, were a dominant force during the period of the Judges, frequently oppressing Israel. Their economy was heavily reliant on agriculture, particularly grain (wheat and barley), olives, and grapes, which were staple crops in the fertile Shephelah region, a transitional zone between the coastal plain and the Judean hills where many Philistine cities (like Ekron and Gath) were located. The destruction described in [Judges 15:5](/judges/15-5 "Judges 15:5 - Samson's Fiery Vengeance") was not merely an act of vandalism but a devastating economic assault designed to inflict maximum pain and disruption. Such an attack on food supplies and agricultural infrastructure would have had immediate and long-term consequences for the Philistine population, impacting their ability to feed their people, sustain trade, and support their military. This act underscores the brutal realities of ancient warfare, where targeting an enemy's economic base was a common and effective strategy to weaken and subdue them.
* **Key Themes:** [Judges 15:5](/judges/15-5 "Judges 15:5 - Samson's Fiery Vengeance") powerfully contributes to several key themes within [the book of Judges](/judges/1 "The Book of Judges") and the broader Samson narrative. Firstly, it exemplifies the theme of **Retribution and Vengeance**, showcasing Samson's personal and often disproportionate responses to perceived wrongs. This motif is pervasive in a book where "everyone did what was right in his own eyes," leading to cycles of violence and anarchy ([Judges 21:25](/judges/21-25 "Judges 21:25 - The Cycle of Anarchy in Judges")). Secondly, it highlights **Economic Warfare** as a potent tool of conflict, demonstrating how strategic destruction of resources could cripple an enemy. This tactic is also seen elsewhere in biblical narratives, such as the plagues against Egypt affecting their crops and livestock ([Exodus 9:23-25](/exodus/9-23-25 "Exodus 9:23-25 - The Plague of Hail") and [Exodus 10:12-15](/exodus/10-12-15 "Exodus 10:12-15 - The Plague of Locusts")). Lastly, this verse underscores **Samson's Unique Strength and Cunning**, not merely his physical prowess but also his tactical ingenuity in orchestrating a large-scale, destructive operation. While Samson is often portrayed as a flawed deliverer, his acts of immense power, even if driven by personal motives, serve to undermine Philistine dominance, foreshadowing Israel's eventual, albeit circuitous and often violent, liberation from their oppressors.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Brands (Hebrew, _lappîyd'_):** This term (H3940) refers to a "flambeau, lamp, or flame," specifically a "fire-brand" or "torch." In this context, it signifies the incendiary device attached to the foxes, indicating a deliberate and controlled ignition of the fields. The use of "brands" emphasizes the intentionality and the fiery, destructive nature of the act.
* **Standing corn (Hebrew, _qâmāh'_):** This word (H7054) denotes grain that is still growing upright in the field, unharvested. Its destruction means the loss of the future yield, representing a severe blow to the coming harvest and long-term food security for the Philistines.
* **Shocks (Hebrew, _gâdîysh'_):** This term (H1430) refers to sheaves of grain that have already been cut and gathered into piles in the field, awaiting threshing. The destruction of "shocks" indicates the loss of the current, ready-to-process harvest, representing an immediate and critical blow to the Philistine food supply. The inclusion of both "standing corn" and "shocks" underscores the totality and comprehensiveness of the agricultural devastation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when he had set the brands on fire,"**: This clause describes the crucial preparatory action by Samson. It implies a deliberate and calculated move, where the torches attached to the foxes were ignited, transforming them into instruments of widespread arson. This highlights Samson's direct agency and the premeditated nature of the destruction he intended to unleash.
* **"he let [them] go into the standing corn of the Philistines,"**: This explains the method of deployment for the 300 foxes, now carrying the lit brands. Releasing them into the "standing corn" (unharvested grain) signifies a targeted attack on the Philistines' primary food source, aiming to destroy the crops before they could be gathered, thereby ensuring maximum economic impact.
* **"and burnt up both the shocks, and also the standing corn,"**: This details the comprehensive outcome of Samson's plan. The fire consumed not only the "standing corn" (future harvest) but also the "shocks" (already harvested and piled grain). This dual destruction ensured that both immediate and future food supplies were annihilated, maximizing the economic and societal impact.
* **"with the vineyards [and] olives."**: This final phrase expands the scope of the destruction beyond just grain. Vineyards (for wine and grapes) and olive groves (for oil, a crucial commodity for food, light, trade, and anointing) were also consumed by the fire. This indicates a complete and devastating assault on all major agricultural sectors, ensuring widespread economic ruin and long-term hardship for the Philistines.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several potent literary devices to convey the magnitude and impact of Samson's act. **Hyperbole** is evident in the sheer scale of the destruction, as 300 foxes unleashed across vast agricultural lands would cause immense, almost unimaginable, devastation. This exaggeration emphasizes the severity of the blow inflicted upon the Philistines. **Imagery** is powerfully used through the vivid description of fire consuming "standing corn," "shocks," "vineyards," and "olives," painting a clear, sensory picture of scorched earth, widespread ruin, and the acrid smell of burning crops. This detail evokes the horror and totality of the destruction. Furthermore, there is a strong element of **Irony** in Samson, a judge appointed by God to deliver Israel, employing such destructive and seemingly chaotic methods, often driven by personal vengeance rather than pure divine strategy, yet still serving God's larger purpose of humbling the Philistines. The fire itself can be seen as **Symbolism**, representing both judgment and consuming wrath, reflecting the intense anger of Samson and foreshadowing the escalating conflict that would ultimately lead to further violence and Philistine retaliation, a cycle of fire meeting fire.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 15:5 serves as a stark illustration of the destructive cycle of vengeance and its far-reaching consequences, a pervasive theme throughout the book of Judges. While Samson's actions were a direct response to a profound personal grievance and the broader Philistine oppression, they were fundamentally driven by a spirit of retribution that often characterized human interactions in a period lacking central spiritual authority and adherence to God's law. This event underscores the theological principle that unchecked anger and personal vengeance lead to escalating conflict and widespread suffering, rather than true justice or lasting peace. It highlights the human tendency to "repay evil for evil," a behavior explicitly warned against in later biblical wisdom literature and New Testament teachings. Ultimately, this passage, like much of Samson's story, points to the profound human need for a divine intervention that transcends cycles of violence and offers a path to reconciliation and true deliverance, a deliverance that cannot be achieved through human strength or cunning alone, but only through God's perfect plan.

* [Leviticus 26:16](/leviticus/26-16 "Consequences of Disobedience")
* [Proverbs 24:29](/proverbs/24-29 "Do Not Seek Revenge")
* [Romans 12:19](/romans/12-19 "Vengeance Belongs to God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Samson's fiery act in [Judges 15:5](/judges/15-5 "Judges 15:5 - Samson's Fiery Vengeance") is a powerful, albeit disturbing, reminder of the destructive potential of unchecked anger and the self-perpetuating cycle of retribution. While Samson was indeed a deliverer for Israel, his personal grievances often fueled his actions, leading to devastating consequences not only for his enemies but also, indirectly, for his own people. For us today, this passage challenges us to examine the roots of our own anger and how we respond to perceived injustices or betrayals. Do we seek personal vengeance, or do we trust in a higher, divine justice? The widespread destruction of crops and livelihoods serves as a vivid metaphor for how our own destructive emotional responses—bitterness, resentment, and a desire for "an eye for an eye"—can lay waste to relationships, opportunities, and our inner peace. It calls us to a higher standard, to break cycles of harm by choosing forgiveness, seeking reconciliation, and trusting in God's ultimate sovereignty and justice, rather than allowing bitterness and a desire for retribution to consume us and those around us. This passage compels us to consider the long-term spiritual and relational costs of vengeance, urging us toward the path of grace and peace offered in Christ.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Samson's act of vengeance compare with the biblical call to "bless those who persecute you" ([Romans 12:14](/romans/12-14 "Romans 12:14 - Bless Those Who Persecute You"))?**
* **In what ways might unchecked anger or a desire for personal retribution still "burn up" our own lives, relationships, or spiritual well-being today?**
* **How can we, in practical terms, surrender our desire for vengeance to God and trust in His justice, even when we feel deeply wronged or betrayed?**
* **What does this passage reveal about the economic vulnerabilities of ancient societies, and what modern parallels might exist in terms of targeting essential resources in conflict?**

### FAQ
**Was Samson justified in his actions, given the Philistine oppression and the betrayal he experienced?**

Answer: From a purely human perspective, Samson's actions were a direct, albeit extreme, response to a significant personal betrayal and the ongoing Philistine oppression of Israel. The Philistines had given his wife to another man after he had already paid the bride-price, a profound insult that violated social and legal norms of the time. Moreover, Samson was raised as a Nazirite, set apart by God to begin the deliverance of Israel from Philistine domination ([Judges 13:5](/judges/13-5 "Judges 13:5 - Samson's Birth Prophecy")). In this sense, his acts, however personally motivated, served God's larger purpose of weakening the Philistines and initiating their downfall. However, from a theological and ethical standpoint, the Bible often presents Samson as a flawed hero whose actions are frequently driven by personal passion and vengeance rather than pure obedience to God's revealed will. While God used him in His sovereign plan, Samson's methods often involved violence and retribution, which stand in stark contrast to later biblical teachings on forgiveness, love for enemies, and turning the other cheek ([Matthew 5:39](/matthew/5-39 "Matthew 5:39 - Turn the Other Cheek")). The narrative in Judges describes what happened, but it doesn't necessarily endorse every aspect of Samson's character or actions as morally ideal or exemplary for believers.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Samson, despite his immense strength and his divinely appointed role as a judge, ultimately represents a flawed and temporary deliverer, whose acts of deliverance were often intertwined with personal vengeance and destructive power. His burning of the Philistine crops, while effective in inflicting economic harm, was an act of retribution that only escalated the cycle of violence and suffering. In stark contrast, Jesus Christ is the perfect and ultimate Deliverer, whose mission was not to destroy but to save, not to exact vengeance but to offer reconciliation and redemption. While Samson's power was used to burn and lay waste to the Philistines' livelihood, Christ's power was supremely demonstrated in His self-sacrifice on the cross, where He bore the judgment for humanity's sins, effectively "burning up" the record of our debt and triumphing over the powers of darkness ([Colossians 2:14-15](/colossians/2-14-15 "Colossians 2:14-15 - Triumph Over Sin and Powers")). Unlike Samson, who acted out of personal slight and a desire for payback, Christ willingly laid down His life out of perfect love and obedience to the Father's will ([John 10:18](/john/10-18 "John 10:18 - Jesus Lays Down His Life")). The destructive fire Samson unleashed foreshadows the consuming fire of God's holiness and justice, yet Christ, as the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), absorbed that divine wrath, offering redemption and a way out of the endless cycle of human retribution. Thus, Samson's story, including this act of fiery destruction, points forward to the profound need for a Savior who would bring not just temporary relief from oppression, but eternal salvation and true spiritual peace through a perfect, non-retributive sacrifice ([Hebrews 9:28](/hebrews/9-28 "Hebrews 9:28 - Christ's Sacrifice")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Samuel 14:30

Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab's field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom's servants set the field on fire.

Exodus 22:6

If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed [therewith]; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.