Judges 16:3

And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put [them] upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that [is] before Hebron.

And Samson {H8123} lay {H7901} till midnight {H2677}{H3915}, and arose {H6965} at midnight {H2677}{H3915}, and took {H270} the doors {H1817} of the gate {H8179} of the city {H5892}, and the two {H8147} posts {H4201}, and went away {H5265} with them, bar {H1280} and all, and put {H7760} them upon his shoulders {H3802}, and carried them up {H5927} to the top {H7218} of an hill {H2022} that is before {H6440} Hebron {H2275}.

However, Shimshon stayed in bed until midnight; then he got up, took hold of the doors of the city gate and the two posts as well, pulled them up, bar and all, hoisted them on his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of the hill overlooking Hevron.

But Samson lay there only until midnight, when he got up, took hold of the doors of the city gate and both gateposts, and pulled them out, bar and all. Then he put them on his shoulders and took them to the top of the mountain overlooking Hebron.

And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and laid hold of the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and plucked them up, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of the mountain that is before Hebron.

Commentary

Context of Judges 16:3

This verse describes Samson's audacious escape from the Philistine city of Gaza. Samson, a judge of Israel uniquely endowed with immense strength by God, had gone to Gaza and spent the night with a harlot. When the Philistines learned of his presence, they planned to ambush him at the city gate in the morning. However, Samson anticipated their plot.

Gaza was one of the five principal cities of the Philistines, a heavily fortified stronghold, and its gates were crucial for defense and control. For Samson to not only escape but to physically remove these massive structures was an act of profound humiliation to the Philistines and a powerful demonstration of his God-given power, even amidst his moral failings.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Supernatural Strength: The most striking theme is Samson's incredible, God-given strength. Lifting and carrying the entire city gate, including its posts and bar, a significant distance to a hilltop near Hebron, is an act far beyond human capability. This highlights that the Spirit of the Lord was still empowering him, despite his personal weaknesses.
  • Divine Protection and Deliverance: Even though Samson was in a compromising situation, God's plan for him as a deliverer of Israel was not yet finished. This escape demonstrates God's ability to protect and deliver His chosen instruments from seemingly insurmountable traps.
  • Humiliation of Enemies: By carrying away the gates of Gaza, Samson publicly shamed the Philistines, who believed they had him cornered. This act served as a powerful symbol of Israel's potential to overcome its oppressors through God's power.

Linguistic and Cultural Insights

The phrase "took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all" emphasizes the completeness of Samson's feat. City gates were not just wooden doors; they were massive, heavy constructions, often reinforced with iron, and secured by strong bars. The "posts" refer to the sturdy doorframes rooted deep in the ground, making their removal an extraordinary feat of brute force and supernatural power.

Carrying these immense structures "up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron" further underscores the miraculous nature of his strength. Hebron was an Israelite city about 40 miles (64 km) from Gaza, and the idea of carrying such a load even part of that distance, let alone up a hill, is astounding. This act was likely a public spectacle, leaving no doubt about the source of his power and the Philistines' inability to contain him.

Practical Application

Judges 16:3 serves as a powerful reminder of God's extraordinary power and His willingness to work through imperfect vessels. While Samson's moral choices often led him into trouble (as seen in this very context), God's purposes for him remained. This verse encourages us to:

  1. Acknowledge God's Strength: Recognize that God's power is limitless and can accomplish what is humanly impossible.
  2. Trust in Divine Deliverance: Even when we find ourselves in difficult or dangerous situations, God is capable of providing a way of escape.
  3. Understand Consequences: While God delivered Samson here, his continued moral compromises eventually led to the eventual revelation of his secret and his capture. The story of Samson is a complex one, highlighting both God's faithfulness and the dangers of sin.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 107:16 (2 votes)

    For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.

  • Acts 2:24 (2 votes)

    Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

  • Micah 2:13 (2 votes)

    The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them.

  • Isaiah 63:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ Who [is] this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this [that is] glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.

  • Isaiah 63:5 (2 votes)

    And I looked, and [there was] none to help; and I wondered that [there was] none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me.