Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, by R.A. Torrey, [ca. 1880], at sacred-texts.com
Judges Chapter 15
Overview
Jdg 15:1, Samson is denied his wife; Jdg 15:3, He burns the Philistines' corn with foxes and firebrands; Jdg 15:6, His wife and her father are burnt by the Philistines; Jdg 15:7, Samson smites them hip and thigh; Jdg 15:9, He is bound by the men of Judah, and delivered to the Philistines; Jdg 15:14, He kills them with a jawbone; Jdg 15:18, God makes the fountain En-hakkore for him in Lehi.
I verily: Jdg 14:16, Jdg 14:20; Act 26:9
take her: Heb. let her be thine
Now shall: etc. or, Now shall I be blameless from the Philistines
though: etc. Jdg 14:15
caught three: Dr. Kennicott and others contend, that for shualim, "foxes," we should read shoalim, "handfuls," or sheaves of corn. But:
1. The word lachad, rendered caught, never signifies simply to get or take but always to catch, seize, or take by assault or stratagem.
2. Though the proposed alteration is sanctioned by seven manuscripts, yet all the versions are on the other side.
3. Admitting this alteration, it will be difficult to prove that the word shoal means either a sheaf or a handful of corn in the ear, and straw. It occurs but thrice in Scriptures (Kg1 20:10. Isa 40:12. Eze 13:9): where it evidently means as much as can be contained in the hollow of the hand; but when handfuls of grain in the shock, or sheaves are intended, very different words are used. See note on Rut 2:15, Rut 2:16, etc.
4. It is not hinted that Samson collected them alone, or in one day; he might have employed many hands and several days in the work.
5. The word shual properly denotes the jackal, which travellers describe as an animal in size between the wolf and fox, gregarious, as many as 200 having been seen together, and the most numerous of any in eastern countries; so that Samson might have caught many of them together in nets. Psa 63:10; Sol 2:15; Lam 5:18
firebrands: or, torches
he let them go: Exo 22:6; Sa2 14:30
and burnt: Jdg 12:1, Jdg 14:15; Pro 22:8; Th1 4:6
Though: Jdg 14:4, Jdg 14:19; Rom 12:19
went: Heb. went down
the rock Etam: Probably near the town Etam, mentioned in Ch1 4:32.
Philistines: Jdg 13:1, Jdg 14:4; Deu 28:13, Deu 28:47, Deu 28:48; Psa 106:41
to bind thee: Mat 27:2; Act 7:25
fall: Jdg 8:21; Kg1 2:25, Kg1 2:34
the Philistines: Jdg 5:30, Jdg 16:24; Exo 14:3, Exo 14:5; Sa1 4:5; Job 20:5; Mic 7:8
the Spirit: Jdg 3:10, Jdg 14:6, Jdg 14:19; Zac 4:6
the cords: Jdg 16:9, Jdg 16:12; Sa1 17:35; Psa 18:34, Psa 118:11; Phi 4:3
loosed: Heb. were melted
new jawbone: Heb. moist
slew: Jdg 3:31, Jdg 4:21, Jdg 7:16; Lev 26:8; Jos 23:10; Sa1 14:6, Sa1 14:14, Sa1 17:49, Sa1 17:50; Co1 1:27, Co1 1:28
a thousand: Some would render the words aileph ish, "a chief;" but it is alluph, and not aileph, which signifies a chief; besides which, the Hebrew idiom would, even in that case, require it to be ish alluph, "a man, a chief," and not alluph ish, "a chief, a man." Add to which, that every version renders it "a thousand men.
with the jawbone: There is here a fine paronomasia upon the word chamor, "an ass," which also signifies "a heap;" bilchee hachamor, chamor chamorathayim, "With the jaw-bone of an ass, a heap upon two heaps."
heaps upon heaps: Heb. an heap, two heaps, Jdg 15:16
Ramathlehi: that is, the lifting up of the jaw-bone, or, the casting away of the jaw-bone, Jdg 15:17
he was sore: Jdg 8:4; Psa 22:14, Psa 22:15; Joh 19:28; Co2 4:8, Co2 4:9
Thou hast given: Psa 3:7, Psa 3:8, Psa 18:31-40
shall: Gen 32:31; Co2 12:7, Co2 12:8
and fall: Gen 12:12, Gen 12:13, Gen 20:11; Sa1 27:1; Co2 1:8, Co2 1:9; Heb 11:32
the uncircumcised: Sa1 17:26, Sa1 17:36; Sa2 1:20
the jaw: or, Lehi, This reading is certainly preferable. it was in the place called Lehi where a spring was supernaturally opened.
there came: Isa 44:3
his spirit: Gen 45:27; Sa1 30:12; Isa 40:26
Enhakkore: Samson gave this expressive name to the miraculously springing water, to be as a memorial of the goodness of God to him. En-hakkore, the well of him that cried, which kept him in remembrance both of his own distress which caused him to cry, and the favour of Jehovah to him in answer to his cry. Many a spring of comfort God opens to his people, which may fitly be called by the name En-hakkore, and this instance of Samson's relief should encourage us to trust in God, for when he pleases he can open rivers in high places. Isa 41:17, Isa 41:18; Samson at first gave the name of Ramath-lehi (the lifting up of the jaw-bone) which denoted him great and triumphant, but now he gives it another name, En-hakkore, which denotes him wanting and dependent. Gen 16:13, Gen 22:14, Gen 28:19, Gen 30:30; Exo 17:15; Psa 34:6, Psa 120:1
Jdg 13:1, Jdg 13:5, Jdg 16:31 "He seems to have judged South-west Israel during twenty years of their servitude of the Philistines.