A Complete History and Mystery of the Old and New Testament, Biblical tract · Volume 2 · Commentary on the book of Judges · Chapter 15
Judges CHAP. XV.
JUdges the Fifteenth manifeſteth more of Samſon's Heroick Exploits in his waging War againſt the Philiſtines ſingly by himſelf: Wherein is obſervable, (1.) The Cauſe. (2.) The Manner. (3.) The Event.
The Firſt Remark is, The External Cauſe, or Occaſion of Samſon's War, was the denial of his Wife, ver. 1, 2, 3. Samſon had withdrawn himſelf from her in a fit of high diſpleaſure.
N. B. This cannot be look'd upon as a laudable Action in him, for he ought not ſo lightly to be disjoynted from her, having now taken her [for better and for worſe] as we ſay; but [within a while after] ſo ſoon as he had diſgeſted his Indignation, he firſt ſought a Reconciliation, which he would have purchaſed with a Kid; ſo kind was he to forgive and to forget Injuries.
N. B. Hereby teaching all Married Couples, either not to fall out, or not to go long unreconciled: But Samſon's Overtures of Peace were wretchedly rejected by his Wife's Father: Samſon eſſayed to go into his Wife's Chamber, (which uſed to be diſtinct from the Mens, Gen. 24.67.) her Father ſtops him: 'Tis a wonder Samſon did not knock him down.
N. B. No doubt but Filial Reverence and Reſpect to a Father, did tie Samſon's Hands from ſo doing: This was alſo of the Lord, he did it not, becauſe he ſtill ſought an occaſion againſt the Philiſtines, Judg. 14.4. Her Father with his forcible reſiſtance adds a ſlender Apology, ſaying, [I verily thought thou hadſt utterly hated her,] but he ſhould have been ſure of it, or ſought either a Reconcilement, or a Divorce, and not have diſpoſed of another Man's Wife without his Conſent once asked, which is not only againſt the Law of God, but of Nature alſo.
N. B. The wilful neglect of thoſe Moral and Natural Duties therefore did coſt him and his Daughter their Lives, ver. 6. However to ſtop Samſon's Mouth, as well as his Entrance, &c. He offers him the Inceſtuous Match of his Younger Daughter, who (he ſaid) was Fairer, but never better for her Beauty.
N. B. This was a Marriage fitter for a Philiſtine to propoſe, than for an Iſraelite to embrace, knowing that the Law ſaith [Nullae propinquae ſunt Appropinguandae,] Thou ſhalt not come near to any of thy Kin, Levit. 18.6, 9, &c. and 20.17, &c. Therefore Samſon abhor'd it, and reſolv'd Revenge as a publick Magiſtrate, ver. 3. The Body Politick being faulty in permitting ſuch an Injury to an Innocent.
The Second Remark is, The Manner of his Revenge, and that was Threefold.
Firſt, Upon the Philiſtines Fields, ver. 4, 5, 6. in order to this, Samſon catcheth Three Hundred Foxes, (whereof that Countrey was full, Can. 2.15. Nehem. 4.3. Pſal. 63.10, 11. Lam. 5.18, Ezek. 13.4.)
N. B. Nor ought Anti-Scripturiſts to ridicule this Story as incredible, if it be ſeriouſly conſidered.
1. He might uſe many hands beſide his own to catch them in Nets and Snares, this might take up ſome time; how long this was in doing, we are not told in the Text.
2. The Work was Inſpired into him by God's Spirit, which was upon him. And,
3. The Cattel upon a Thouſand Hills are at God's Command, Pſal. 50.11. Gen. 6.20.
N. B. The ſame Power and Providence of God that brought all ſorts of Beaſts to Noah's Hand, that he might Houſe them in the Ark, did likewiſe bring thoſe Three Hundred Foxes into Samſon's hands, &c.
N. B. Foxes he rather choſe than Hares, or other ſuch like Creatures for their buſhy Tails, which was the more ſerviceable for his deſign, tying Tail to Tail together, that they might not run into their common Kennels, but drew each other contrary ways with a lighted Link tyed to their Tails, that they might run among the Standing Corn. and Stacks in the very time of Wheat Harveſt, ver. 1. and into their Vineyards and Oliveyards, as they were ſeverally let looſe by him to burn them all, ver. 4, 5.
N. B. The Event of Samſon's burning the Corn-fields, &c. of the Philiſtines, incens'd them ſo highly, that they burn the Timnite and his Daughter, as the two grand Incendiaries, who had provoked Samſon to this Miſchievous Action, ver. 6. Thus that which Samſon's Wife feared, chap. 14.15. came upon her, Prov. 10.24. and that juſtly.
N. B. Becauſe ſhe had choſen Iniquity, rather than Affliction, Job 36.21. her Bride-men threaten'd to Burn her, Judg. 14.15. (which probably they never intended, having no provocation thereunto upon her part) if ſhe would not prevail with her Husband to Interpret his Riddle unto her, that ſhe might Interpret it unto them; hereupon ſhe chuſed rather to betray her own Husband's Secrets, than in faithfulneſs to him to run the hazard of any harm to her ſelf, though never intended.
N. B. And if Joſephus ſaith true, that together with her, they burnt all her Kindred, then it is not unlikely, but her new Gàllant (who had ſo treacherouſly leap'd into his Friend Samſon's Bed) had his juſt Deſert of being burned with her, as he had moſt wickedly burnt in Luſt after her, this was a righteous Puniſhment upon a pair of Adulterers; they that ſow Iniquity ſhall reap Vanity, Prov. 22.8. Hoſ. 8.7.
N. B. Here God wrote the Sin of this Adultereſs upon her Puniſhment; and as Ovid ſaith of his Jove, in the caſe of Phaeton, whom he ſtruck dead with an hot burning Thunderbolt for his ſetting the World on fire, [Compeſcuit Ignibus Ignes,] he quenched one fire with another: So the true Jehovah gives Samſon's Adulterous Wife, burning for burning, ſhe had burnt in Luſt toward Samſon's Philiſtine Friend, and now the very Philiſtines are Executioners in God's Hand to burn her with fire: And thus Kitchin-fire God uſed to quench Carnal fire in her.
N. B. The ſecond manner of Samſon's Revenge was upon the Bodies of the Philiſtines with bruiſing Blows, as before upon their Fields, by fire in the Foxes Tails: Now the Philiſtines had reveng'd Samſon's Injury upon thoſe Perſons that had been Principals in being Injurious to him; Was Samſon ſatisfied with this piece of Rigorous Juſtice? No, he ſolemnly proteſts againſt it, ver. 7. becauſe they had not done Juſtice in an orderly Judiciary way, but after a tumultuous manner, (ſaith he) ye have indeed revenged my Juſt Quarrel upon my Churliſh Father-in-Law, and Wanton Wife, and think you have pleaſed me well thereby, but becauſe ye have done it with a wicked Mind, merely reſpecting your own Loſſes of your Corn, Grapes and Olives, more than the Injuries done to me.
N. B. Note well; This ſhall not ſerve your turn, nor ſatisfie me, but I will ſtill perſiſt, and not yet deſiſt in being throughly avenged of you, and then ſhall I ceaſe, till you have given me another juſt occaſion of farther Revenge:] This he ſpeaketh, not as a private perſon, vindicating his own perſonal Quarrel only, but as a publick Magiſtrate, ſet up by God for that very purpoſe to take Vengeance upon an Ʋngodly Nation.
H. B. Hereupon he falls Pell-Mell (as we ſay) upon them, and Smites them Hip and Thigh, ver. 8 a proverbial expreſſion intimating that he laid load upon them with his heavy Hands and luſty Legs, Cuffing and Kicking them, ſo that he not only knock'd down to the ground all that felt his fatal Blows and Spurns, but alſo he lamed them, by putting their Hips and Thighs out of Joynt, ſo rendred them incapable of any Military Employ againſt Iſrael, which peradventure was the only deſign of Samſon in this preſent Expedition; and though we read it [with a great Slaughter,] yet the Hebrew may be read [with a great ſtroke,] and poſſibly his Blows were Mortal unto ſome; his Mawling them with his Fiſts, and punching them with his Feet (for he had no Weapon in his hand) might give a Paſsport (as we ſay) to a few, yet at this time he aimed only to Maim and Lame them, ſo as to make them uſeleſs for War.
N. B. Some do ſenſe thoſe words [Hip and Thigh] that he ſmote their Horſe-men and Foot-men, becauſe the former ſits upon their Hips on Horſe-back, and the latter march and ſtand in Battel by the ſtrength of the Thigh.
N. B. From hence we may learn what Miſchiefs may enſue ſuch Adulteries and Violations of the Marriage-Bed; ſo true is that of Solomon, [one ſinner destroys much good,] Eccleſ. 9.18. When Samſon had done this Heroick Exploit, in routing the Horſe and Foot of the Philiſtines, he retireth to a Rock for his own ſafety, well knowing that they would watch all Opportunities to take their revenge upon him, ver. 8.
N. B. His Third manner of Revenge upon them, was ſtill higher than the two former, even againſt the very Lives of them; this is deſcribed by Antecedents, Concomitants, and Conſequents.
Firſt, The Antecedents do concern (1.) Samſon's Enemies, who march into Judah with a mighty Army to ſurprize him, and to make War againſt Iſrael, if they durſt Abet or protect him, ver. 9. (2.) Samſon's Friends, who,
Firſt, Expoſtulate the Caſe with the Philiſtines, that, ſeeing they paid their Tribute and lived peaceably, they had no juſt cauſe of waging War againſt them, ver. 10. The Philiſtines anſwer, their Quarrel was not againſt them for any breach of Covenant, but it was only againſt Samſon, who had broke the Peace after a moſt notorious Inſolency, both in burning their Corn, &c. ſo ſpoiling the hope both of their Harveſt and Vintage, and in Mawling their Men, ſo that they were unſerviceable either for War or Husbandry: Yet if they would deliver up Samſon to Juſtice, they would return Home in Peace, and give them no farther Moleſtation, ver. 10.
N. B. Then Secondly, Thoſe Men of Judah Expoſtulate the Caſe with Samſon himſelf. ver. 11. Having a better Mind to Treat than to Fight, though they had ſuch a brave Champion as Samſon for their General, their Slavery to the Philiſtines for a long time had ſo Emaſculated their Minds, that they moſt Effeminately fear their Oppreſſors, and comes crouching to Samſon in his Rock of Refuge to beſeech his Complyance with their Enemies Demands, or otherwiſe the Philiſtines would deſtroy their whole Countrey; and ſaying, were it not better that thou alone periſh as a Sacrifice to ſave all Iſrael?
N. B. Samſon's Reply is made in much Meekneſs, ſaying. They are God's Enemies, I have but executed his Juſtice upon them, [and done to them as they have done to me,] acting therein not as a private Perſon, but as a publick Judge, appointed by God for that work; and ſeeing ye are come to bind me, and deliver me up into their hands to make your own Peace like a Company of Cowards that will not fight for your Countrey, tho' ye be three Thouſand Perfidious Perſons, and therefore I am not afraid of you, but could make my part good with you, as well as with the Enemies great Hoſt: yet am I content to ſubmit, provided you will Swear not to fall upon me your ſelves, leſt thereby I be provoked to fall foul upon you in my own Defence, ver. 12.
N. B. Hereupon they promiſe not to kill him, ver. 1.3. whereas they did as bad, in binding his hands, that he might be kill'd by his Enemies: That Samſon ſhould thus condeſcend to thoſe his Cowardly Countrey-men, and ſo tamely conſent to the binding of his hands (wherewith he had laid a Lyon dead upon the Spot, and quite Lamed ſo many Philiſtines, &c.) and to be delivered up as a Prey to the Teeth of his Enemies, and all this by pretended Friends too; it was aſſuredly a manifeſt evidence of the ſtrength of his Faith, for which he is ranked among the moſt Renowned of God's Heroes, thoſe Stars of the firſt Magnitude recorded, Heb. 11.32.
Secondly, The Concomitants of Samſon's Third manner of Revenge deſcribed,
Firſt, By the means of Samſon's hands being ſet at Liberty from theſe Bonds wherewith they were faſt bound together, ver. 14.
N. B. How can we but behold Samſon at this time in a moſt forlorn condition, led like a Condemned Malefactor faſt pinioned to the place of Execution, the Philiſtines Hoſt ſaw their deſired Prey approaching near them, every way prepared for their ſwallowing him up at one Mouthful; they gave a great Shout at this pleaſing Spectacle, and indeed did Triumph before the Victory, That God, who always holds in his Holy Hand for a dead lift, here helps his Servant when forſaken of his helps and hopes; then did the Spirit of the Lord come mightily upon Samſon, (in that very nick of time when the Philiſtines came running, ſhouting with open Mouth, and juſt ready to worry him, verily ſuppoſing they had now got their grand Enemy into their Clutches) even that Spirit of burning, Iſa. 4.4. that both burnt aſunder thoſe ſtrong new Cords wherewith his hands were bound, and likewiſe inflamed his Spirit to fall foul upon the Inſulting Philiſtines with extraordinary Might and Magnanimity.
N. B. Secondly, By the Inſtrument wherewith he made a moſt Miraculous Slaughter amongſt ſo Numerous an Enemy, ver. 15. Samſon wanted a Weapon in his former Expedition of Maiming the Philiſtines, ſo as to make them unmeet for fighting in Battel; this he did effect by Cuffing them with his Fiſts, and by Kicking them with his Feet, as above: But now God will have Samſon to do more than Maim them; he muſt here ſtep to an higher degree of Revenge upon them, he muſt not only Maim but Murder them, by knocking out their Brains out of their Brainleſs, or Witleſs Heads; had they not been ſuch, they had never come forth with ſo much Confidence in ſo great an Army, only to fetch in their own Bane.
N. B. In order hereunto, God will not have his Champion to be altogether without a Weapon in this higher Expedition, and therefore his Providence hands into Samſon's hands (now looſe and ſet at liberty) the Jaw-bone of an Aſs, newly dead, which made it the tougher, and ſtronger, and with this Weapon (for want of a better) he aſſaults at ſingle hand, ſo vaſt an Army of his Adverſaries. The Heathen Hercules had a luſty Club to do his great Exploits withal; but this Holy Hercules had no better a Weapon than this Contemptible Jaw-bone againſt all the Arms of thoſe Aliens, a numerous Hoſt of Enemies, yet was it made ſufficient to ſlay a Thouſand of the Philiſtines in the hands of one ſingle Perſon, becauſe the Lord of Hoſts was with him in the Action.
N. B. As 'tis ſaid of Joſeph, [His hands were made ſtrong by the Arms of the Hands of the Mighty God of Jacob, Gen. 49.24. even ſo was it with Samſon here; God frequently effects great Matters by ſmall Means; thus Shamgar had ſlain Six Hundred of Iſrael's Enemies, only with an Oxe-Goad; and David afterward ſlew the Philiſtines great Goliah, only with a Sling and a Stone. Thus our Lord heal'd the Blind Man only with Clay and Spittle, more like to put out his Eyes than to reſtore them.
N. B. And thus, as the ſame Lord had tumbl'd down the Walls of Jericho only by the ſounding of Rams-Horns, even ſo by the fooliſhneſs of Preaching only, hath he ſubdued the World unto himſelf, who Rides on Conquering, and to Conquer upon the White Horſe of the Goſpel, Revel. 6.2. and who indeed is the true Antitype of Samſon his Type in this and many more particulars, as may be ſeen in the cloſe of his Hiſtory.
'Tis no matter what the Tool or Instrument be, where the Lord himſelf will be but the principal Agent.
N. B. It may juſtly be wondred at, how this Jaw-bone could hold whole until a Thouſand Men were knock'd down dead by Samſon's furious Blows upon ſo many Robuſt Bodies with it: Some indeed ſay, That Aſſes, as they have large and hard Heads, ſo and Jaw-bones alſo, eſpecially in Syria, where they be larger and ſtronger than thoſe bred in our Countrey; but we muſt farther ſay, The power of God was preſent here, both to preſerve the Jaw-bone from breaking, and to impower Samſon, that with it he was made able to Murder a Thouſand Men.
N. B. Nor must we aſcribe too much to the ſtrength of the Jaw-bone it ſelf, or to the ſtrength of Samſon himſelf; for though this Jaw-bone was moiſt and freſh (of ſome Aſs lately dead) ſo not ſo eaſily broken as thoſe that have laid long and dryed towards a Putrefaction; and though Samſon had likewiſe moſt unparallell'd ſtrength (reckoned the ſtrongeſt Man that ever was in the World) yet muſt we look higher above both, and conclude, That this matchleſs Exploit was the accompliſhment of God's Gracious Promiſe, which we find twice recorded, [one of you ſhall chaſe a Thouſand,] Deut. 32.30. and Joſh. 23.10. which Scriptures muſt be fulfilled, Mark 14.49. &c.
The laſt part is the Conſequents of this Victory, which be Three.
The Firſt is, Samſon's Song of Thankſgiving for it, ver. 16. ſinging, [With the Jaw-bone of an Aſs I have laid heaps upon heaps,] where there is ſuch an Elegancy in the Original, [Chamor Chamorathaim,] as our Tranſlation cannot reach; for the ſame word [Chamor] ſignifies both an Aſs and an Heap.
N. B. Though Joſephus wrongs Samſon here, ſaying, this Song was a vain Vaunt of his own Strength and Atchievements, for which pride God puniſh'd him afterward with ſuch a Throat-thratling Thirſt, as made him ready to periſh; yet the Scripture of Truth owns it as a Song of his Faith, and he is celebrated for it, Hebr. 11.32. and no doubt but Samſon look'd higher than the bare lifting up of the Jaw-bone, (as he named that place [Ramath lehi,] ver 17.) which ſo ſignifies for a Monument and Memorial of this Matchleſs Mercy.
N. B. Had he aſcribed his Victory to ſo deſpicable a Tool, it was not the lifting of it up, but the falling of it down with force that did the feat; and ſo there would have been a Soleciſm, an abſurd Impropriety in his naming the place thus: Beſide, it was not the dead Inſtrument a Jaw-bone, that could lay heaps upon heaps of it ſelf, but it was the living and lively Arm of a ſtrong Champion ſtriking with it, that did the Deed. yet no marks of his own Might doth he make in the name of the place; therefore Samſon muſt have an Eye herein to the Almighty Power of God, who had given him his Aſſiſtance to Atchieve theſe things.
The Second Conſequent of his Conquest, was Samſon's exceſſive Thirſt, which God quench'd by a Miracle, ver. 18, 19. None can juſtly wonder that Samſon was now Thirſty, conſidering how he had toil'd and turmoil'd himſelf, in Vanquiſhing ſuch an Hoſt, and Mawling a Thouſand Men; the over-heating of his Body might well, in a Natural way, cauſe him to be thirſty: But beſide this Natural Thirſt, God might likewiſe ſend one Preternatural for Supernatural ends. As,
N. B. Firſt, To keep him humble, hiding Pride from him, Job 33.17. that he ſhould not aſcribe the Glory of this great Victory to himſelf, and to his own Proweſs (which haughty Man is apt to do in Autotheiſm, as bad as Atheiſm, and Polutheiſm) and ſo Sacrifice to his own Nes, Habak. 1.16. and with Ajax, Adore no God but his own Weapon. And,
Secondly, It was to make him pray; and this he did here; for no ſooner had he complained▪ [I am ſore a Thirſt,] but immediately 'tis ſaid, [He called on the Lord,] aſcribing Kingdom, Power and Glory unto God alone, and urging this Argument in his Prayer, [That it would not conſiſt with, or conduce to God's Honour to begin a great Work, and not to finiſh it, contrary to the Promiſe, when I begin I will make an end,] 1 Sam. 3.12.
N. B. And in his Prayer he tells God, [Thy Servant hath got this Thirſt in thy Service] believing, that as he had granted him the greater Mercy, namely, Victory over his Enemies, he would not deny him the leſſer Mercy, to wit, the quenching of his Thirst, &c ſaying, Seeing I have kept within the compaſs of my calling, whereunto my God hath called me, I cannot but hope he will Relieve and Refreſh me: Such a ſavoury frame of Spirit is apparent in Samſon's Praye… here, as is enough to anſwer Joſephus's Notion, and that of Ambroſe (following his Footſteps in his Tenth Epiſtle) that Samſon was puffed up with Pride and Vain glory in his Song.
N. B. Sure I am, the contrary is apparent in his Prayer, wherein he aſcribes all the Glory of his Victory to the Lord of Hoſts, and not to his Jaw-bone of an Aſs; and he gives a clear Teſtification therein, that he was more tender of Gods Honour than he was of his own, in telling the Lord, that it would much redound to his Diſhonour, ſhould he (after ſuch a Glorious Appearance with him in this Marvelous Conqueſt) yet ſuffer him to fall into the hands of the Philiſtines, by his Fainting through Thirſt.
N. B. But that which puts it beyond all Controverſie, is God's Acceptance of his Addreſs▪ and his Anſwer of Peace to his preſent Prayer▪ ver. 19. The Lord there works a Miracle to gratifie his Servant, and to quench his Thirſt: [God clave the hollow place that was in the Jaw-bone, and turned it into a Spring of Water, whereof Samſon drank, and his Natural Spirits were Revived.]
N. B. The ſame God that did cleave the Rock in the Wilderneſs and (as it were ſet it a broach to give Iſrael drink out of it, did the like here, for his Servant Samſon: The Miracle was the ſame, though the Subject was differing, there he clave the Bock, and here the Jaw-bone, yet out of both, God's Omnipotency fetched not fire but mater: For an impotent and weak Man can fetch fire out of a Flint, or Bone, with forcible ſtrokes upon them; but 'tis only the Power and Prerogative of the Almighty God to wring Water out of them.
N. B. And hereupon ſenſible Samſon, to teſtifie his Thankfulneſs to his God, ſets another Mark of Remembrance upon this Miracle of Mercy alſo, naming it, [Enhakkorth,] that is, The Well of him that called or cryed, looking upon it as a ſignal Anſwer to his ſervent Prayer in the time of his Extremity, Pſal. 50.15. and this Fountain is ſaid [to remain there unto this Day,] from whence ariſeth the Opinion of ſome,
N. B. That the Spring of Water was in the ground under it, and not in the Jaw-bone it ſelf, which every Traveller that ſaw it, might carry away with him, as a rich Prize in thoſe hot Countries, where they had ſo much need to drink of the Brook in the way of their Travel, 1 Kings 17.4. Pſal. 110.7. This indeed makes it improbable, that the Jaw-bone ſhould continue there ſo long; but the contrary to this Opinion is not incredible upon thoſe Conſiderations.
N. B. Firſt, Though Paſſengers might be forward enough to carry a Fountain along with them in that hot Climate, yet might they generally have ſuch an Awe upon them, as to forbear the removing ſo great a Monument of God's great power and Miraculous Mercy.
Secondly, The ſame God who had wrought a double Miracle.
1. By it, as an Inſtrument wherewith to ſlay a Thouſand Philistines. And,
2. Ʋpon it, in turning it into a Fountain to quench Samſon's Thirſt, might add one Circumſtance more, namely, to fix it ſo in the Ground, as to make it unremoveable. And,
3. The words [unto this Day] is underſtood only, until Samuel's time, who is thought to be the Author of this Book of Judges, and it might well enough remain ſo long, being leſs than an Hundred Years; yet Hierom ſaith, it remained till his time as a Teſtimony to Poſterity, of the truth of this Glorious Work, &c.
The Third Conſequent is, Though the Iſraelites had dealt unkindly with Samſon before, yet now after this Victory, they publickly own'd and acknowledg'd him as their General Judge, ver. 29. pleading their Cauſes, and avenging their Wrongs againſt the Philiſtines, who at this time Tyrannized over Iſrael for Twenty Years; for Samſon did but begin to deliver Iſrael, Judg 13.5. Their compleat Deliverance was reſerved for David; and this clauſe (of his Judgeſhip Twenty Years, while the Philiſtines had Dominion over them) clears up this truth, that the times of Iſrael's Judges, and of their Oppreſſions, are included as Contemporary, which juſtifies the Account of time given in, 1 Kings 6.1.