Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition)
Delilah BetraijS Sanuon. JUDGES XVI. He is Overcome, and his Death.
Uie jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men—Tlie Inadequacy of the weapon plainly shows this to have been a miraculous feat, " a case of (Supernatural strength," was driven into the warp, not by a reed, but by a wooden spatula ; tlie extremitj' of .the web was fastened to a pin or stake fixed in the wall or ground; and while Delilah sat squatting at her loom, Samson lay stretched on the just as the gift of prophecy is a case of supernatural knowledge [Chalmeks.] 19. a liollow place in tlie jaw —In Lciii—taking the word as a projer noun, marlcing the place, tliere came water tbereout ; and wJien lie lisd flmnli ills spirit came again— His strength, exhausted by the violent and long-continued exertion, was recruited by the refreshing draught from the spring ; and floor, with his liead reclining on lier lap—a iDositiou very common in the East, went away with the pin of the benm, and with the web i. e., the whole weaving apparatus.
15-20. He is Overcome. 15-30. she pressed him daily with her words— Tliough disappointed and mortified, this vile woman resolved to persevere; and conscious how completel.y he was enslaved by his passion for her, she assailed hira witlia succession of blandishing arts, till she at length discovered the coveted secret. 17. If I be shaven, my strejigth will go from iiie—His herculean powers did not arise from his hair, but fi-om his peculiar relation to God as a Nazarite. His unshorn locks were a sign of his Nazaritism, and a pledge on the part of God that his supernatural strength would be continued. 19, she called for a man, and caused him to shave olf the seven locks of his liead — It is uncertain, however, whctlier the ancient Hebrews cut o/F the hair to the same extent as Orientals now. The word eniploj'ed is sometimes the same as that for shearing sheep, and therefore the instrument might l>e only scioSC)rs. ^0. He wist not tliat the Lord was dep.irted froiai liim—what a huniilit was called En-hakkore, the "supplication well," a name which records the piety of this heroic cliampion.
CHAPTER XVI.
Ver. 1-3. 1. Samson Carries away the Gates of Gaza. Gaza—Now Guzzah, the capital of the largest of the five Philistine principal cities, about fifteen miles eouth-west of Ashkelon. The object of this visit to tliis city is not recorded, and unless he had gone in disguise, it was a perilous exposure of his life in one of tlie enemy's strongholds. It soon transpired that he was there; and it was immediately resolved to secure him, iut deeming themselves certain of their prey, tlie Gazites deferred the execution of their measure till the morning. 3. Samson arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate ol' the city—A ruinous pile of masonry is still pointed out as the site of the gate. It was probably a part of the town wall, and as this ruin is "toward Hebron," there is no iinpiohability in the tradition, carried them np to the top of an hill, that is toefore Hehron—That hill is ICI-Moutar; but by Hebron in this passage is meant "the mountains of Hebron;" for otherwise Samson, had he run jiiglitand day from the time of his fliglit from Gaza, couM only have come on tiie evening of the following day iatini4 and painful spectacle! Deprived of the Divine inflaciK-os-ilfgraded in his charactf-r—and yet, tlirough the.inf.iluatii;u of a guilty passion, scarcely awake to the wrelclieilness of liis fallen condition !
21, 22. The Philistines Took him and Put out his Eyes. 21. the Philistijies took him and put ont hia eyes—To tliis cruel privation prisoners of ranlcand consequence have commonly been sulyected in tlie East, and the punishment is inflicted in various ways, by scooiiing out the e.yeballs, by piercing the eye, or destroying the sight by holding a red-Iiot injn before the eyes. His security was made doubly sure liy his being bound with fetters of brass (copper), not of leather, likeother captives, he did grind in the prison-honse—This grinding with hand mill-stones being tlie employment of menials, he was set to it as the deepest degradation. 3^. Howbeit his hair began to grow again—It is probable that he had now reflected on his folly; and becoming a sincere penitent, renewed his Nazarite vow. " His hair grew together with his repentance, and his strength witli his hairs." [Bishop Hai,l.]
within siht of the city of Hebron. The city of Gaza was. In those days, probably not loss tlian three-quarters of an hour distant from El-Montar. To have climbed to the top of this hill with the ponderous doors and their bolts on his slioulders, tlirough a road of thick sand, was a feat which none but a Samson could have accomplished. LVan DE Velde.]
1-11. UeIjTi.ah Cokrupted by the Philistines. 4. he toved a woman in the -valley of Sorelt—Tlie situation of this place is not known, nor can the character of Delilah be clearly ascertained. Her abode, her mercenary character, and her heartless blandishments att'ord too much reason to believe s!ie was a profligate woman. 5. the lords of the Philistines—tlie five rulers deemed no means beneath their dignity to overcome this national enemy. Kntice him, and see wherein his great strength licth—They probably imagined that lie carried some amulet about his person, or was in the possession of some important secret by wliich lie had acquired sucli herculean strength; and they bribed Delilah, doubtless by a'large reward, to discover it for them. Slie undertook the service, and made several attempts, plying all her arts of persuasion or blandishment in his soft and communicative moods, to extract his secret. 7. Suiitson said, Bind me with seven green withs—Vine tendrils, pliant twigs, or twists made of crude vegetable stalks are used in many Eastern countries for ropes at the present day. 8. she bound him with them—probably in a si)ortive manner, to try wlietlier he was jesting or in earnest. 9. there were men lying in v/ait, abiding ii» tlse chamber—The Heb., literally rendered, is, " in the inner or most secret part of the house." 10. And Delilah said—To avoid exciting suspicion, slie must have allowed some time to elapse before making this renewed att<?rnpt. Ti. new ropes—It is not said of what material tliey were formed; but from their being dried, it is pmbable they were of twigs, like the former. The Heb. intimates that they were twisted, and of a thick, slrcmg description. 13. If thou weavest the seven locks of my head—braids or tresses, into which, like many in the East, he chose to
28-25. Their Feast to Dagon. 33. tlae lords of the Philistines gathered to ofl Ter a great sacrilsce to D.igon —It was a common viractice in heatlien nations, on the return of their solemn religious festivals, to bring forth tlieir war prisoners from their places of confinement or slavery, and, in heaping on them every species of indignity, ofter their grateful tribute to the gods by whose aid they had triumphed over their enemies. Dagon was a sea-idol, usually represented as having the head and upper parts human, while the rest of tlie body resembled a fish.
26-31. His Death. 37. there were upon the roof about three tliousand men and woiueBi that beheld while Samson made sport—This building seems to have been similar to tlie spacious and open amphitheatres well known among the Romans, and still found in many countries of tlie East. Tliey are ljuilt wholly of wood. The standing-place for the spectators is a wooden iloor resting upon two pillars and rising on an inclined plane, so as to enable all to have a view of the area in the centre. In the middle there are two large beams, on which the whole weight of the structure lies, and these beams are supported by two pillars placed almost close to each other, so that when these are unsettled or displaced, the whole pile must tumble to the ground. 38. Samson called unto the Lord—His penitent and prayerful spirit seems clearly to indicate that this meditated act was not that of a vindictive suicide, and that he regarded himplait his hair. Working at the loom was a female employment; and Delilah's appears to have been close at hand. It was of a very simple construction ; the M'oof self as putting forth his strength in his capacity of a puljlic magistrate. He must b(! considered, in fact, aa dying for his country's cause, and his death was not de-
Micah Seli up Idnlalry. JUDGES XVII, XVIII. 21ie Daniles SeeL an Iiiheritanee.
signed or sought, except as it miglit be the inevitcable consequeuce of his great effort. His prayer must have been a silent ejaculation, and, from its being revealed to the historian, approved and accepted of God. 31. Then his bi-etlir«n and all tUe House of Ills father came do>vu and (oclc him, and broiiglit Jiim up, and buried Ulm—Tnis awful cattustrophe seems to have so completely paralyzed the I'iiiiistines, that they neither attempted to prevent the removal of Samson's corpse, nor to molest the Isi'aelitC'S for a long time after. Thus the Israelitish hero rendered by his strength and courage signal services to his country, and was always regarded as the greatest of its champions. But his slavish subjection to the donination <.)r )iis passions was unworthy of so great a man, and lessens oar respect for his character. Yet he is ranked among the ancient worthies who maintained a firm faith in God (Hebrews 11. 32).
Iievite Hebreic, filled his hand. This act of consecration was not less unlawful for Micah to perfurm tiian lor this Levite to receive (see on ch. IS. 13. now 1 know that the Lord will do me good—The removal of his son, followed by the installation of this Levite into the priestly of Uce, seems to have satisfied his conscience, that by what he deemed the orderly ministrations of religion he Mould prosper. This expression of his hope evinces the uuited intiueuce of ignorance and superstition.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Ver. 1-21). The Danites Seek Out an Inheritance. 1-6. In those days the Danites sought tSteni nn inheritance to dwell in — Tlie Danites liad a territory assigned them as well as tlie other tribes. But either through indolence, or a lack of energy, they did not »c(iuiie the full possession of their allotment, but suffered a cousideralile portion of it to be wrested out of their hands by the encroacliments of their powerful neiglil)ours, tire Philistines: and, in consequence, being straitened for room, a considerable number resolved on trying to edect a new and adiiitional settlement in a remote part of the land. A small deputation being despatched to reconnoitre the country, arrived on their progi'ess northward at the residence of Micah; and recognizing his priest as one of their former actjuaintances, or perhaps by his provincial dialect, they eagerly enlisted his services in ascertaining the result of their present expedition. His answer, though apparently promising, was delusive, and really as ambiguous as those of tile heathen oracles. This application brings oul still more clearly and fuily than the schism of Micah the woeful degeneracy of the times. The Danites expressed no emotions either of surprise or of indiguatiou at a Lirvite daring to assume the priestly functions, and at the existence of a rival establisliment to that of Sniloli.
CHAPTER XVII.
Ver. 1-4. MiOAH Restoring tub Stolen Money to HIS jio TiiiiK, Sue makes Images. 1. a man of JUount £l>Uraimi. e., (he mountainous parts of Ephraim. This and the other narratives that follow form a miscellaneous collection, or appendix to the Book of Judges; belonging to a period when liie Hebrew nation was in a greatly disordered and (fori upt state. This episode of Micah is connected with ch. 1. '.'A, and it relates to his foundation of a small sanctuary of his own—a miniature represei\tative of the Shiloli tal)ernacle—which he stocked witli images modelled probably in imitation of the ark and clieruliim. Micah and his mother were sincere in their inti'iition to lioiiour God. But their faitli was blended with a sad amount of ignorance and delusion. The divisive course they pursued, as well as the will-worship thejpractised, suijjectcd the perpetrators to the penalty of death. 3. a graven Image and a molten image—Tlie one carved from a bloi'k of w.hkI or stone, to be plated over with silver; the oHier, a tigurc formed of the solid metal cast into a moulil. It is ol)servable, however, that only 200 shekels were given to the founder; and probably the expense of making two such figures of silver, with their appurtenances (pedestals, bases, &c.), might easily cost, in those da.vs, shekels, which, at 2s. -Id. eacli, is al)out a sum not adecjuale to the formation of large statues. [Tavlou's KUAtJMKNT.] .'}. the man Micalt had a Ikouse of gods—//('(/rc)/', a house of God—a domestic chapel, a private religious estalilisliment of his own. an ephod (See on Kxoilus 2S. 1.) Teraphim—Tutelary gods of the houseiiold ifieeou (J^'iuvsis .'il. II), .'in), consecrated one of Uls sous, who I>ecame his i>rlest—The assumption of the priestly ol Kce l)y any one out of the family of Aaron was a (lire<!t violation of the Divine law (Numbers .i. It); 16.17; Deuteronomy 21.5; Hel)rews 5.4). <>. every man tlid that which was rlijht In his own eyes—Ki'om want of a s(>ttled government, there was no one to call him to account. No punisliment followed any crime. 7. BethIchem-jndah—,So called in contradistinction to a town of the same niime in Zebulun (.loshua li). 15). of the family (i.e., tribe) of .Tudah—Men of the tribe of Levi miglit conni'ct themselves, as Aaron did (I'lxodus (1. 2:i\ by marriage with iinotlier tril)e; and tliis young Levite belonged to the tribe of .ludah, by his mother's side. Which accounts for Ills being in Betlilehem, not one of the Levitical cities. N. the man departed to sojourn where, he could tltid a place—A coinjietent provision being secured for overy member of the Leviti(tal order,
Tlie.v are ready to seek, through means of the terapliim, the iiuorination that could only be lawfully applii'd for through the high priest's Uriin, and, being tlius eijually erroneous in their views and liabits as Micah, show the low slate of religion, and how much superstition prevailed lu all parts of the land. ?-10. the live men departed, and came to JLaish—or Leshem (Joshua II). 47), supposeii to have been peopled by a colony Of Ziiionians. The place was very secluded—the soil ridi in the abundance and variety of its produce, and the inhabitant.s, following the peaceful pursuits of agriculture, lived in tlieir fertile and sequestered valley, according to the Zidoiiian style of ease and security, happy among themselves, and maintaining little or no conimunication with the rest of the world. The discovery of tliis northern paradise seemed, to the delight of the Danite spies, an aeeoniplishmentof the priest's prediction, and they hastened back to inform their brethren in the south both of the value of their prize, and how easily it could be made their pri'V. 11. tliere went thence of the family of the Danites six hundred men—this was the collective number of the men wlio were equipped with arms to carry out this e-vpeditionary enterprise, without including tlie families and furnil lire of the emigrants (u. 21). Their Journey led them through the territory of Judah, and their (irst halting-place was "behind," that is, on the west of Kirjath-
Jearini, on a spot called afterwards "the camp of Dan." Prosecuting the northern route, they skirted the base of the Kphralmite hills; and on aiiproaching the neighliourliood of Micah's residence, tlie spies having given information llial aprivate sanctuary was ke|)t there, the priest of whii li had rendered them Important service when on their exiiloring expedition, it was unanimously agreed that both he and the lurniture of the estalillshment would be a valuable acquisition to their proi>osed settlement. A plan of spoliation was ininiediately formed. While tlie armed nirri stood sentinels at the gales, the live spies broke Into the cliapel, pillaged the Images and vestnients, and su('ceeded in bribing tlie priest also by a tempting
Ills wandering about showiid liiin to have been a person of a roving disposition or unsettled habits. In the course of Ills Journeying he came to the house of Micah, who, on learning what he was. engaged his permanent services. 10. Mlciih said unto him, Dwell with me, be unto me a father—A s|)|j itual fatlier, to coiidiict tlu; religious services of my establishment; he was to receive, in addition to his board, a salary of ten shekels of silver, equal to 2.')S. a y(!iir. a suit of apparel—Not only dress offer to transfer his services to their new colony. 'J'aking charge of tlie ephod, the teraphim, and the graven liiu\K«, for ordinary us(>, but veslineiits suitable for tlui discharge of his jirlestly functions, li. rillcah consecrated the 170
Of the LeviU and his Wife. JUDGES XIX. An Old Man EnUrlaim him al Gibeah,
Accompanied by a servant, he arrived at the bouse of his father-in-law, who rejoiced to meet him, in the hope that a complete reconciliation would be brought about between his daughter and her husband. The Levite, yielding to tlie hospitable importunities of his father-in-law, prolonged his stay for days. 8. tarried (with reluctance) until afternoon lit., the decline of the day. People in the East, who take little or nothing to eat in the morning, do not breaklast till from 10 to 12 a.m., and tliis meal the hospitable relative had purposely protracted to so late a period as to afford an argument for urging a further stay. 9. the day draweth toward evening—//eftyrH', the pitching time of day. Travellers who set out at daybreak, usually halt about the middle of the afternoon tlie
" he went in the midst of the people"—a central position assigned him in the march, perhaps for his personal security; but more probably in imitation of the place appointed for the priests and the ark, in the middle of the congregated tribes, on the marches through the wilderness Tliis theft presents a' curious medley of low morality and strong religious feeling. The Danites exemplified a deep-seated principle of our nature—that mankind have religious aft'ections, which must have an object on which tliese may be exercised, while they are often not very discriminating in the choice of the objects. In proportion to the slender influence religion wields over the heart, the greater is the importance attached to external rites ; and in tlie exact observance of these, the conscience first evening, to enjoy rest and refreshment. It was, then, too late a time to commence a journey. But duty, perhaps, obliged the Levite to indulge no further delay. 10. the man departed, and came over against .Tebus The note, " which is Jerusalem," must have been inserted by Ezra or some later hand. Jebus being still, though not entirely (ch. I. 8) in the possession of the old inhabitants, the Levite resisted the advice of his attendant to enter it, and determined rather to press forward to pass the night in Git)eah, which he knew was occupied by Israelites. The distance from Bethlehem to Jerusalem is about six miles. The event showed that it would have been better to have followed the advice of his attendant—to have trusted themselves among aliens, tluin among their own countrymen. 13. in Gibeah, or in Ramah—The first of these places was five miles northeast, the other from four to five north of Jerusalem. 13. he went in and sat Iiim down in a street of tlie city The towns of Palestine at this remote period could not, it seems, furnish any establishment in tlie shape of an inn or public lodging-house; and hence we conclude that the custom, which is still frequently witnessed in the cities of tlie East, w.as then not uncommon, tor travellers who were late in arriving, and who had no introduction to a private family, to spread their bedding in the streets, or wrapping themselves up in their cloaks, pass the night in the open air. In the Arab towns and villages, however, the shelck, or some other person, usu.iUy comes out and urgently invites the strangers to his house. This was done also In ancient Palestine (Genesis 18.4; 19. 2), and that the same hospitality was not shown in Gibeah, seems to have been owing to the bad character of the people.
is fully satisfied, and seldom or never molested by reflections on tlie breach of minor morals. iiii-ZG. the men that were » the Houses near t j Micali's were gatliered together—the roblxMS of the chapel being soon detected, a hot pursuit was fortliwith commenced by Micah, at the head of a consideral)le Ijody of followers. The readiness with which they joined in the attempt to recover the stolen articles artbrds a presumption that the advantages of the chapel had been open to all in the neighbourhood ; and the importance wliich Micah, like Laljan, attached to his teraphim, is seen l)y tlie urgency with which he pursued the thieves, and the risk of bis life in attempting to procure their restoration. Finding' his ))arty, however, not a tnatch for the Danites, he thought it prudent to desist, well knowing the rule which was then prevalent in the land, that
They should take who had the power, Aod tbc?8huu)d keep who could." Thky Win Laisti. 27-29. 'Z7. they came niito Lnish, . . smote the people, and burnt the city—"We are revolted by this inroad and massacre of a quiet and senure people. Nevertheless, if the original grant of Canaan to the Israelites gave them the warrant of a Divine commission and command for this enterprise, that sanctities all and legalizes all." [Chalmers.] This place seems to have been a dependency of Zidon, the distance of which, however, rendered it impossible to oljtain aid thence in the sudden emergency. 39. they built a city, and called
It Dan— It was in the northern extremity of the land,aud hence the origin of llie phrase, " from Dan to Beersheba."
30,31. They Set Up Idolatry. 30. The children of Dan set up the graven Image—Their distance secluded them from the rest of the Israelites, and doubtless this, which was their apology for not going to .Shiloh, was the cause of perpetuating Idolatry among tliem for many generations.
10-21, An Old Man Entertains him at Gibeah. 16. there came an old man from his work out of the field at even, which was also of Mount Ephraim—And perhaps his hospitality was quickened by learning the stranger's occupation, and that he was on his return to his duties at Shiloh. 19. there is no want of anything —In answering the kindly inquiries of the old man, the Levite deemed it right to state that he was under no necessity of being burdensome on any one, for he possessed
CHAPTER XIX.
Ver. 1-15. A Levite Going to Bethlehem to Fetch HIS Wife. 1. It came to pass In those days—The painfully interesting episode that follows, together with the Intestine commotion the report of It produced throughout the country, belongs to the same early period of anarchy and prevailing disorder, a certain Levite took a concnbinc—The priests under the Mosaic law enjoyed the privilege of marrying as well as other classes of the people. It was no disreputable connection this Levite had formed; for a nuptial engagement with a concubiue-wife (though, as wanting in some outward ceremonies, it was reckoned a secondary or Inferior relationship) possessed the true essence of marriage; it was not only lawful, but sanctioned by the example of many good men. 3. she went away from him unto Iter father's Iiouse—The cause of the separation assigned in our version rendered all that was required to relieve his wants. Oriental travellers alw.ays carry a stock of provisions with them; and knowing th.at even the khans or lodging-houses they may find on their w.ay atf'ord nothing beyond rest and shelter, they are careful to lay in a supply of food both for themselves and their beasts. Instead of hay, which is seldom met with, they used chopped straw, which, with a mixture of barley, beans, or such-like, forms the provender for cattle. The old man, however, in the warmth of a generous heart, refused to listen to any explanation, and bidding the Levite keep his stock for any emergency that might occur in the remainder of his journey, invited them to accept of the hospitalities of his house for the night. 20. only lodge not in tlie street As this is no rare or singular circumstance in the East, the probability is that the old man's earnest dissuasive from such a procedure arose from his acquaintance with the infamous practices of the place.
It unlawful for her husband to take hep back (Deuteronomy 24.4), and according to the uniform styleof sentiment and practice In the East, she would have been put to death, had she gone to her father's family. Other versions concur with Josephus, In representing the reason of the flight from her husband's house to be, that she was dlsgnsted with him, through frequent' brawls. 3. and l«er hnsband arose, and went after her to speak frieniUy to her— //pfcreui, "speak to her heart," in a kindly and afl Sectlonute manner, so as to rekindle her ull'ection.
2'2-28. The Gibeahites Ahu.se his Conoubtnk to Death. 23. certain sons of Belial beset the house— The narrative of the horrid outrage that was committed —of the proposal of the old man—the unfeeling, carelesSi