Judges 16:27

27 And the house full of men and woman, and there were all the chiefs of the Philistines, and on the roof about three thousand men and woman looking at the sports of Sampson.

Judges 16:27 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 16:27

Now the house was full of men and women
Within it, who were gathered together from all parts of the city, and perhaps from other places on this occasion:

and all the lords of the Philistines were there;
their five lords, the lords of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron:

and there were upon the roof three thousand men and women;
it being a flat roof, as the houses in Canaan and Phoenicia, and the places adjacent, were; see ( Deuteronomy 22:8 ) and there might be some openings or windows in several parts of it, through which the people might see who were below them, and were within the house, and what was doing there, and particularly could have a sight of Samson through them as follows:

that beheld while Samson made sport;
or was made a sport of; while he was buffeted and used in a ludicrous manner.

Judges 16:27 In-Context

25 And when their heart was merry, then they said, Call Sampson out of the prison-house, and let him play before us: and they called Sampson out of the prison-house, and he played before them; and they smote him with the palms of their hands, and set him between the pillars.

26 And Sampson said to the young man that held his hand, Suffer me to feel the pillars on which the house , and I will stay myself upon them.

27 And the house full of men and woman, and there were all the chiefs of the Philistines, and on the roof about three thousand men and woman looking at the sports of Sampson.

28 And Sampson wept before the Lord, and said, O Lord, my lord, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, O God, yet this once, and I will requite one recompense to the Philistines for my two eyes.

29 And Sampson took hold of the two pillars of the house on which the house stood, and leaned on them, and laid hold of one with his right hand, and the other with his left.