Judges 16:27

27 Now the house was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there, and ¹on the roof there were about 3,000 men and women, who looked on while Samson entertained.

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 hearts were merry, they said, "Call Samson, that he may entertain us." So they called Samson out of the prison, and he entertained them. They made him stand between the pillars.

26 And Samson said to the young man who held him by the hand, "Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests, that I may lean against them."

27 Now the house was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there, and on the roof there were about 3,000 men and women, who looked on while Samson entertained.

28 Then Samson called to the LORD and said, "O Lord GOD, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes."

29 And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other.

Cross References

• 1. [Deuteronomy 22:8; 2 Samuel 11:2; Nehemiah 8:16; Matthew 24:17; Mark 13:15; Luke 17:31]