Judges 16:23-31

The Death of Samson

23 Now the lords of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to ¹Dagon their god and to rejoice, and they said, “Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hand. ”

24 And when the people saw him, ²they praised their god. For they said, “Our god has given our enemy into our hand, the ravager of our country, who has killed many of us. ” ^[a]

25 And ³when 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 ⁴on 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, ⁵please 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.

30 And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines. ” Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life.

31 Then his brothers and all his family came down and took him and brought him up and buried him ⁶between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had judged Israel twenty years.

Judges 16:23-31 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES 16

In this chapter we have an account of Samson's too great familiarity with two harlots; by the one he was brought into great danger, and narrowly escaped, Jud 16:1-3, and by the other he was betrayed into the hands of the Philistines, having got the secret out of him wherein his great strength lay, Jud 16:4-20 who having him in their hands, put out his eyes, imprisoned him, and in their idol temple made sport of him, Jud 16:21-25, where praying for renewed strength from the Lord, he pulled down the temple, and destroyed multitudes with the loss of his own life, Jud 16:26-31.

Cross References

• 1. 16:23 1 Chr. 10:10; See 1 Sam. 5:2-7
• 2. 16:24 [Dan. 5:4]
• 3. 16:25 ch. 19:6; [2 Sam. 13:28]
• 4. 16:27 [Deut. 22:8; 2 Sam. 11:2; Neh. 8:16; Matt. 24:17; Mark 13:15; Luke 17:31]
• 5. 16:28 Jer. 15:15
• 6. 16:31 ch. 13:25

Footnotes

• [a] 16:24 Or 'who has multiplied our slain'