Judges 16

Simson being hemmed in at Gaza,riseth up by night ,and taketh the city gate ,with their bars,on his shoulders ,and carrieth them up to a mountain ,verse.1&c.He falleth in love with Delila ,who by the instigation of the Philistine Pricencess vexed him so long that at last he tells her plainly wherein his strength lay 4 so he betrayed and taken captive by the Philistines who put out his eyes and cast him into prison 19 his hair being grown again when the Philistine were gathered together to make sport of him to the honor of their idols he avengeth himself on them by throwing down the whole house so dieth an dis buried 22.

1. Now Simson went his way [viz. after the slaughter of the Philistine described in the former chapter] unto Gaza [one of the chiefest citis of te philistines lying at the midland sea in the land of Simeon] and eh saw there a woman which was an harlot [Heb. a woman an harlot otherwise an hostess] and he went unto her [see gensis 6 on verse 4 some understand here by this phrase used that he took up his lodging at her house.]

2. Then it was told to the Gazites [heb. to the Gazite saying which abrupt sentence is thus supplied then it was told to the Gazite by saying or they made it known to the Gazite saying this is implieth according to the meaning of some that they had straightway notice given them of Simsons coming that by no means they might lose this opportunity] Simson is come in hither so they went round about [the one telling the other that they were to be all up with one according and to eye Simson well that he might by no means escape away]and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city yet they kept them selves quiet all night [Heb. they were silent that is they kept themselves quiet and did nothing see below chapter 18 on verse 19 and 1 Kings 22 on verse 3] saying until the morning light [understand hereupon let us be quiet until it grow light] then we will kill him.

3. But Simson lay till night but he arose at midnight and he laid hold of the doors of the city gates which both the posts and took them away with the bar beam an laid them upon his shoulders and carried them up to the top[Heb. to the head] of the mountain which is in sight of Hebron [this was a high mountain laying eastwards before Gaza upon the top whereof as from the text may be gathered they looked at Hebron which also lay upon an high mountain by the western borders of Judah herewith do the maps also agree some conceive that he carried them to the top of the mountain of Judah which is close to Hebron.]

4. And it came to pass afterwards and he loved a woman at the brook of Sorek [which runned by the valley of Escol or the valley of grapes whereof see Deuteronomy 1 on verse 24 out of the mnountain of Judah into the midland sea and parting the tribes of Dan and Simeon from each other according to the opinion of others Escol and Sorek should be named of one and the same brook but Numbers 13:25 it is said that the place not brook was called by the Israelites Nathal Escol]whose name was Delilah.

5. Then came up the princes of the Philistines [see above chapter 3 on verse3] unto her and said unto her persuade him [see above chapter 14 on verse 15] and see wherein his great strength is and whereby we might over power him and bind him to plague him [or to humble him so verse 6] then will we give thee everyone of us a thousand and hundred silverlings [see Genesis 20 on verse 16.]

6. Then said Delilah unto Simson tell me I pray thee wherein thy great strength is and wherewith thou mightiest be bound that one might plague thee.

7. And Simson said unto her if they should bind me with seven fresh cords [otherwise fresh or sound green osier rods or wits bonds osier bond willow bonds] which are not dried then should I wax weak an dbe as another man [or as one of the man as only man so verse 11.]

8. Then the prince so the Philistines brought up to her [Heb. cause to come up to her that is they brought or furnished caused to be brought to her] seven fresh cords which were not dried and there bound him therewith.

9. Now the leers in wait [that is the Philistines that are watched and heeded in matter] sat by her in a chamber then she said unto him the philistines are upon thee Simson [that si there be Philistines that is set upon thee] then brake he the cords even as a thread of course flax [or towe] is broken when it smelleth the fire[that is cometh near the fire and feeleth perceiveth the fire as we used to say compare Psalms 58 on verse 10] so his strength was not known.

10. Then said Delilah unto Simson behold thou hast mocked me and spoken lies unto me tell me now I pray thee wherewith thou mayst be bound.

11. And he said unto her if they should bind me first [Heb. binding bind] with new cords wherewith no work no work hath been done they should I become weak and be as another man.

12. Then Delilah took new cords and bound them therewith an said unto him the Philistines are upon thee Simson now the liers in wait were sitting in chamber then he brake them [viz. thich ropes or cords]off from his arms as a thread.

13. and Delilah said unto Simson hither to thou hast mocked me tell me now I pray thee wherewith thou mayst be bound and he said unto her if thous houldst twist thee seven hair locks of mine head [that is all the hair of mine head being as it where divided into so many locks compare below verse 19,22] at weaver beam [others web which is waved about the weaver looms understand hereupon as in the former then I should become weak and be as another man.]

14. And she fastened them with a pin [understand after she had done according to his saying with the twisted hair locks she then besides for the greater care fastened them with a pin of the weavers beam others understand that she nailed the weavers beam fast that simson might not be able to remove it out of its place or loosen it]and said unto him the Philistines are upon the Simson then awake up out of his sleep and took away [or went away with the nail and with the weaver loom shewing his former strength that this was not the means to entrap and compel him] the pin of the twisted hair locks [that is the pin or herewith Delilah that fastened the twisted hairlocks Heb. Of the twisting] and the weavers loom.

15. Then she said unto him how wilt thou say I love thee whereas thy heart is not with me? Thou hast now thrice mocked me and not told me wherewith thy great strength is.

16. And it came to pass when she daily pressed him with words and was troublesome to him that his soul was grieved [Heb. was shortened as the fruits that are mowed and cut down the meaning is that all his mind and courage perished vanished away yea as we use also to say this breath grew short an his spirit also fainted through anguish whereby he suffered himself at length to be overcome by Delilah a very remarkable and pitiful frailty and inconsiderateness in so excellent and transcendent a companion of God as Simson was compared Job 21 on verse 4] even unto death.

17. then he told her all his heart and said unto her there never came razor on mine head for I am Nazarite of God [see above chapter 13 on verse 5] from my mothers womb if I should be shorten should my strength depart from me [not that this strength lay in the hair was the breaking of the vow of Nazaritaship see Numbers 6:5 an above chapter 13.5 whereunto he was engaged by Gods command who endowed him by his spirit with his extraordinary strength as long as he kept his Nazariteship but deprived him thereof when he became guilty of the breach thereof]and I should become weak and be as weak as all man.

18. When Delilah now saw that he had told him with all his heart then she sent her ways an called[Heb. caused to call sent for commanded to tell] the princes of the Philistines saying come up this once for he hath told me all his heart and the princes of the Philistines came up to her and brought that money [or silverlings see above verse 5] in their hand.

19. then she caused him to sleep upon her knees and called [that is caused to call sent for] a man and made him cut off the seven hair locks of his head and she began to plague him [that is to jog him or otherwise to push or stir prick &c. to awaken and to give him notice as before of the Philistines coming that there might see whether he might be taken captive and compelled yea or no] and his strength departed from him.

20. And he said the Philistines are not upon thee Simson and he awaked out of his sleep and said I will go out this time as at other times [Heb. as time in or at time that is as before more than once]and shake myself out[as one that is shorn or rouzeth up himself and gathereth up his strength unto any work or business otherwise I will shake myself out of their hands as if he should say I will easily reed of myself out of their hands] for he new not that the Lord was departed from him [understand so far an din regard thereof that he had withdrawn from him that former strength .]

21. Then the Philistines laid hold on him and digged out his eyes [that he might not be able to hurt them anymore yet suffering him to life for a spectacle and shew unto their idol dragon see verse 23] an they carried him down unto Gaza and bound him with two copper chains and he was grinding in the prison house [Heb. the house of those that were bound.]

22. And the hair of the head began again to grow [and Simson by sincere repentance to come again to his former state of Nazariteship and to receive of God the former strength He. To wax green to shoot forth even as grass and herbs] as when he was shorn [or as him that was shorn or according as it was shorn off that is the hair began to grow again as long as it was at the time when he was shorn by Delilah’s deceit others after he was shorn.]

23. Then the Princes of the Philistines gathered themselves together ,to offer up a great offering unto their god Dagon,[The idol of the Philistines ,so called ,because of respect of his lowermost part he was like a Fish,(now the Philistines dwelt by sea )and the uppermost had the form of a man :see 1Samuel.5verse2,3,4,5so other heathens have had theirs idols as Neptune Triton Leucothea &c. some conceive that this idol was so called from the Hebrew word dragon that is corn because they held him to be the god of husbandry or tillage of such kind of idolatry see Romans 1:23,25 and for merriments and they said our God hath delivered Simson our enemy into our hands .

24. Likewise when the people saw him they praised their god for they said our god hath delivered our enemy into our hand and him that wasted our land and who made many of ourslains ones [that is who at time hath slain multitude of Philistines.]

25. And it came to pass when their heart was merry [Heb. good that is merry cheerful rejoiced so below chapter 18.20 and 19.6 Ruth 3:7 2 Samuel 13:28] that they call Simson that he may play [or laugh procure laughter that we may take our pleasure and delight sport and trifle time away by it as King Belsazar did with the gold and silver vessels of the temple Daniel 5 to the phrase and glory of the idols an dishonor of God] and they called Simson out of Prisons house and he played [others that he might play] before their faces and they made him stand between the pillars.

26. Then said Simson unto the lad that held him by hand let me go [or set lead me] that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house is founded that I may lean upon them [as if he had been wearied with laboring at the mill in prison an with making such haste to come to this place.]

27. Now the house was full of men and women also the princes of the Philistines were there and upon the roof [which was flat and according to the manner and custom of some countries see Deuteronomy 22 on verse 8] where about three thousand men and women which looked on when Samson played.

28. Then Simson called unto the Lord and said Lord, LORD remember me I pray thee and strengthen me I pray thee only this once O God that I may revenge avenge myself on the Philistines for my two eyes [this he prayed out of faith and he was heard of God who gave him that by the putting out of his eyes by the Philistines was made unfit as they conceive to execute his calling this occasion this design and extraordinary strength breathed into him this prayer and gave him in his death as well in his life wonderful victory to the praise of his holy name defiance of idols and shaming of his enemies see verse 30.]

29. And Simson caught hold of the two middle most pillars [He. Pillars of the middle] whereupon the house was founded and whereupon it leaned [otherwise he viz. Simson leaned upon or stayed himself against it] of the one of his right hand an don the other with his left hand.

30. And Simson said let my soul die [which is here as much as let myself my person die see Genesis 12 on verse 5 & 9 on verse 5] with the Philistines and he bowed himself with might [or stretched out himself thrusting away the pillars from him an bowing them in] an the house fell upon the princes and upon all the people that was in it and often dead which he slew in his dying were more than those that he had slain in his life.

31. Then came down all his brethren and all his fathers house took him up and brought him upward and buried him between Zora [see above chapter13 on verse 2] and between Eschaol [see above chapter 13 on verse 25] in the Sepulchre of his father Manoah now he had judged Israel twenty years [as above chapter 15.20 this conclusion here repeated intimeth that this last act of Simson appataineth as well to this judge-office as the other foregoing as he also especially in the death is held to be a type and figure of our Lord Jesus Christ who conquered all his and our enemies chiefly by his death.]