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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Judges 16:1 - 16:3
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Samson at Gaza
v. 1. Then went Samson to Gaza, on the Mediterranean, in Southwestern Philistia, one of the chief strongholds of his enemies, and saw there an harlot, a public prostitute, and went in unto her, thus becoming guilty of fornication. Samson is a type of the entire Israelitish nation at that time; for as long as he clung to the Lord and followed His direction, He was a hero and champion against the enemies of Israel, but when he forsook Jehovah's commandments and indulged in sensuality, the disapproval of the Lord rested upon him, just as it did upon the spiritual adultery, the idolatry, of his people.
v. 2. And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, setting watchmen all about the harlot's house, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, men charged with taking him as soon as he should attempt to leave, and were quiet all the night, lest they should reveal their plans to Samson, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him. With the coming of the dawn, when it would become light outside, they would have the courage to attack their enemy.
v. 3. And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, the watchmen apparently having settled down so quietly that they did not notice his coming, and took the doors of the gate of the city and the two posts, wrenching them from their foundations, and went away with them, bar and all, as it had been locked in place to prevent his escape, and put them, the heavy gates with the posts, upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron, calmly making that trip to the mountains toward the east with the immense load resting upon him. The humiliation inflicted upon the Philistines was all the greater since the gates of a city symbolized its civic and national strength. It is not stated here that the Spirit of the Lord urged Samson to perform this deed, but he followed his own idea, making a show of his great physical strength. It is the beginning of severe transgression for a believer to put his trust in his own ability; for pride cometh before a fall.