Albert Barnes Commentary Judges 15:16

"And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, With the jawbone of an ass have I smitten a thousand men." — Judges 15:16 (ASV)

There is a play upon the word, three times repeated, which means both “an ass” and also “a heap.” The spirit of riddle-making (Judges 14:12, Judges 14:18) is apparent in this song of triumph (Exodus 15:1; 1 Samuel 18:6–7).