Albert Barnes Commentary Judges 16
Albert Barnes Commentary
Judges 16
Albert Barnes Commentary
Judges 16
"And Samson went to Gaza, and saw there a harlot, and went in unto her." — Judges 16:1 (ASV)
Gaza - About 8 hours from Eleutheropolis, and one of the chief strongholds of the Philistines.
"And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and laid hold of the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and plucked them up, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of the mountain that is before Hebron." — Judges 16:3 (ASV)
Instead of forcing the doors open, he tore the posts up, as it were, by the roots, with the barred doors attached to them. The word rendered “went away with them” means “to pluck up the tent-pins,” and hence, “to remove.” The present town of Gaza (Ghuzzeh) is an open town, without gates or walls, but the sites of the ancient gates still remain visible. One of these, on the southeast, is shown as the gate carried off by Samson.
A partially-isolated hill, about half-an-hour southeast of Gaza, and standing out from the chain that runs up to Hebron, bears the name of “Samson’s Mount.” But it may be doubted whether one of the hills overlooking Hebron is not actually meant.
"And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah." — Judges 16:4 (ASV)
A village to the north of Eleutheropolis, called Caphar-Sotek, still existed in the time of Eusebius, near Zorah.
"And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred [pieces] of silver." — Judges 16:5 (ASV)
And the lords of the Philistines - See Judges 3:3 note.
His great strength lies - Rather, “where his strength is great.”
Eleven hundred pieces of silver - The greatness of the bribe offered to Delilah, 5,500 shekels of silver, nearly two talents (Exodus 38:24, note), shows the importance attached to Samson’s capture.
"And he said unto her, If they only bind me with new ropes wherewith no work hath been done, then shall I become weak, and be as another man." — Judges 16:11 (ASV)
Occupied - The margin, “wherewith work hath not been done,” is better.
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