Charles Ellicott Commentary Judges 16:25

"And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison-house; and he made sport before them. And they set him between the pillars:" — Judges 16:25 (ASV)

When their hearts were merry. —Compare to Judges 9:27; 1 Samuel 25:36; Esther 1:10.

That he may make us sport. —Whether by his forced jests, or by feats of strength, or merely by being made to submit to insults, we cannot tell. Josephus says that they sent for Samson “that they might insult him over their wine.”

He made them sport. —The LXX says (Cod. B), “And he played before them, and they beat him with rods.”