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Judges 15:14

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Judges 15:14 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “When he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they met him: and the Spirit of Jehovah came mightily upon him, and the ropes that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands dropped from off his hands.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

When he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they met him: and the Spirit of Jehovah came mightily upon him, and the ropes that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands dropped from off his hands.
Judges 15:14 — American Standard Version

Context — Judges 15

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
11Then three thousand men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines are rulers over us? what then is this that thou hast done unto us? And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so have I done unto them.
12And they said unto him, We are come down to bind thee, that we may deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines. And Samson said unto them, Swear unto me, that ye will not fall upon me yourselves.
13And they spake unto him, saying, No; but we will bind thee fast, and deliver thee into their hand: but surely we will not kill thee. And they bound him with two new ropes, and brought him up from the rock.
14When he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they met him: and the Spirit of Jehovah came mightily upon him, and the ropes that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands dropped from off his hands.
15And he found a fresh jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and smote a thousand men therewith.
16And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, With the jawbone of an ass have I smitten a thousand men.
17And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand; and that place was called Ramath-lehi.
← Judges 15:13Judges 15:15 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And when he came unto Lehi, etc.] The place which was afterwards so called, from what happened there at this time, and where the Philistines were spread, (<071509>Judges 15:9) this, according to Bunting f314, was six miles from Etam: the Philistines shouted against him: for joy that they had got him into their hands, and in the circumstances he was, being bound, so that they had nothing to fear from him: and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him: as it at times did, and had done before; the Targum is, “the Spirit of might from the Lord,” which gave him courage and resolution of mind, and great strength of body, even while he was speaking, as a token of the wonders God more than he…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The cords ... became as flax ... - i. e. were as weak against his strength as half-burned flax which yields to the least pressure. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Shouted - Because they had now their enemy, as they supposed, in their hands. Loosed - Heb. were melted; that is, were dissolved, as things which are melted in the fire. This typified the resurrection of Christ, by the power of the Spirit of holiness. In this he loosed the bands of death, it being impossible he should be holden of them. And thus he triumphed over the powers of darkness, which had shouted against him. Judges 15:15”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the Philistines: Jdg 5:30, Jdg 16:24; Exo 14:3, Exo 14:5; Sa1 4:5; Job 20:5; Mic 7:8 the Spirit: Jdg 3:10, Jdg 14:6, Jdg 14:19; Zac 4:6 the cords: Jdg 16:9, Jdg 16:12; Sa1 17:35; Psa 18:34, Psa 118:11; Phi 4:3 loosed: Heb. were melted Judges 15:15”
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Sources and verification