Judg 15:20 | KingComments | STEP | Samson is a different kind of deliverer than his predecessors. He judges Israel while the Philistines rule. It is possible that Samson returned to the rock of Etam ( ) to perform his function as a judge. The period in which he leads Israel, probably lay between 1075-1055 BC, a time in which Samuel – born about 1080 BC – also started to become active. For God, the history of Samson ends here. The statement in this verse follows on the rock as residence ( ), an open battle with the Philistines ( ) and the rock from which water flows ( ). These are situations in which he has become detached from the enemy and can lead Israel. What follows is his total fall. In Judges 14-15 a total of six acts of Samson are mentioned: 1. The tearing of a young lion ( ); 2. The killing of thirty Philistines ( ); 3. His action with the three hundred foxes ( ); 4. His revenge on the Philistines ( ); 5. Deliverance from his ropes ( ); 6. The killing of a thousand Philistines ( ). Samson has one too short for the number seven, the number of completeness.

‏ Judges 15:20

Duration of Samson’s Leadership

Samson is a different kind of deliverer than his predecessors. He judges Israel while the Philistines rule. It is possible that Samson returned to the rock of Etam (Jdg 15:8) to perform his function as a judge. The period in which he leads Israel, probably lay between 1075-1055 BC, a time in which Samuel – born about 1080 BC – also started to become active.

For God, the history of Samson ends here. The statement in this verse follows on the rock as residence (Jdg 15:8), an open battle with the Philistines (Jdg 15:15) and the rock from which water flows (Jdg 15:19). These are situations in which he has become detached from the enemy and can lead Israel. What follows is his total fall.

In Judges 14-15 a total of six acts of Samson are mentioned:

1. The tearing of a young lion (Jdg 14:6);

2. The killing of thirty Philistines (Jdg 14:19);

3. His action with the three hundred foxes (Jdg 15:4-5);

4. His revenge on the Philistines (Jdg 15:8);

5. Deliverance from his ropes (Jdg 15:14);

6. The killing of a thousand Philistines (Jdg 15:15).

Samson has one too short for the number seven, the number of completeness.