_A harlot, or an innkeeper; for the Hebrew word signifies either. (Challoner) --- We have already noticed the ambiguity of the word zona, which occurs [in] Josue ii. 1, and is applied to Rahab. This woman seems to have been of the same profession. Gaza was one of the strongest towns of the Philistin... [ Continue Reading ]
_Setting. Hebrew, "they laid wait for him all night in the gate,....and were quiet all night, saying, in the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him." They hoped to seize him unawares, (Haydock) as they were afraid to rouse this lion, and hence probably refrained from setting fire to the house: ... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bolt, ( sera) which may translate, "lock." (Haydock) --- The doors of the Hebrews were fastened with bars tied in a curious manner, so as to require a sort of a key, and not to be opened but on the inside. Hebron was above thirty miles distant: but travellers mention a small hill, where they say th... [ Continue Reading ]
After this. The lamentable fall of Samson took place in the last year of his administration, when Heli, of the house of Thamar, succeeded Achitob I. in the high priesthood. (In the year before Christ 1154. Salien) --- Sorec was not far from Saraa, where Samson was born. It probably belonged to the P... [ Continue Reading ]
_Princes, ( seranim;) the five satraps, who had the chief sway in the nation, either came in person or sent messengers to Cephar-Sorec. They were convinced that the strength of Samson was supernatural; but they wished to learn whether it depended on some magical charm, or on some religious observati... [ Continue Reading ]
Her, in jest. (Haydock) --- Sinews; such were frequently used for strength. (Vegetius iv. 9.; Psalm x. 2) Cato often speaks of loreos funes, (Calmet) or "leathern thongs." (Haydock) --- Moist. Hebrew, "seven bands, green and moist;" as if he were speaking of willow twigs, or bands made of the rind o... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fire. Protestants, "and he brake the withs, as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire." (Haydock) --- Thus he played with her, never suspecting that the enemy was concealed so near. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Lace, ( licio;) "the woof about the beam," &c. Hebrew, "the web, (14) and she fastened it, " &c. The original text is here imperfect. (Haydock) --- The Septuagint have preserved eighteen words, which have been omitted in Hebrew, "the web, (and fastened them with a pin unto the wall, then shall I be... [ Continue Reading ]
Death. Hebrew, "and pressed him so, that his soul was straitened unto death." It would be well if Christians would always make as stout a resistance against manifest temptations to sin, as Samson did on this occasion, when he might consider the revealing of the truth rather as an indiscretion than a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thing. Hebrew and Septuagint, "He told her all his heart." --- That is to say, consecrated, is added by the Vulgate. (Haydock) --- Men. Was the hair the physical, or only the moral, cause of his wonderful strength? It is generally believed that it was only a moral cause, or a token appointed by God... [ Continue Reading ]
_To me. Hebrew, "to her." Lah instead of li, perhaps in all the printed editions except the Complutensian, which has corrected the mistake, and is authorized by some manuscripts. (Kennicott)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Knees, by some soporiferous draught, as on the other occasions. (Menochius) --- Barber. He only produced the razor, or rather a pair of scissors, such as were used to shear sheep. Barbers were unknown at Rome for 454 years; and the ancient Greeks looked with indignation upon those who introduced th... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XVI. Myself. This might insinuate that he was bound, though it may only mean that he will extricate himself from the hands of the Philistines. (Calmet) --- We read of no bands on this occasion. But the loss of the sign of his being a Nazarite was Samson's greatest misfortune, and rendered h... [ Continue Reading ]
Chains. Hebrew and Septuagint add, "of brass," which were more ancient than those of iron or of steel. Brass was generally used instead of the latter, for knives, &c. (Calmet) --- Gaza, the place where he had lately given such an instance of strength, ver. 3. (Haydock) --- Grind. Before the inventio... [ Continue Reading ]
_Again. Hebrew adds, "as when he was shaven." (Haydock) --- He was in prison three or four months. (Menochius) --- As his hair grew his strength returned, because he entered into himself and did penance, so that he was restored to the rank and privileges of a Nazarite. (Calmet; Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Dagon. Probably the derceto, whom Diodorus (3,) represents with the head of a woman, and the rest of the body like a fish, the chief object of adoration at Ascalon. (Calmet) --- Dagon may signify "wheat;" and hence Eusebius (præp. 1,) styles him "the ploughing Jupiter," or "a fish." --- Hands. For... [ Continue Reading ]
Played. Dancing in a ridiculous manner, (Montanus) running against the walls, or falling down, so as to make the people laugh, (Lyranus) or rather (Haydock) Serarius gathers from the Septuagint that "they buffetted him," and made a sport of him. (Menochius) --- It is not at all probable that Samson... [ Continue Reading ]
_Play. It is not clear from the text, whether the 3000 were distinct from those who were below. It seems this is the number of all the slain, (Calmet) as Josephus asserts. But the Protestants insert, "the lords of the Philistines were there: and there were upon the roof," &c., which shews that they... [ Continue Reading ]
_Revenge myself. This desire of revenge was out of zeal for justice against the enemies of God and his people; and not out of private rancour and malice of heart. (Challoner) --- He was judge of his people, and concerned for their wrongs: God, by miracle, testified that he approved of his sentiments... [ Continue Reading ]
_Both the. Hebrew adds, "middle" pillars, so that their fall occasioned that the whole temple, (Calmet) excepting perhaps some of the ruins, which are still shewn at Gaza. (Button.) "He tugged, he shook till down they came, and drew_ The whole roof after them with bursts of thunder." (Milton) (Hayd... [ Continue Reading ]
Let me die. Literally, let my soul die. Samson did not sin on this occasion, though he was indirectly the cause of his own death. Because he was moved to what he did, by a particular inspiration of God, who also concurred with him by a miracle, in restoring his strength upon the spot, in consequence... [ Continue Reading ]
Twenty. "Why then, says the Thalmud of Jerusalem, does the Scripture allow him 40? That thou mightest understand the Philistines were kept in awe, by the fear of him, for 20 years after his decease." The Hebrew copies seems to have varied. (Drusius) --- Some refuse the Samson the title of judge, (Ma... [ Continue Reading ]