By now, the words this chapter begins with are all too familiar. Whenever God's people strayed from worshiping the true God to serving idols, God let them be oppressed by some enemy. In this case, it is the Philistines who God used to discipline his people for forty years (Ruth 13:1).... [ Continue Reading ]
Thomas says Zorah was on the border of Dan and Judah, which was close to the area the Philistines occupied. Interestingly, Dan means "a judge" and Jacob had foretold Dan would judge his people (Genesis 49:16-17). Whether this has specific reference to Samson, we cannot say for sure. It is plain, fro... [ Continue Reading ]
The one who took a Nazarite vow was not to partake of the fruit of grape vines at all. The hair was not to be cut until the time of the vow was completed when it would be shaved and burned before the Lord. The Nazarite was not to touch any dead bodies, even those of close loved ones since that would... [ Continue Reading ]