Judges 15:13
They said to him, “No; we will only bind you and give you into their hands. We will surely not kill you.” So they bound him with two new ropes and brought him up from the rock.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The men of Judah aren't just binding Samson; they're carefully securing him with two new ropes, a deliberate choice to ensure he couldn't escape them before handing him over. This detail highlights their eagerness to appease the Philistines and their false confidence that they could control Samson's power.
The Israelites of Judah, fearing the wrath of the Philistines after Samson's rampage, decide to hand him over to his enemies to save themselves. They assure Samson they won't kill him, but will merely bind him and deliver him into Philistine hands, bringing him out from his hiding place in the rocks to do so. This moment sets the stage for Samson's miraculous escape and further triumph over the Philistines using a donkey's jawbone.
Samson's own people, the men of Judah, seem to offer him safety. But is their promise genuine, or a trap disguised as help?
The men of Judah approach Samson, who is hiding in a cave in the rock. They tell him they will only bind him and hand him over to the Philistines, promising not to kill him themselves. This sounds like a deal – they'll appease the Philistines without resorting to murder. But their words are a cunning deception. Their true intention is to surrender Samson into the hands of his enemies, knowing full well that the Philistines will likely kill him. It's a betrayal born out of fear and a desire to avoid conflict with their oppressors, a stark contrast to Samson's previous stand.
This moment highlights a critical theme in Judges: the people's wavering loyalty and willingness to sacrifice their own for temporary peace. They are more concerned with their own safety than with standing with God's deliverer.
Samson is bound with 'two new ropes.' What's significant about the type of ropes and how they are used?
The text specifies 'two new cords' used to bind Samson. The emphasis on 'new' suggests they are strong and reliable – designed to hold. Commentators suggest one rope might have been for his hands and another for his legs, ensuring he couldn't easily break free.
This detail paints a vivid picture of Samson's vulnerability, but it's a vulnerability he allows. He could have easily overpowered the men of Judah, but for reasons known to God and perhaps related to his mission, he submits to being bound. The strength here isn't in the ropes, but in the divine purpose behind Samson's submission to this temporary restraint. It’s a setup for the dramatic demonstration of God's power that follows.
Samson was 'brought up from the rock.' What does this location tell us about his situation and the betrayal?
Samson had sought refuge in a cave within a rock formation. This was his hiding place, his temporary stronghold against the Philistines. The men of Judah come to him , in his place of supposed security.
This moment highlights the complex political landscape where even Israelites, driven by fear, could betray God's chosen deliverer, setting the stage for Samson's miraculous escape and devastating victory.
c. 1100 BC
Samson's Exploits Begin
Samson, empowered by God's Spirit, begins his significant acts of vengeance against the Philistines in the region of the.
c. 1100 BC
Philistine Retaliation
In response to Samson's attacks, the Philistines muster their forces and encamp in Judah, specifically in an area known as Lehi.
c. 1100 BC— this verse
Men of Judah Bind Samson
The men of Judah, fearing Philistine reprisal, betray Samson. They bind him with new ropes and agree to hand him over to the Philistines, assuring him they will not kill him themselves.
c. 1100 BC
Samson's Victory at Lehi
Once surrendered, the Spirit of the Lord empowers Samson. He breaks free from his bonds and, using the jawbone of a donkey, slays a thousand Philistines.
This passage parallels Samson's betrayal by his own people with Jesus' betrayal by Judas, highlighting the theme of a surrendered leader being handed over.
John 18:31Like the men of Judah delivering Samson to the Philistines, the Jewish leaders' words to Pilate reveal their intent to have Jesus executed by Roman authority, not by their own hands.
Acts 2:23This verse describes Jesus being delivered up and crucified by the Gentiles, mirroring how Samson was bound and handed over to the Philistines by his own countrymen.
Isaiah 53:7The prophetic imagery of Jesus being 'led like a lamb to the slaughter' resonates with Samson's passive submission to being bound and delivered into the hands of his enemies, a willing surrender for a greater purpose.
clarkeJudges 15:13: "And 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 cords, and brought him up from the rock."
They bound him with two new cords - Probably his hands with one and his legs with the other.
ellicottJudges 15:13: "And 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 cords, and brought him up from the rock."
(13) Brought him up from the rock. —Again the details are uncertain. Was Samson’s cave down the steep side of a cliff? Such caves are common in Palestine, and such a situation would explain these expressions. (See Josephus, Antt. xiv. 15, § 5, where he says that the brigands’…
The men of Judah aren't just binding Samson; they're carefully securing him with two new ropes, a deliberate choice to ensure he couldn't escape them before handing him over. This detail highlights their eagerness to appease the Philistines and their false confidence that they could control Samson's power.
The Israelites of Judah, fearing the wrath of the Philistines after Samson's rampage, decide to hand him over to his enemies to save themselves. They assure Samson they won't kill him, but will merely bind him and deliver him into Philistine hands, bringing him out from his hiding place in the rocks to do so. This moment sets the stage for Samson's miraculous escape and further triumph over the Philistines using a donkey's jawbone.
The Israelites of Judah, fearing the wrath of the Philistines after Samson's rampage, decide to hand him over to his enemies to save themselves. They assure Samson they won't kill him, but will merely bind him and deliver him into Philistine hands, bringing him out from his hiding place in the rocks to do so. This moment sets the stage for Samson's miraculous escape and further triumph over the Philistines using a donkey's jawbone.
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When they bring him 'up from the rock,' it signifies him being moved from a defensive position to a vulnerable, exposed one. It's a literal descent from his refuge and an ascent into danger, being handed over to his enemies. The imagery of being drawn out from a hidden place into the open, only to be delivered to those hunting him, underscores the profound betrayal. He is taken from the safety of the 'rock'—perhaps a metaphor for God's protection—into the hands of those who mean him harm.
"They said to him, “No; we will only bind you and give you into their hands. We will surely not kill you.” So they bound him with two new ropes and brought him up from the rock." — The men of Judah aren't just binding Samson; they're carefully securing him with two new ropes, a deliberate choice to ensure he couldn't escape them before handing him over. This detail highligh…
