MPV Commentary

Israel Serves the Philistines Forty Years.

The Lord delivered them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years. This period of subjugation began after the Israelites had fallen deeply into idolatry (Jud 10:6-7). As a consequence of their apostasy, God raised up enemies to harass them, including the Ammonites and Philistines. The previous chapters described the invasions and defeats suffered at the hands of the former; now we learn about the inroads made by the latter people. This forty-year period of Philistine dominance started from the time of Elon's leadership and continued until Samson's death.