MPV Commentary

He Is Bound by the Men of Judah, and Delivered to the Philistines.

The Philistines marched up into the high land of Judah and spread out in Lehi, a region characterized by limestone cliffs with numerous caves. Their goal was to capture Samson, who had inflicted significant losses on their people. To protect his fellow Israelites from further harm at the hands of these enraged Philistines, Samson allowed himself to be bound and surrendered as a prisoner.

The Philistines were overjoyed at the prospect of being rid of this formidable enemy and set out to meet him. However, Samson tapped into his extraordinary strength and seized a new jawbone from an ass's skull. With this unusual weapon, he killed a thousand men in a place called Ramath-lehi, which translates to "the hill of the jawbone."

Samson's feat was nothing short of miraculous, as evidenced by the fact that he accomplished it with such an inadequate tool. The sheer number of casualties and the nature of the weapon used demonstrate this to be a case of supernatural strength.

A spring emerged from a hollow in the jawbone, which Samson drank from, restoring his exhausted energy. This refreshing drink revitalized him, and the place was subsequently named En-hakkore, meaning "the supplication well," a testament to Samson's piety as he sought divine aid in this moment of need.