Judges 16:23-27

Samson’s Death and Burial

16:23 The rulers of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to celebrate. They said, “Our god has handed Samson, our enemy, over to us.” 16:24 When the people saw him, ¹  they praised their god, saying, “Our god has handed our enemy over to us, the one who ruined our land and killed so many of us!” ² 

16:25 When they really started celebrating, ³  they said, “Call for Samson so he can entertain us!” So they summoned Samson from the prison and he entertained them. ⁴  They made him stand between two pillars. 16:26 Samson said to the young man who held his hand, “Position me so I can touch the pillars that support the temple. ⁵  Then I can lean on them.” 16:27 Now the temple ⁶  was filled with men and women, and all the rulers of the Philistines were there. There were three thousand men and women on the roof watching Samson entertain.

[16:24]  ¹ tn Most interpret this as a reference to Samson, but this seems premature, since v. 25 suggests he was not yet standing before them. Consequently some prefer to see this statement as displaced and move it to v. 25 (see C. F. Burney, Judges, 387). It seems more likely that the pronoun refers to an image of Dagon.

[16:24]  ² tn Heb “multiplied our dead.”

[16:25]  ³ tn Heb “When their heart was good.”

[16:25]  ⁴ tn Heb “before them.”

[16:26]  ⁵ tn Heb “the pillars upon which the house is founded.”

[16:27]  ⁶ tn Heb “house.”