Judges 15 10

Judges 15:10 kjv

And the men of Judah said, Why are ye come up against us? And they answered, To bind Samson are we come up, to do to him as he hath done to us.

Judges 15:10 nkjv

And the men of Judah said, "Why have you come up against us?" So they answered, "We have come up to arrest Samson, to do to him as he has done to us."

Judges 15:10 niv

The people of Judah asked, "Why have you come to fight us?" "We have come to take Samson prisoner," they answered, "to do to him as he did to us."

Judges 15:10 esv

And the men of Judah said, "Why have you come up against us?" They said, "We have come up to bind Samson, to do to him as he did to us."

Judges 15:10 nlt

The men of Judah asked the Philistines, "Why are you attacking us?" The Philistines replied, "We've come to capture Samson. We've come to pay him back for what he did to us."

Judges 15 verses

Judges 15 10 Meaning

Judges 15:10 describes the interaction between the men of Judah and the Philistines. The Philistines had advanced into the territory of Judah, likely in pursuit of Samson after his destructive acts involving foxes and burning crops. The men of Judah, apprehensive about Philistine retribution due to Samson's actions, inquire about the Philistines' motive for their military presence. The Philistines respond clearly that their purpose is to seize Samson and retaliate against him in proportion to the harm he had inflicted upon them, illustrating a pursuit of retributive justice from their perspective.

Judges 15 10 Context

Judges 15:10 is situated amidst Samson's personal conflicts and the Philistine oppression of Israel. Chapters 13 and 14 introduce Samson's miraculous birth and Nazarite vow, along with his first encounters with the Philistines. Samson's choice of a Philistine wife leads to conflict, ultimately culminating in him killing 30 Philistines and then setting fire to the Philistine grain fields and vineyards (Jdg 15:1-5) as retribution for his wife being given to another man. The Philistines retaliate by burning Samson's Philistine wife and her father, to which Samson responds with a great slaughter (Jdg 15:6-8). The Philistine army then advances into Judah's territory seeking Samson (Jdg 15:9). This verse captures the moment when the Philistines confront the men of Judah, highlighting Judah's subjugated position and their preference for appeasement over supporting a potential divine deliverer. The entire period of Judges describes a cyclical pattern of Israel forsaking God, enduring oppression, crying out, and God raising deliverers—a cycle Judah attempts to circumvent here through compromise.

Judges 15 10 Word analysis

• And the men of Judah: (`’Ishe Yehudah`, אִישׁ יְהוּדָה). Refers to the male inhabitants or leaders of the tribe of Judah. At this point in the narrative, Judah is portrayed as apathetic and compliant with Philistine rule, preferring not to disrupt their perceived peace. Their immediate reaction is not resistance but inquiry and appeasement, reflecting their weakened spiritual state and lack of reliance on God's strength.
• said, Why are ye come up against us?: (`Lamah ‘ali-tem ‘aleinu`, לָמָּה עֲלִיתֶם עָלֵינוּ). This question signifies Judah's fearful submission. Instead of rallying against their oppressors or protecting Samson as a God-appointed judge, they appear anxious about the Philistine military presence disrupting their precarious peace. This reveals their desire to avoid further conflict with their overlords and a lack of conviction in their God's ability or willingness to deliver them.
• And they answered, To bind Samson: (`La'asor ‘et Shimshon`, לֶאֱסֹר אֶת־שִׁמְשׁוֹן). "They" refers to the Philistines. Their response is direct and uncompromising. "To bind" (from `’asar`, אָסַר) indicates an intention to capture and restrain, removing his freedom and power. This immediate focus on Samson confirms that the Philistine incursion is a specific punitive expedition rather than a general territorial conquest.
• to do to him as he hath done to us: (`La'asot lo ka'asher ‘asah lanu`, לַעֲשׂוֹת לוֹ כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה לָנוּ). This phrase encapsulates the principle of `lex talionis` ("eye for an eye," from Latin, not Hebrew), demanding reciprocal retribution for Samson's actions (burning their fields and slaying their men). The Philistines, a pagan people, invoked this principle not as divine law but as their basis for justice or vengeance. They sought a proportional response, demonstrating their resolve to re-establish their dominance and suppress any rebellious acts from the Israelites. This highlights their deep-seated resentment and desire for balance after Samson's provocations.
• The men of Judah…Why are ye come up against us?: This group of words emphasizes Judah's spinelessness. They prioritized their temporary security under Philistine rule over national honor or divine mandate. Their question is not one of challenge but of subservience, indicating their reluctance to break the peace. This fear stands in stark contrast to God's desire for His people to rely on Him for deliverance, a central theme in the book of Judges.
• To bind Samson, to do to him as he hath done to us: This declaration reveals the Philistine perception of justice and their power dynamic. They view Samson not as a divine agent, but as an insurgent who has wronged them, deserving direct and proportionate punishment. This statement is a formal justification for their military action and establishes a clear intent: Samson’s capture is their non-negotiable objective. It frames their action as an understandable, perhaps even lawful, reprisal in their own societal context.

Judges 15 10 Bonus section

The narrative of Judges often presents a critique of Israel's kingship-like tendencies and their failure to follow Yahweh. Judah's actions here—appeasing an oppressor rather than trusting in God for deliverance—can be seen as a negative example of seeking human security and earthly power, contrasting with the ideal reliance on God's covenant promises. The Philistine "retribution" (Lex Talionis) highlights a key distinction: while lex talionis in Israel's law was intended to limit vengeance and ensure proportional, impartial justice meted out by a governing authority, the Philistines here are applying it for self-motivated retribution, showcasing a tribal, non-divine perspective on justice. This interaction implicitly challenges the reader to consider the implications of Judah’s subjugation; it’s not merely physical but deeply spiritual, manifesting in a total loss of their national and covenant identity.

Judges 15 10 Commentary

Judges 15:10 vividly portrays the moral and spiritual bankruptcy of Judah during the period of the Judges. Faced with a Philistine incursion, rather than rising to defend their people or their land, the men of Judah, steeped in fear and submission, immediately inquire of their oppressors the reason for their presence. This reflects a shocking failure of leadership and a deep-seated spiritual malaise where obedience to the foreign occupier supersedes reliance on Yahweh. The Philistines’ direct and unambiguous reply—that they seek only Samson to inflict reciprocal vengeance—highlights their own determined sense of justice, however distorted, for Samson's previous destruction. This scenario sets the stage for Judah's later act of betraying Samson, further illustrating their compromise and short-sightedness. The Philistine pursuit of "an eye for an eye" against Samson is ironic, as it mirrors a legal principle from the very Law given to Israel, yet applied by the pagans to justify their punitive action against a chosen judge. This verse underscores the pervasive human tendency to fear man rather than God, and to compromise spiritual calling for earthly peace, echoing a recurring lesson across the scriptures from Lot's compromise in Gen to Peter's fear in the New Testament.