Judges 15 12

Judges 15:12 kjv

And they said unto him, We are come down to bind thee, that we may deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines. And Samson said unto them, Swear unto me, that ye will not fall upon me yourselves.

Judges 15:12 nkjv

But they said to him, "We have come down to arrest you, that we may deliver you into the hand of the Philistines." Then Samson said to them, "Swear to me that you will not kill me yourselves."

Judges 15:12 niv

They said to him, "We've come to tie you up and hand you over to the Philistines." Samson said, "Swear to me that you won't kill me yourselves."

Judges 15:12 esv

And they said to him, "We have come down to bind you, that we may give you into the hands of the Philistines." And Samson said to them, "Swear to me that you will not attack me yourselves."

Judges 15:12 nlt

But the men of Judah told him, "We have come to tie you up and hand you over to the Philistines." "All right," Samson said. "But promise that you won't kill me yourselves."

Judges 15 verses

Judges 15 12 Meaning

Judges 15:12 describes a pivotal interaction between Samson and three thousand men of Judah. The men explain that their purpose in confronting him is to apprehend him and deliver him into the power of the Philistines, aiming to avert Philistine aggression against their people. In response, Samson demands a solemn oath from them: that they themselves will not harm or kill him. This exchange reveals the men of Judah's fear-driven compromise with their oppressors and Samson's profound mistrust of his own people, highlighting his human vulnerability despite his divine strength.

Judges 15 12 Context

Judges chapter 15 continues the narrative of Samson's escalating conflicts with the Philistines. Following Samson's destructive act of tying torches to foxes' tails and burning the Philistine crops, and his subsequent slaughter of Philistine men at the "rock of Etam" for burning his wife and her father, the Philistines mobilize. They gather a large army and advance into Judah, demanding Samson's surrender. The three thousand men of Judah, fearful of Philistine retaliation and prioritizing their own peace and survival, go to Samson's refuge at the rock of Etam. Their intent is to appease the Philistines by delivering Samson, their "troublemaker," into enemy hands. Samson's demand for an oath in Judges 15:12 arises from his understanding that his own people would rather betray him than suffer consequences, and he seeks assurance that they will not themselves become his attackers.

Judges 15 12 Word analysis

• And they said unto him, – Identifies the speakers as the men of Judah who represent the community.
• We are come down – Implies descent from their position (perhaps at the top of the rock of Etam or a more general sense of coming down from their habitations) to confront Samson.
• to bind thee, – The direct purpose; לֶאְסוֹר (le'ĕsôr), meaning to tie or fetter. This is an act of incapacitation, stripping him of his physical freedom.
• that we may deliver thee – The ultimate goal; לָתֵת (lāthēth), meaning to give or place. This reveals their intention to hand him over, implying an act of surrender or abandonment.
• into the hand – יָד (yād) - literally 'hand,' but signifies power, control, or authority. This means giving Samson over to the Philistines' jurisdiction and judgment.
• of the Philistines. – The designated recipients and enemies. This highlights Judah's alliance with the oppressors over their divinely appointed deliverer.
• And Samson said unto them, – Introduces Samson's response, marking a shift to his agency.
• Swear unto me, – A solemn demand; הִשָּׁבְעוּ (hishshāv'û) from שָׁבַע (shābaʿ), meaning to swear an oath, invoking divine witness. This underscores Samson's deep need for a guarantee, signifying profound mistrust.
• that ye will not fall upon me yourselves. – Specifies the fear; תִּפְגְּעוּ (tifg'û) from פָּגַע (pāgaʿ), meaning to meet, encounter, or even to strike or attack violently. Samson fears direct harm or death from his own countrymen rather than just capture.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "We are come down to bind thee, that we may deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines." This phrase concisely expresses Judah's motivation: passive submission to foreign oppressors to avoid conflict, at the expense of their own deliverer. It reveals their self-preservation instinct overriding any sense of national loyalty or trust in God's chosen one.
• "Swear unto me, that ye will not fall upon me yourselves." This crucial demand by Samson reflects his isolation and mistrust. He understands their fear of his power, which makes direct physical assault from them unlikely unless they feel cornered. His concern isn't about the Philistines capturing him, but about outright betrayal and murder by his own kinsmen, an act that would undermine God's specific purpose for him. The oath underscores the deep moral failure of the Judahites and Samson's keen awareness of his vulnerability from within.

Judges 15 12 Bonus section

This verse implicitly sets up Samson as a foreshadowing of one betrayed by his own people for pragmatic reasons, much like Jesus, though Samson’s character is deeply flawed. The fear displayed by the men of Judah also illustrates a broader theme in Judges: Israel’s recurrent spiritual compromise and failure to fully trust and obey the Lord. Their focus on earthly peace with oppressors, rather than trusting God for true deliverance through His chosen agent, reflects the cyclical nature of sin and suffering in the book. Samson, despite his personal weaknesses and reliance on vengeance, serves as an instrument in God’s larger plan to bring judgment upon the Philistines, showcasing how divine purposes are accomplished even through imperfect human vessels.

Judges 15 12 Commentary

Judges 15:12 paints a poignant picture of human failure and the cost of fear. The men of Judah, instead of rallying behind God's appointed deliverer, choose political expediency, demonstrating a faithless compromise with their oppressors. Their willingness to "deliver" Samson signifies a deep moral compromise and betrayal of one who should have been their champion. Samson's demand for an oath underscores his isolation and profound mistrust. He recognizes that his own people, driven by fear, pose a unique threat—not merely capture for delivery, but a direct, lethal betrayal. This oath serves not only as a dramatic point in the narrative but also highlights the tragic disconnect between a people and their savior figure. Ultimately, God uses this moment of betrayal, transforming Samson's capture into an opportunity for divine demonstration of power against the Philistines.