Judges 15 4

Judges 15:4 kjv

And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between two tails.

Judges 15:4 nkjv

Then Samson went and caught three hundred foxes; and he took torches, turned the foxes tail to tail, and put a torch between each pair of tails.

Judges 15:4 niv

So he went out and caught three hundred foxes and tied them tail to tail in pairs. He then fastened a torch to every pair of tails,

Judges 15:4 esv

So Samson went and caught 300 foxes and took torches. And he turned them tail to tail and put a torch between each pair of tails.

Judges 15:4 nlt

Then he went out and caught 300 foxes. He tied their tails together in pairs, and he fastened a torch to each pair of tails.

Judges 15 verses

Judges 15 4 Meaning

Judges 15:4 describes Samson's method of inflicting widespread destruction upon the Philistines' crops and vineyards in retaliation for their actions against him and his Philistine wife. He ingeniously captured three hundred foxes, tied them in pairs by their tails with a torch placed between each pair, and then released them into the fields, setting them ablaze. This act highlights Samson's remarkable strength and cunning, serving as a destructive, yet effective, instrument in God's ongoing deliverance of Israel from Philistine oppression.

Judges 15 4 Context

Judges chapter 15 continues the narrative of Samson's troubled relationship with the Philistines, following his ill-fated marriage to a Philistine woman from Timnah. The immediate context of verse 4 is Samson's personal retaliation. After his father-in-law gave his wife to Samson's best man because Samson had abandoned her, Samson sought to "avenge himself" (Judg 15:1-3) on the Philistines for this slight. This act of setting fire to their crops, vineyards, and olive groves was a highly destructive measure designed to cripple their agricultural economy. The broader context of the book of Judges reveals a cycle of Israelite apostasy, divine judgment through oppression, cries for deliverance, and the raising of judges by God. Samson's story is distinct in that his deliverances often stem from personal conflicts, yet God sovereignly uses even these for His larger redemptive purposes against Israel's oppressors.

Judges 15 4 Word analysis

• And Samson went (וַיֵּלֶךְ שִׁמְשׁוֹן, vayēleḵ Shimshôn):

  • Samson (Shimshôn): Hebrew name derived from shemesh (sun). He is destined to be a "man of the sun" or "sun-like," suggesting glory, brightness, and perhaps a hot temperament. His actions often display a direct and powerful force, like the sun.
  • went: Implies deliberate action and purpose behind his movements.

• and caught (וַיִּלְכֹּד, vayiləkoḏ):

  • Indicates a specific, determined effort to capture something. Given the nature of foxes, this was a significant, arduous task, hinting at Samson's extraordinary strength and perhaps an unrecorded divine enablement for this feat.

• three hundred foxes (שְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת שׁוּעָלִים, shəloš mēʾôṯ shûʿālîm):

  • three hundred: A large, precise number, emphasizing the scale of the endeavor and the planned widespread destruction. It points to a highly organized operation for maximum impact, challenging the Philistine economy directly.
  • foxes (shu'al): This term in Hebrew can refer to either a fox or a jackal. Jackals were more common in the region, traveled in larger packs, and were known for being agricultural pests, often destroying crops and vineyards. Capturing 300 of these agile, cunning creatures highlights the miraculous or supernaturally empowered nature of Samson's act. This number indicates an intent for an overwhelming attack.

• and took torches (וַיִּקַּח לַפִּדִים, vayyiqqaḥ lappidîm):

  • torches (lappidim): Instruments of fire, symbolic of the destruction he intended to unleash. These were typically made of wood or reeds, covered in pitch or resin to burn intensely. The number of torches would likely be less than the foxes, as he tied them in pairs.

• and turned tail to tail (וַיֶּפֶן זָנָב אֶל זָנָב, vayyeṯpen zānāḇ ʾel zānāḇ):

  • turned: Suggests a careful and intentional linking.
  • tail to tail: A peculiar and ingenious method. Tying two animals by their tails would cause them to run in unpredictable, diverging directions, thus spreading fire across a wider area and making containment more difficult for the Philistines. It also ensures they struggle and move quickly.

• and put a torch in the midst between two tails (וַיָּשֶׂם לַפִּיד אֶחָד בֵּין שְׁנֵי הַזְּנָבוֹת בַּתָּוֶךְ, vayyāśem lappîḏ eḥāḏ bēn šənê hazzənāḇôṯ batāweḵ):

  • in the midst: This exact placement ensured that as the pair of animals moved, the torch would drag and spread fire efficiently, effectively turning each pair into a moving firebomb. This mechanical detail highlights Samson's inventive destructive power.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes": This phrase encapsulates the almost impossible physical feat of trapping such a large number of wild, elusive animals, signaling divine enablement beyond mere human ability or cunning.
  • "and took torches, and turned tail to tail, and put a torch in the midst between two tails": This phrase details Samson's ingenious and cruelly effective method. It demonstrates a methodical approach to vengeance, transforming the seemingly simple act of catching animals into a strategic agricultural assault, indicative of Samson's unique blend of power and tactical intelligence.

Judges 15 4 Bonus section

The mention of "foxes" (shu'al) may indeed refer to jackals, which were plentiful in the Shephelah region (the Philistine territory) and known for moving in large groups and causing extensive damage to crops. Their collective behavior would make Samson's feat even more remarkable. The economic impact of this act would have been devastating to the Philistines, targeting their source of wealth (grain, olives, vineyards). This form of destruction reflects ancient forms of warfare where disabling an enemy's food supply was a common strategy, though rarely on this scale or with such a peculiar method. This incident not only showcases Samson's singular abilities but also illustrates God's paradoxical use of a physically mighty but morally inconsistent deliverer to advance His purposes.

Judges 15 4 Commentary

Judges 15:4 unveils Samson's inventive and destructive response to the Philistines' affront. While this act of vengeance seems rooted in personal slight, it becomes a crucial part of God's overarching plan to deliver Israel from Philistine oppression. Samson, empowered by the Spirit, executes this unusual strategy of utilizing 150 pairs of torch-carrying foxes/jackals, which speaks to his extraordinary strength and ingenuity. This grand agricultural destruction was not a common wartime tactic but a dramatic and memorable act, specifically targeting the Philistines' livelihood, setting the stage for deeper conflict. It underscores the chaotic period of the Judges, where divinely chosen leaders, though flawed, served God's purpose even through their own desires for retribution.