Judges 15 5

Judges 15:5 kjv

And when he had set the brands on fire, he let them go into the standing corn of the Philistines, and burnt up both the shocks, and also the standing corn, with the vineyards and olives.

Judges 15:5 nkjv

When he had set the torches on fire, he let the foxes go into the standing grain of the Philistines, and burned up both the shocks and the standing grain, as well as the vineyards and olive groves.

Judges 15:5 niv

lit the torches and let the foxes loose in the standing grain of the Philistines. He burned up the shocks and standing grain, together with the vineyards and olive groves.

Judges 15:5 esv

And when he had set fire to the torches, he let the foxes go into the standing grain of the Philistines and set fire to the stacked grain and the standing grain, as well as the olive orchards.

Judges 15:5 nlt

Then he lit the torches and let the foxes run through the grain fields of the Philistines. He burned all their grain to the ground, including the sheaves and the uncut grain. He also destroyed their vineyards and olive groves.

Judges 15 verses

Judges 15 5 Meaning

This verse describes Samson's act of vengeful destruction against the Philistines. Following the slight by his father-in-law, Samson harnessed 300 foxes, tied their tails together in pairs with torches, ignited the torches, and released the foxes into the agricultural fields of the Philistines. The resulting fire consumed their ripe standing grain, the harvested shocks, and extended to destroy their vineyards and olive groves. It was a comprehensive act of economic devastation, striking at the heart of the Philistine's sustenance and wealth.

Judges 15 5 Context

Judges 15:5 is situated during the period when Israel was oppressed by the Philistines, as part of the cyclical pattern in the Book of Judges where Israel disobeys, is oppressed, cries out to God, and is delivered by a judge. Samson was raised as a Nazirite, set apart to begin Israel's deliverance from the Philistines (Jdg 13:5). However, his personal life, driven by passion and revenge, often intersected with his divine mission. This particular verse details his response to the betrayal by his Philistine wife and her family. His Philistine wife was given to his best man after Samson left her in anger following the riddle incident (Jdg 14:20), and her father initially denied Samson access to her, offering a younger sister instead (Jdg 15:2). This enraged Samson, who then sought to inflict severe economic damage on the Philistines as an act of vengeance, exploiting the peak wheat harvest season for maximum impact.

Judges 15 5 Word analysis

• So (וַיֵּלֶךְ): While usually translated "and he went," in this context, it marks the immediate consequence and continuation of Samson's determined action (from v. 4 "and went and caught 300 foxes"). It implies a swift, purposeful progression to his destructive plan.
• He (implicit in the verb): Refers directly to Samson, the main actor of this account.
• set the brands on fire (וַיַּצֵּת בַּלַּפִּדִּים, wayyaṣṣeṯ ballappidîm):
  • Wayyaṣṣeṯ (הִצִּית hiṣṣît, Hiphil of יָצַת yāṣat): Means "to set on fire," "to kindle." The Hiphil stem indicates causing something to happen, emphasizing Samson's active and direct role in igniting the brands.
  • Ballappidîm (לַפִּדִּים lappidim, "torches," "flames," "brands"): Refers to the lit fire-carrying devices tied to the foxes. These were likely crude torches made of flammable material, designed to spread fire rapidly. The use of "brands" rather than merely fire indicates prepared incendiary devices.
• and sent them (וַיְשַׁלַּח, wayšallaḥ): From שָׁלַח (šālaḥ), "to send," "to dispatch." This denotes a deliberate, organized release, not a casual scattering. The action implies Samson had a strategic plan to maximize destruction.
• into the standing corn of the Philistines (בְּקָמוֹת פְּלִשְׁתִּים, bĕqāmôṯ pĕlištîm):
  • Bĕqāmôṯ (קָמָה qāmâ): Refers to "standing grain," especially wheat or barley, ready for harvest. This highlights the timing—it was harvest season, making the crop particularly vulnerable and valuable.
  • Pĕlištîm (פְּלִשְׁתִּים): "Philistines," the traditional enemies of Israel, against whom Samson was appointed to begin deliverance. This clearly identifies the target of Samson's destructive act.
• both the shocks (גָדִישׁ, gādîš): Refers to stacks of sheaves, grain already cut and bundled, awaiting threshing or storage. This indicates that even the partially processed harvest was targeted, intensifying the loss.
• and the standing corn (וְעַד הַקָּמָה, wĕ‘ad haqqāmâ): Reinforces the earlier mention of standing grain, emphasizing that the fire consumed not only the cut grain but also that which was still in the fields, making the destruction total and exhaustive across their lands.
• with the vineyards and olive groves (וְכֶרֶם וְזַיִת, wĕḵerem wĕzayiṯ):
  • wĕḵerem (כֶּרֶם kerem): "Vineyard."
  • wĕzayiṯ (זַיִת zayiṯ): "Olive tree," or "olive grove." These represent significant, long-term agricultural investments and primary sources of Philistine wealth (wine and oil). Their destruction meant not only a loss for the current year but potentially for many years to come. This elevates the act from mere vandalism to comprehensive economic warfare.

Words-group by Words-group analysis:

• "So he set the brands on fire and sent them into": This phrase captures the deliberate, instrumental nature of Samson's act. He wasn't randomly causing trouble; he prepared tools (brands) and systematically deployed them for maximum impact. This is not impulsive destruction but calculated vengeance.
• "the standing corn of the Philistines": Identifies the specific target of economic infrastructure and connects it directly to Israel's oppressive overlords. The phrase highlights the timing during harvest, indicating significant loss.
• "both the shocks and the standing corn": This bipartite phrasing emphasizes the total and devastating scope of the fire. No part of the grain harvest was spared – neither what was still growing nor what had been already gathered. It speaks to a comprehensive agricultural catastrophe.
• "with the vineyards and olive groves": This addition broadens the scope of destruction beyond just grain to other crucial, long-term agricultural assets. It implies deeper, more lasting damage to the Philistine economy and ability to recover, affecting generations, and signaling an intent for profound economic harm.

Judges 15 5 Bonus section

Samson's action, while effective, used an unconventional method for a judge—acting as an individual saboteur rather than leading Israel in battle. The specific timing of the wheat harvest made the Philistines' crops highly vulnerable, as grain ready for collection is particularly flammable. This also speaks to a season of great economic investment and anticipated wealth, making the loss profoundly felt. The use of foxes (or jackals, as some scholars suggest for the Hebrew shual) tied tail to tail with torches reflects Samson's clever, if cruel, ingenuity. The act, although personal revenge, served as a painful lesson for the Philistines about the cost of their oppression and deceit towards Israel. Fire, throughout the Bible, is often a symbol of judgment and purification, here seen as an agent of punitive destruction against an enemy of God's people.

Judges 15 5 Commentary

Judges 15:5 vividly portrays Samson's method of inflicting immense damage on the Philistines. Driven by personal vengeance over the betrayal concerning his wife, Samson executed a precise and calculated act of economic warfare rather than direct military engagement. The choice of fire and targeting agricultural produce during harvest was particularly devastating, as it hit at the very foundation of Philistine livelihood and prosperity. The inclusion of "shocks," "standing corn," "vineyards," and "olive groves" underscores the thoroughness and totality of the destruction, showcasing Samson's remarkable resourcefulness and determination, albeit channeled through personal fury. This act, while stemming from Samson's flawed human nature and vengeance, paradoxically contributed to his divine mission by weakening the Philistines, though not through conventional military leadership as seen in other judges. It highlights the complex interplay of human agency, divine purpose, and the consequences of sin and oppression in the narrative of Judges.