23 Now the lords of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god , and to rejoice , for they said , "Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hands ." 24 When the people saw him, they praised their god , for they said , "Our god has given our enemy into our hands , Even the destroyer of our country , Who has slain many of us." 25 It so happened when they were in high spirits , that they said , "Call for Samson , that he may amuse us." So they called for Samson from the prison e , and he entertained e them. And they made him stand between the pillars . 26 Then Samson said to the boy who was holding his hand , "Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests , that I may lean against them." 27 Now the house was full of men and women , and all the lords of the Philistines were there . And about 3,000 e men and women were on the roof looking on while Samson was amusing them. 28 Then Samson called to the Lord and said , "O Lord GOD , please remember me and please strengthen me just this time , O God , that I may at once be avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes ." 29 Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested , and braced himself against them, the one with his right hand and the other with his left . 30 And Samson said , "Let me die with the Philistines !" And he bent with all his might so that the house fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he killed in his life . 31 Then his brothers and all his father's household came down , took him, brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father . Thus he had judged Israel twenty years .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 16:23-31
Commentary on Judges 16:22-24
(Read Judges 16:22-24)
Samson's afflictions were the means of bringing him to deep repentance. By the loss of his bodily sight the eyes of his understanding were opened; and by depriving him of bodily strength, the Lord was pleased to renew his spiritual strength. The Lord permits some few to wander wide and sink deep, yet he recovers them at last, and marking his displeasure at sin in their severe temporal sufferings, preserves them from sinking into the pit of destruction. Hypocrites may abuse these examples, and infidels mock at them, but true Christians will thereby be rendered more humble, watchful, and circumspect; more simple in their dependence on the Lord, more fervent in prayer to be kept from falling, and in praise for being preserved; and, if they fall, they will be kept from sinking into despair.
Commentary on Judges 16:25-31
(Read Judges 16:25-31)
Nothing fills up the sins of any person or people faster than mocking and misusing the servants of God, even thought it is by their own folly that they are brought low. God put it into Samson's heart, as a public person, thus to avenge on them God's quarrel, Israel's, and his own. That strength which he had lost by sin, he recovers by prayer. That it was not from passion or personal revenge, but from holy zeal for the glory of God and Israel, appears from God's accepting and answering the prayer. The house was pulled down, not by the natural strength of Samson, but by the almighty power of God. In his case it was right he should avenge the cause of God and Israel. Nor is he to be accused of self-murder. He sought not his own death, but Israel's deliverance, and the destruction of their enemies. Thus Samson died in bonds, and among the Philistines, as an awful rebuke for his sins; but he died repentant. The effects of his death typified those of the death of Christ, who, of his own will, laid down his life among transgressors, and thus overturned the foundation of Satan's kingdom, and provided for the deliverance of his people. Great as was the sin of Samson, and justly as he deserved the judgments he brought upon himself, he found mercy of the Lord at last; and every penitent shall obtain mercy, who flees for refuge to that Saviour whose blood cleanses from all sin. But here is nothing to encourage any to indulge sin, from a hope they shall at last repent and be saved.