15 Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men.

Other Translations of Judges 15:15

King James Version

15 And he found a new new: Heb. moist jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith.

English Standard Version

15 And he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, and put out his hand and took it, and with it he struck 1,000 men.

The Message

15 He spotted a fresh donkey jawbone, reached down and grabbed it, and with it killed the whole company.

New King James Version

15 He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, reached out his hand and took it, and killed a thousand men with it.

New Living Translation

15 Then he found the jawbone of a recently killed donkey. He picked it up and killed 1,000 Philistines with it.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 15:15

Commentary on Judges 15:9-17

(Read Judges 15:9-17)

Sin dispirits men, it hides from their eyes the things that belong to their peace. The Israelites blamed Samson for what he had done against the Philistines, as if he had done them a great injury. Thus our Lord Jesus did many good works, and for those the Jews were ready to stone him. When the Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson, his cords were loosed: where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty, and those are free indeed who are thus set free. Thus Christ triumphed over the powers of darkness that shouted against him, as if they had him in their power. Samson made great destruction among the Philistines. To take the bone of an ass for this, was to do wonders by the foolish things of the world, that the excellency of the power might be of God, not of man. This victory was not in the weapon, was not in the arm; but it was in the Spirit of God, which moved the weapon by the arm. We can do all things through Him that strengtheneth us. Seest thou a poor Christian, who is enabled to overcome a temptation by weak, feeble counsel, there is the Philistine vanquished by a sorry jaw-bone.