Samson’s vengeance against the Philistines prompted their own escalated retaliation toward his wife and her father, illustrating how cycles of retribution can spiral out of control.
Then the Philistines said, “Who did this?” And they said, “Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he took his wife and gave her to his companion.” So the Philistines came up and burned her and her father with fire. (v.6) In this verse, we find the Philistines searching for the culprit who set their grain fields ablaze. They quickly learn it was Samson, a Judge of Israel who served around the 11th century BC. Samson’s father-in-law is described here as a “Timnite,” referring to his origin from Timnah, a location in the tribal territory of Dan (though some references place Timnah near Judah’s border). This region is noted to have been at the boundary of Israelite and Philistine control, making it a frequent flashpoint for conflict.
Then the Philistines said…So the Philistines came up and burned her and her father with fire. (v.6) emphasizes the resulting violence once the Philistines traced the blame to Samson. The mention that the woman was “given” to another man highlights the personal betrayal Samson felt (Judges 14:20). This scenario underscores the depth of enmity between God’s covenant people and the Philistines, magnified here by a personal vendetta. The brutality the Philistines show by burning Samson’s wife and her father intersects with the cyclical tension seen in the Book of Judges, where Israel’s disobedience often leads to oppression before they cry out to the LORD for deliverance.
Samson himself was raised up by God as a deliverer (Judges 13:5), foreshadowing the ultimate deliverance the world would eventually encounter in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 2:14-15). In this scene, the Philistines’ ruthless response fuels Samson’s resolve and sets the stage for further conflict. From a historical standpoint, Samson served during a tumultuous time when Israel’s tribal confederation was weak, caught between idol worship and yearning for freedom. Samson’s personal struggles and dramatic displays of strength highlight both his flawed humanity and his divinely-appointed role.
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Judges 15:6 meaning
Then the Philistines said, “Who did this?” And they said, “Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he took his wife and gave her to his companion.” So the Philistines came up and burned her and her father with fire. (v.6) In this verse, we find the Philistines searching for the culprit who set their grain fields ablaze. They quickly learn it was Samson, a Judge of Israel who served around the 11th century BC. Samson’s father-in-law is described here as a “Timnite,” referring to his origin from Timnah, a location in the tribal territory of Dan (though some references place Timnah near Judah’s border). This region is noted to have been at the boundary of Israelite and Philistine control, making it a frequent flashpoint for conflict.
Then the Philistines said…So the Philistines came up and burned her and her father with fire. (v.6) emphasizes the resulting violence once the Philistines traced the blame to Samson. The mention that the woman was “given” to another man highlights the personal betrayal Samson felt (Judges 14:20). This scenario underscores the depth of enmity between God’s covenant people and the Philistines, magnified here by a personal vendetta. The brutality the Philistines show by burning Samson’s wife and her father intersects with the cyclical tension seen in the Book of Judges, where Israel’s disobedience often leads to oppression before they cry out to the LORD for deliverance.
Samson himself was raised up by God as a deliverer (Judges 13:5), foreshadowing the ultimate deliverance the world would eventually encounter in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 2:14-15). In this scene, the Philistines’ ruthless response fuels Samson’s resolve and sets the stage for further conflict. From a historical standpoint, Samson served during a tumultuous time when Israel’s tribal confederation was weak, caught between idol worship and yearning for freedom. Samson’s personal struggles and dramatic displays of strength highlight both his flawed humanity and his divinely-appointed role.