The Philistines come to Judah seeking Samson, exposing the deeper issue of whether Israel will rely on God’s deliverance or yield to fearful compromise.
The men of Judah find themselves in a sudden confrontation, and Scripture records, “So the men of Judah said, ‘Why have you come up against us?’ And they said, ‘We have come up to bind Samson in order to do to him as he did to us.’” (v.10) This event occurs in the territory belonging to the tribe of Judah, located in the southern region of ancient Israel. At this time (approximately the 11th century BC), Israel was under partial oppression by the Philistines, who resided along the coastal plains to the southwest. These Philistines are not attacking Judah directly for Judah’s own offenses, but rather to seek Samson—one of Israel’s judges who is causing great turmoil among them.
In this verse, “the men of Judah said, ‘Why have you come up against us?’” (v.10) reveals their confusion and concern at the sight of a Philistine incursion near their borders. Historically, Samson emerges as a divinely appointed judge (during roughly 1100-1050 BC), raised by God to deliver Israel from Philistine oppression (see Judges 13 for Samson’s birth story). The men of Judah, being aware of the precarious relationship with the Philistines, question the cause for this new aggression. It indicates a moment when God’s people are pressed between fear of a powerful enemy and the risky leadership of one of their own, who is as unpredictable as he is strong.
The Philistines deliver a clear reason for their march when they say, “We have come up to bind Samson in order to do to him as he did to us.” (v.10) Their response highlights a cycle of retaliation: they want vengeance for Samson’s prior attacks. Samson, in his role as judge, embodies the conflict between Israel and the Philistines. While this cycle of “eye for an eye” retribution is seen throughout the Old Testament, we can later see Jesus instructing the opposite approach in Matthew 5:38-39. Indeed, this verse in Judges magnifies the tension of living within human cycles of vengeance, compared to God’s call for His people to trust in divine justice.
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Judges 15:10 meaning
The men of Judah find themselves in a sudden confrontation, and Scripture records, “So the men of Judah said, ‘Why have you come up against us?’ And they said, ‘We have come up to bind Samson in order to do to him as he did to us.’” (v.10) This event occurs in the territory belonging to the tribe of Judah, located in the southern region of ancient Israel. At this time (approximately the 11th century BC), Israel was under partial oppression by the Philistines, who resided along the coastal plains to the southwest. These Philistines are not attacking Judah directly for Judah’s own offenses, but rather to seek Samson—one of Israel’s judges who is causing great turmoil among them.
In this verse, “the men of Judah said, ‘Why have you come up against us?’” (v.10) reveals their confusion and concern at the sight of a Philistine incursion near their borders. Historically, Samson emerges as a divinely appointed judge (during roughly 1100-1050 BC), raised by God to deliver Israel from Philistine oppression (see Judges 13 for Samson’s birth story). The men of Judah, being aware of the precarious relationship with the Philistines, question the cause for this new aggression. It indicates a moment when God’s people are pressed between fear of a powerful enemy and the risky leadership of one of their own, who is as unpredictable as he is strong.
The Philistines deliver a clear reason for their march when they say, “We have come up to bind Samson in order to do to him as he did to us.” (v.10) Their response highlights a cycle of retaliation: they want vengeance for Samson’s prior attacks. Samson, in his role as judge, embodies the conflict between Israel and the Philistines. While this cycle of “eye for an eye” retribution is seen throughout the Old Testament, we can later see Jesus instructing the opposite approach in Matthew 5:38-39. Indeed, this verse in Judges magnifies the tension of living within human cycles of vengeance, compared to God’s call for His people to trust in divine justice.