Judges 16:23
Now we read, *“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.’”* (v.23). With Samson now in captivity, the Philistine governors gather to celebrate a perceived triumph over the one who had been such a vexing foe. Their god, Dagon—a deity the Philistines revered during the era of the Judges—receives this sacrifice in a grand moment of pagan thanksgiving. Historically, the Philistines were a seafaring people who had settled along the southwest coast of Canaan and frequently clashed with the Israelites (citeturn0file11). By capturing Samson around 1100 BC, the Philistines believed that their own spiritual power had decisively prevailed (citeturn0file14).
The Philistines’ devotion to Dagon appears elsewhere in scripture, as when they placed the captured ark of the covenant before the idol of Dagon, only to witness its humiliating downfall (1 Samuel 5). These lords of the Philistines, leaders of their city-states, considered Dagon the victor over Israel’s God and thus gloated, *“Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hands.”* (v.23). In reality, their confidence in Dagon would soon be dashed. From the broader biblical narrative, we know that the LORD repeatedly demonstrates sovereignty over pagan gods, from the plagues in Egypt to the downfall of idols like Dagon (citeturn0file8).
By assembling in their temple, the Philistine rulers intended to magnify Dagon’s glory while mocking Samson and, by implication, Samson’s God. Yet this gathering set in motion the final act of Samson’s life, in which he would call upon the LORD for strength one last time. The stage was readied for a dramatic reversal, where God’s power triumphs even in a moment of apparent defeat—a reminder that He alone presides over the destinies of nations and individuals.
They believed their triumph over Samson proved the superiority of Dagon but unknowingly prepared themselves for God’s ultimate demonstration of His sovereignty.
This quick synopsis was AI autogenerated utilizing existing TheBibleSays commentaries as the primary source material. To read a related commentary that has been fully developed, see the list below. If there is an issue with this summary please let us know by emailing:[email protected]
Other Relevant Commentaries:
- Judges 2:16-23 meaning. Despite Israel’s repeated disobedience, God raises up judges to deliver them from their oppressors. However, the people persist in idolatry and corruption, leading to God’s decision to leave the remaining nations in the land as a test of Israel’s faithfulness.
- Psalm 139:23-24 meaning. David asks God to examine him and his character, identifying the sin so that God can show him the way to eternal life.
- Exodus 18:13-23 meaning. The day after Jethro, Moses, Aaron, and the elders celebrated a sacrificial to honor the LORD, Moses went about his usual duties in managing the affairs of the people. On this day, his job was to mediate disputes and dispense justice when there was an issue between Israelites. This was an extremely burdensome task to Moses because it lasted all day. Jethro saw what it was doing to Moses and spoke to him about the wisdom of training others to share the responsibility of governing.