21: Height of the Jawbone: Victory of the Rejected Leader (Judges 15:1 – 20)

Samson was handed over to the Philistines by his own people, yet the Lord strengthened him to strike them down.

Read Judges 15:1 - 20

Q1. When Samson heard his wife had been given to another man, he captured (         ) jackals and burned the Philistines’ fields using the fire torches tied to their (             ). Then, the Philistines went up and (           ) her and her father. Then, Samson struck many Philistines in (            ), went to a cave in ( ), and lived there.

When Samson heard his wife had been given to another man, he captured ( 300  ) jackals and burned the Philistines’ fields using the fire torches tied to their (  tails  ). Then, the Philistines went up and ( burned  ) her and her father. Then, Samson struck many Philistines in (  revenge ), went down to a cave in ( the cliff of Etam ), and lived there.

The passage highlights the ongoing cycle of retaliation between Samson and the Philistines. Verses 3 and 7 demonstrate that Samson's actions were primarily motivated by a desire for revenge.

Additionally, the Philistines avoided confronting Samson directly. Instead, they sought revenge by targeting the woman and her father. This highlights Samson's formidable strength. Interestingly, this section makes no mention of the Spirit's empowerment.



Q2. When the Philistines invaded Judah to capture Samson, the Israelites came to Samson and said, “Do you not know the Philistines (        ) over us? Why have you done this to (      )? We will only take you (        ) and hand you over to them. We (       ) not to kill you.” They tied him up with two new ropes and brought him out to the Philistines

When the Philistines invaded Judah to capture Samson, the Israelites came to Samson and said, “Do you not know the Philistines ( rule ) over us? Why have you done this to ( us )? We will only take you ( prisoner ) and hand you over to them. We ( promise ) not to kill you.” They tied him up with two new ropes and brought him out to the Philistines

The Philistines invaded Judah and pressured the Israelites to hand Samson over to them.

Samson could have fought for his life but didn’t. He surrendered himself to them for the sake of the Israelites. It is the same for Jesus Christ. He was handed over to the Gentiles for the sake of the nation that they had feared to lose it. “If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation” (John 11:48)

This sets Samson apart from Gideon or Jephthah, who responded harshly when opposed by their own people. In contrast, Samson willingly surrendered himself to the Israelites, demonstrating a different approach to dealing with internal conflict.



Q3. Samson happened to see a solid (             ) of a donkey. He grabbed it and struck down (           ) Philistines. He sang a victory song and called the place (                    ), which means ‘height of the jawbone.’

Samson happened to see a solid ( jawbone ) of a donkey. He grabbed it and struck down ( 1,000 ) Philistines. He sang a victory song and called the place ( Ramath Lehi ), which means ‘height of the jawbone.’

Samson used a wordplay here. The Hebrew uses the word Χ—ֲΧžΧ•ֹΧ¨ (αΈ₯amor, "donkey") and Χ—ֲמֹΧ¨ (αΈ₯amor, "heap"), creating a pun between "donkey" and "heaps."

Samson appears to have a linguistic flair, as evidenced by the riddle and the victory song. However, unlike Deborah in Judges 5, he did not attribute this triumph to the Lord.



Q4. Though Samson achieved a great victory, he was a dependent being of the flesh. How did the Lord help Samson? Find two verses from the entire passage of chapter 15.

V14, 19. Empowering & rescuing



Samson’s story reveals that the true problem lies within their hearts. Despite being granted immense strength, Samson could not deliver Israel as other judges had, due to his indifference to his calling and the people's unwillingness to fight against their oppressors—a slave mindset of yielding to oppression and self-centeredness for the sake of survival. Such an inherent problem in every human can only be overcome through the renewal of the heart by the Spirit.

The victory came from the Lord, not from Samson himself, nor the support of the people. The triumph of the rejected leader foreshadows the victory of Jesus.


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