Judges 15

• Vv. 1-3 After leaving his own wedding party in anger due to his loss in the bet he made against the Philistines, Samson returns to find his wife has been given away to his best man. His father-in-law attempts to remedy the situation by giving away the sister of the woman Samson had intended to marry. Samson seeks vengeance for the loss of his wife, whom he had desired. 

• Vv. 4-8 To pay the Philistines back for the pain that he felt in losing his wife, Samson catches 300 jackals. He ties there tails together, and in the knots he attaches a torch. He lets the jackals loose on the fields and orchard of the Philistines, burning down all their crop. In dark irony, Samson’s wife and he father’s house are burned. Remember, this is what was threatened to her if she did not learn of the answer to Samson’s riddle. 

• Vv. 9-13 The men of Judah come to Samson in fear and trembling, looking to bind up Samson and present him as peace offering to the Philistines. The Philistines were ruling over the Israelites and the men of Judah felt this was the only way to keep casualties low. 

• Vv. 14-20 Samson is presented to the Philistines in new ropes, but they fell off as flax in fire. He strikes down 1,000 Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey. God grants Samson the Spirit, and after the battle takes care of Samson’s thirst by splitting open a rock for him to drink. This is considered the main battle of Samson, his victory that places him in the history of Judges. And he judges Israel 20 years. 

In what way(s) does the story of Samson glorify God and his redemption of Israel?

If you were part of the men of Judah, how would you have responded to the situation Samson has placed the nation in?

What is the significance of the jawbone?