Bible ~~- Older Testament ~~- Judges ~~- chapter 15 of 21 (20 verses.)

Judges 15Wrench

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Samson's Dad-In-Law Gives Samson's Wife Away
1 [Time passes, πŸ˜‡.] Wheat harvest arrives. Samson {SunRay} grabs a goat-kid [to cook for a make-up-date meal]. He drags it to his wife's family's house. He says, β€œI'm goin’ in the bedroom to [love on] my wife.” But her father [stands in the doorway. He blocks SunRay from] going in!
2 [SunRay's pagan father-in-law] says, β€œI really thought that you'd totally abandoned [your wife]. So I gave her to your best-man. But her younger sister's [even] more beautiful. Take her, I beg you. [Forget your wife.]”
3 So SunRay [growls] to [his cheating wife's relatives], β€œNow I've got the moral right to punish you [dirty] Philistines [for the damages you've done to me and my people].”
Samson Lights Jackals On Fire, Burns Crops
4 SunRay runs. He catches 300 jackals. He [makes 150 tar-stick] torches. He lashes the jackals’ tails together in pairs. He ties a torch between each pair of tails.
5 Then SunRay sets fire to the torches. He smacks the [jackals. They race] careening, [howling] through the Philistines' fields of ripe grain. Everything burns, πŸ˜‡ β€” both harvested and growing grain, vineyards and olive orchards [β€”everything]!
The Philistines Burn Samson's Wife!
6 The Philistines run around screaming, β€œWho burned our farms?!” Witnesses answer, β€œSunRay, the son-in-law of [our] fellow [Philistine] from Timnah {Grabber}. [SunRay, the stinking Jew, burned your crops] because [the Timnite] stole-back [SunRay's] wife and gave her to [SunRay's] best-man.” So the Philistines rush uphill [east to nearby Timnah-Town]. They burn [SunRay's wife] and her Dad [to death] with fire!
7 [Seeing his wife burn in flames,] Samson [roars] at the [Philistines,], β€œYou [killed my wife β€” my only love]! I won't stop [killing] until I've avenged [her death by destroying your nation]!”
Samson Massacres The Philistines In Revenge
8 So SunRay tears into the [Palestinians]! He rips them limb from limb. He piles up their slaughtered bodies. Then he runs [~20 miles] downhill [south past Bethlehem]. He lives in a cave at Etam {Hawk} Rock.
Philistines Attack Judah In Boomerang Revenge
9 So [in revenge against Samson] the [coastal] Philistine [soldiers] march out [east]. They pitch war-camp in Judea. They spread out to attack [the city of] Lehi {Jawbone}.
10 The Judean men shout, β€œWhy are you attacking us?” The [Palestinians scream back], β€œTo arrest SunRay, that’s why β€” to avenge him [for pillaging and murdering our people]!”
11 So 3000 Judean men rush to the top of Etam {Hawk} Rock. They [yell] at Samson {SunRay}, β€œ[Are you crazy?] Don't you know that the Palestinians [can do whatever they want to] us? What have you done to us?” SunRay [screams] at the [Jews], β€œI just paid the [pagans] back for what they did to me!”
The Jews Hand Samson To The Philistines
12 So the Jews plead to SunRay, β€œWe've come down [to this cave] to tie you [up], so we can deliver you into the hand[s] of the Philistines, [so they'll kill you instead of killing us].” So SunRay answers the [Jews], β€œ[OK.] Just swear to me you won't attack me yourselves. [Or I might kill you too.]”
13 The Jews reply, β€˜We promise, Samson. We'll just tie you up. Then [we'll] surrender you to the [Palestinians]. Believe us, we're [not stupid enough to try to] kill you.’ So the [Jews] tie SunRay with [strong] new ropes. [Then they] lead him up from Etam {Hawk} Rock.
Samson Murders 1000 Palestinians W/ A Jawbone
14 SunRay [straggles in ropes] to Lehi {Jawbone}. The Philistines shout [insults] against him. So the Spirit of YHVH comes mightily upon him. The [strong, new ropes] on his arms [disintegrate] like flax burnt with fire! His restraints fly off his hands.
The Spirit of Yah gives you righteous indignation. What you do with that anger shows your level of spiritual maturity. Samson had a lot of spirit, but very little maturity. That's a dangerous combination. A mature leader responds to abuse with kindness.
15 SunRay sees a fresh jawbone [from the skeleton of a recently dead] donkey. He reaches out his hand. He grabs it. Then he kills 1000 men [by smacking their heads and hacking their guts out] with [the jawbone]!
Some scholars say "1000" (Eleph) actually meant 20 to 30.
16 SunRay [parades in triumph on top of the hill, under the blood-red sky. He screams], β€œWith the jawbone of a donkey, [I made] heaps upon heaps [of dead pagans]! With the jaw of a donkey, I killed 1000 men!”
17 [SunRay] finishes [bragging]. He throws the jawbone from his hand. He [yells, β€œI] name this place Ramath-Lehi {JawBone-Heights}!”
YAH Opens A Water-Spring For Samson To Drink
18 [His throat] sore & thirsty, [SunRay] screams at YHVH, β€œ[I'm] your servant. You've given this great victory into my hand. Now you're [gonna’ let me] die of thirst, to fall into the power-fist of the β€˜un-trimmed’ [Pagans]?”
19 So Elohim splits open the rock basin in Lehi {Jawbone}. Water gushes out. SunRay drinks until his spirit revives. He feels alive again. So [SunRay] names the place Eyn-Hakkore {Caller's-Spring}. It's still there at Lehi today, πŸ˜‡.
Samson Leads Israel For 20 War-plagued Years
20 [SunRay] goes on to lead Israel for 20 years. And the whole time, the Philistines [plague Israel].
Like today's wars between the Palestinians and the Israelis, both sides are at fault, and both sides have valid points.
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