Judges 16:1-31 Samson is Blinded, but Prevails in the End

 

Samson is Blinded, but Prevails in the End

Judges 16:1-31    The Book of Judges [in Smaller Chunks]

Then, Samson went to Gaza, & saw a harlot there & [was intimate with] her. The Gazites [were] told, saying, Samson [has] come [here,] & they [surrounded Samson] [& blocked him,] [inside,] & laid in wait, [a.k.a. to ambush, Samson] all night, [quietly throughout] the night, in the [city’s] gate, saying, We shall kill [Samson] in the morning when it’s [daylight.]

And Samson lay [there] [until] midnight, & arose at midnight, & took the gate doors of the city, & [it's] 2 posts, bar & all & put them on his shoulders & went away with them, & carried them up to the top of the hill that is [in front of] Hebron.

And it [happened] afterward, that [Samson] loved a [different] woman, [named] Delilah, in the Valley of Sorek. And the Philistine lords came up to [Delilah] & said, [Convince Samson] to [tell us] [in what] his great strength [lies,] & [how] we may prevail against, [a.k.a. overcome,] him, & [tie] him [up] to afflict him.

Everyone of us will give you 1,100 pieces of silver. And Delilah said to Samson, I pray [that] you, tell me [in what] your great strength [lies,] & [with what] you [might] be [tied] to afflict you. And Samson said to her, If they [tie] me with 7 [fresh bowstrings] that were never dried, then I shall be weak, [like] another man.

Then, the [Philistine] lords brought her 7 [fresh bowstrings that] hadn’t been dried, & she [tied Samson] with them. Now, there were men lying in wait,  [secretly] [staying] with her in the [room.]

And [Delilah] said to [Samson,] The Philistines [are] upon you, Samson. And [Samson] broke the [fresh bowstrings, like] a thread of [yarn] is broken when it [touches] the fire. So [Samson’s] strength was not known.

And Delilah said to Samson, [Look,] you [have] mocked me & told me lies. Now, I pray [that] you tell me [with what] you might be [tied.] And [Samson] said to her, If they [tie] me [tightly] with new ropes that never [had been used,] then, I shall be as weak, & be [like any other] man.

Therefore, Delilah took new ropes, & [tied Samson with them,] & said to him, The Philistines [are] upon you, Samson. There were [men lying] in wait in the [room.] And [Samson broke the ropes] from off his arms like thread. And Delilah said to Samson, You [have] mocked me [until now,] & told me lies.

Tell me [with what] you might be [tied.] And [Samson] said to [Delilah,] If you [weave] 7 locks of [my hair on] my head, with the web, [a.k.a. loom.] And she fastened [the 7 locks of his hair,] with the pin, & said to [Samson,] The Philistines [are] upon you, Samson.

And [Samson awoke from] his sleep, & went away with the pin of the beam, & the web, [still attached to his hair.] And [Delilah] said to [Samson,], How [can] you say, I love you, when your heart isn’t with me?

You [have] mocked me these 3 times, & you [haven’t] told me [in what] your great strength [lies.] And it [happened] [after] she [pressured] him daily with her words, & urged [Samson, until she troubled] his soul to death.

[Samson] told [Delilah,] all [that was on] his heart & said to her, A razor [hasn’t] come upon my head, for I have been a Nazarite to God from my [birth,] from my [mother.] If [my hair is shaved,] then my strength will go from me, & I shall become weak, & be like any other man.

When Delilah saw that [Samson] had told her all [that was on] his heart, she sent for the [Philistine] lords & [said,] Come up this [one] [last time,] for [Samson] has [declared] all [upon] his heart [to] me. Then, the [Philistine] lords came up to her, & brought [the] money in their [hands.]

And [Delilah] made [Samson] sleep upon her knees; & she called for a man, & [made] him shave off the 7 locks of [hair] on [Samson’s] head. [Delilah] began to afflict [Samson,] & his strength [was gone] from him.

And [Delilah] said, The Philistines are upon you, Samson. And he [woke up from] his sleep & said, I will go out [like the] other times before, & shake myself, but he [didn’t know] that the Lord [had] departed from him.

But the Philistines took [Samson,] & put out his eyes, [a.k.a. made him blind,] & brought him down to Gaza. [They] bound him in brass [shackles,] & [forced him to] grind [grain] in the prison. [However] the hair of his head began to grow again after he was [shaved.]

Then, the [Philistine] lords gathered them, [a.k.a. the Philistines,] together to offer a [large] sacrifice to Dagon, their god, & to rejoice. For they said, Our god [has] delivered Samson, our enemy, into our hand.

And when the people saw [Samson,] they praised their god. For they said, Our god [has] delivered our enemy & the destroyer of our country, into our hands, [who killed] many of us. And it [happened,] when their hearts were merry, they said, Call for Samson, [so] that he may [perform for us.]

And they called for Samson, [to be brought] out of the prison, & he [performed for] them. [Afterward,] they [stood Samson] between the pillars. And Samson said to the lad [who guided] him by the hand, [because he was blind,] [Allow] me, [so] that I may feel the pillars [upon which] [the upper floor of the] house stands, [so] I may lean on them.

Now, the house, [a.k.a.temple,] was full of all the [Philistine] lords, about 3,000 men & women were upon the roof, [who watched] while Samson [performed.] And Samson called [out] to the Lord & said, O Lord God, I pray You remember me only this once, & strengthen me, O God, [so] that I may be avenged of the Philistines, at once for my 2 eyes.

And Samson took hold of the 2 middle pillars upon which the house stood, & was [held] up, [with] his right hand on one [pillar,] & his left hand on the other [pillar that supported the house above him.]

And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And [Samson] bowed himself with all his might & the house fell upon the [Philistine] lords & upon the people [in it.] So, the dead [that Samson killed] at his death, were more than [those, that] he [killed throughout] his life.

Then, his brethren & all of his [father’s] house came down, & took [Samson’s] [body,] & brought him up, & buried him between Zorah & Eshtaol, in the place [they buried] Manoah, his father. And [Samson] judged Israel for 20 years.

Judges 15:1-20 Samson’s Wife Has Been Given to His Friend

 

Samson’s Wife Has Been Given to His Friend

Judges 15:1-20    The Book of Judges [in Smaller Chunks]

But it [happened] after [some time, during] the wheat harvest, Samson visited his wife with a kid, [a.k.a. goat,] & [Samson] said [to her father,] I [want to] go into the [room, to be intimate with] my wife. But her father wouldn’t [allow Samson] to go in.

Her father said, I [truly] thought that you [had totally] hated her. [That's why,] I gave her to your companion. Isn’t her younger sister [prettier] than she [is?] I pray [that] you take her instead.

And Samson said, Now, I shall be more blameless than the Philistines, [even though] I do [something to cause] [the Philistines] displeasure. And Samson went [out] & caught 300 foxes, & took [branding irons,] & turned [the foxes] tail to tail, & put [branding irons] in between [each pair of] 2 tails.

And when [Samson] had set the [branding irons] on fire, he let [the foxes] go into the standing corn of the Philistines, & burnt up both the [corn stalks] & also the standing corn, [along] with the vineyards & olives. [Then,] the Philistines [asked,] Who [has] done this?

And they answered, Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he [took Samson’s] wife & [gave] her to [Samson’s] companion. And the Philistines came up & [burned] her & her father with fire.

And Samson said to them, Though you have done this, I will [still] be avenged of you, & after that, I will [stop.] And [Samson struck] them down, hip & thigh [deep] with a [large] slaughter.

And [Samson] went down, & [lived] in the top of Rock Etam. Then, the Philistines went up & pitched [tents] in Judah & spread themselves in Lehi. and the men of Judah [asked] [the Philistines,] Why [have] you come up against us?

And they answered, We [have] come up to [tie] Samson [up,] & to do to [Samson like] he [had] done to us. Then, 3,000 men [from] Judah went to the top of the Rock [of] Etam, & said to Samson, [Don’t] you [know] that the Philistines are rulers over us?

What [have] you done to us? And [Samson] said to them, I have done to them, [just] [like] they did to me. And the [men of Judah] said to him, We [have] come down, to [tie you up, so] that we may deliver you into the hand of the Philistines.

And Samson said to them, Swear to me that you won’t [kill me] yourselves. They [said to Samson], No; but we will [tie you up tightly], & deliver you into [the Philistine’s hands,] but we surely won’t kill you.

And they [tied Samson up] with 2 new cords, & brought [samson] up from the rock. And when [Samson] came into Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him, & the [Holy] Spirit of the Lord came upon [Samson] mightily, & the cords that were upon his arms, became [loosened] from off his hands, [like] flax that was burnt with fire.

And [Samson] found a new jawbone of a [donkey] & took it [in] his hand, & [killed] 1,000 men [with it there.] And Samson said, With the jawbone of a [donkey,] I have slain 1,000 men, heaps upon heaps.

And it [happened, when [Samson finished] speaking, [Samson threw] away the jawbone [from] his hand, & called that place: Ramath Lehi. And [Samson] was [very thirsty,] & called on the Lord & said, You [have] given this great deliverance into the hand of Your servant, [but] shall I now die [of] thirst & fall into the [hands] of the uncircumcised?

But God [opened up] a hollow place that was in the [jawbone,] & water came out [of it] & [after Samson drank,] his spirit [returned,] & he revived. [For this reason, Samson] called [its] name: En Hakkore, which is in Lehi to this day. And [Samson] judged Israel [for] 20 years, [during] the days of the Philistines.

Judges 14:1-20 Samson Marries a Philistine Woman

 

Samson Marries a Philistine Woman

Judges 14:1-20    The Book of Judges [in Smaller Chunks]

Samson went down to Timnath, & saw a woman [there, from] the daughters of the Philistines. And [Samson went] up, & told his father & mother, & said, I have seen a woman in Timnath, [from] the daughters of the Philistines. Therefore, now get her for her for me to [marry.]

Then, [Samson's] father & mother [asked] him, Isn’t there [any] woman among the daughters of your [relatives,] or among all my people, that you [go] to take a wife [from] the uncircumcised Philistines?

And Samson [asked] his father, Get her for me, for she [pleases] me [very much.] But [Samson's] father & mother [didn’t know] that [this] was [from] the Lord, [in] that, [the Lord God] sought [for] an [opportunity,] against the Philistines. For at that time, the Philistines had dominion, [a.k.a. authority,] over Israel.

Then, [when] Samson went down [with] his father & mother, to Timnath, & came to the vineyards of Timnath, & [saw] a young lion roared against him. And the [Holy] Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon [Samson,] & he [tore the lion like] he would’ve [torn] a kid, [a.k.a. goat, since] he had [no weapon] in his hand.

But [Samson didn’t tell] his [parents] what he had done. [When Samson] went down & talked with the woman, Samson [was] pleased [with her.] After a time, [Samson returned] to take her [as his wife] & he turned aside to see the [carcass] of the lion & [ saw] there was a swarm of bees & honey in the [lion’s carcass.]

And [Samson] took [some of the honey] in his hands, & went on eating [it,] & he came to his [parents] & gave them [some honey,] & they [ate it.] But [Sampson didn’t tell his parents] that he had taken the honey out of the [carcass] of the lion.

So, [Samson’s] father went down to the woman, & Samson made a [wedding] feast there [for her, since that’s what] the young men used to do. And it [happened,] when they saw [Samson,] they brought 30 companions to be with him.

And Samson said to [the 30 companions,] I will now put forth a riddle to you; & if you find it out, & can [correctly answer] it [to] me, within 7 days of the feast, then I will give you 30 sheets & 30 [changes] of [clothing.] But if you can’t [answer] it, then you shall give me 30 sheets & 30 [changes] of [clothing.]

And they said to [Samson, Produce] your riddle, [so] may hear it. And [Samson] said to them, Out of the eater came forth meat & out of the strong came forth sweetness. And [the companions] couldn’t [answer] the riddle in 3 days.

And it [happened] on the 7th day, [the companions] said to Samson’s wife, [Convince Samson,] your husband, [so] that he may declare [the answer to riddle to you, & you may declare the answer to] the riddle to us, [or] we [will] burn you & your father’s house with fire. Have you called, [a.k.a. invited,] us, to take [away what] we have? Isn't [this true?]

And Samson’s wife [cried in front of] him, & said, You [do] hate me, & [don’t love] me. You [have] put forth a riddle to the children of my people, & [haven’t] told it [to] me. And [Samson] said to her, [Look,] I haven’t told it [to] my father, nor] my mother, & shall I tell it [to] you?

And she wept before [Samson] the 7 days, while their [wedding] feast lasted. And it [happened] on the 7th day, that [Samson] told her. Because she [pressured] him, & she told [the answer of] the riddle to the [young Philistine men] of her people.

And before [sunset,] the men of the city said to [Samson] on the 7th day, What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion? And [Samson] said, If you hadn’t plowed with my heifer, [a.k.a. wife,] you [wouldn’t have] found out my riddle.

And the [Holy] Spirit of the Lord came upon [Samson,] & he went down to Ashkelon, & [killed] 30 men, & took their [plunder,] & gave [their] [changes] of garments to [those who answered] the riddle.

And [Samson’s] anger [grew,] & he went up to his father’s house. But Samson’s wife was given to his companion, whom [Samson] used as his friend.

Judges 13:1-25 Manoah’s Wife Conceives a Son, Samson

 

Manoah’s Wife Conceives a Son, Samson

Judges 13:1-25    The Book of Judges [in Smaller Chunks]

The children, [a.k.a. people,] of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord; & the Lord delivered them into the [hands] of the Philistines for 40 years. and there was a certain man, whose name was Manoah, [who] was [from] the family of Danites, of Zorah.

[Judges 2:11-13 And the children [people] of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord & served Baalim. And they [abandoned] the Lord God of their [forefathers,] [Who] brought them out of the land of Egypt. And [they] followed other gods of the people [around] them & bowed themselves down to them & provoked the Lord to anger. And they [abandoned] the Lord & served Baal & Ashtaroth.]

And his wife was barren, [a.k.a. childless.] And the Angel of the Lord appeared to the woman, & said to her, [Watch,] [although] you [are] now [childless,] you [shall] conceive & [give birth to] a son.

Therefore, I pray [that] now, you [don’t] drink [any] wine nor strong drink, & [don’t] eat any unclean thing. For, [look,] you [shall] conceive, & [deliver] a son, & no razor shall [be used] on his head. For the child shall be a Nazarite to God from [his birth.]

And he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines. Then, the woman came & told her husband, saying, A man of God came to me & his [appearance] was like [that] of an Angel of God, [terribly awesome.]

But I [didn’t] ask him [where] he was [from] & he [didn’t tell] me his name. But he said to me, [Look,] you [shall] conceive, & [give birth to] a son; & now [don't] drink [any] wine, nor strong drink, & neither eat any unclean thing, [because] the child shall be a Nazarite to God from [his birth] to the day of his death.

Then, Manoah [asked] the Lord, & said, O my Lord, let the man of God, [who] You [sent,] come again to us & teach us what we [need to] do [for] the child [who] shall be born. And God [listened] to [Manoah’s] voice; & the Angel of the God came again to the woman as she sat in the field, but Manoah, her husband, wasn’t with her.

The woman [hurried,] & ran & [declared to] her husband & said to him, [Look,] the man [has] appeared to me, [who] came the other day. And Manoah arose & went after his wife, & came to the man, & [asked] him, [Are] you the man [who spoke] to the woman?  And he said, I am.

And Manoah said, Now, let your words [happen.] How shall we [raise] the child, & how shall we [treat] him? And the Angel of the Lord said to Manoah, Let the woman beware [to do what] I said to her.

She may not eat [or] drink anything that [comes from] the vine. Neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing. Let her observe, [a.k.a. obey,] all that I commanded her. And Manoah said [to the Angel of the Lord,] I pray [that] you, let us detain you, until we have [prepared] a kid, [a.k.a. goat,] & [get it] ready for you.

And the Angel of the Lord said to Manoah, [Even if] you detain me, I won’t eat of your bread; & if you [make] a burnt offering, you must offer it to the Lord, [because Manoah didn’t know] that he was an Angel of the Lord.

[Then,] Manoah [asked] the Angel of the Lord, What is your name, [so] we may [honor] you, when [these things happen?] And the Angel of the Lord said to him, Why [do you ask] my name, [since] it’s secret? So, Manoah took a kid, [a.k.a. goat,] with a [meat/grain] offering, & offered it upon a rock to the Lord.

And the Angel did wondrously; [as] Manaoh & his wife looked on, for it [happened,] when the flame from the altar, went up toward heaven, the Angel of the Lord [went up] in the flame [from] the altar. And Manoah & his wife [saw] [this, & they] fell on their faces to the ground.

But the Angel of the Lord no [longer appeared] to Manoah & his wife, [but] Manoah knew that he was an Angel of the Lord. And Manoah said to his wife, Surely we shall die, because we have seen God.

But his wife said to [Manoah,] If the Lord [wanted] to kill us, He wouldn’t have received a burnt offering & a [meat/grain] offering [from us,] & neither would He have [shown,] nor told us all these things.

And the woman [gave birth to] a son, & [named him,] Samson. And the child grew, & the Lord blessed him. And the [Holy] Spirit of the Lord began to move [Samson,] at times, in the camp of Dan, between Zorah & Eshtaol.

Judges 12:1-15 Jephthah Judged Israel 6 Years

 

Jephthah Judged Israel 6 Years

Judges 12:1-15    The Book of Judges [in Smaller Chunks]

The men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, & went [North,] & said to Jephthah, [Why did] you [cross] over to fight against the children, [a.k.a. people,] of Ammon, [but didn’t] call us to go with you? We will burn your house [down] with fire upon you.

And Jephthah said to them, My people & I were [in a huge struggle] with the [people] of Ammon; & when I called you, you [didn’t] deliver me out of their hands.

And when I saw that you [didn’t deliver] me, I [risked my own life,] & [crossed] over to [fight] against the [Ammonites;] & the Lord delivered them into my hand. [Why] then [have] you come up, to fight against me this day?

Then, Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead, & fought with Ephraim. And the men of Gilead, [struck down] Ephraim, because they said, You  Gileadites are [the] fugitives of Ephraim, among the Ephraimites & Manassites.

The Gileadites took the passages, [a.k.a. shallow crossing places,] of [the] Jordan [River] [from] the Ephraimites. And it [happened,] when those Ephraimites, [who] escaped said, Let me go over [the river,] the men of Gilead [asked] him, Are you an Ephraimite?

If he said, [No,] then they said to him, Now, say: Shibboleth, [because] [the Ephraimites] couldn’t [pronounce] it [correctly.] Then, they took him & [killed] him at the passages of [the] Jordan [River.]

At that time, they [struck down] 42,000 Ephraimites there. And Jephthah, the Gileadite, judged Israel 6 years, & died & was buried in 1 of the cities of Gilead.

And after [Jephthah,] Ibzan of Bethlehem, judged Israel [for] 7 years & he had 30 sons, & 30 daughters, whom he sent abroad. And [Ibzan] took 30 daughters from abroad for his sons. Then, Ibzan died & was buried [in] Bethlehem.

And after him, Elon, a Zebulonite, judged Israel [for] 10 years. And Elon died, & was buried in Aijalon, in the country of Zebulun.

And after him, Abdon, [Hillel’s] son, a Pirathonite, judged Israel.  He had 40 sons & 30 nephews, [who] rode on 70 [donkey] colts. [Abdon] judged Israel [for] 8 years. And [when] Abdon, [Hillel's] son, the Pirathonite died, [he] was buried in Pirathon, in the land of Ephraim, in the Mount of the Amalekites.