John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight , etc.] Either not being able to lie any longer through the conviction of his conscience for his lewdness, or being warned by a dream, or having an impulse upon his spirit, which suggested to him that wait was laid for him, and the danger he was in; and coming to the gate of the city, which he found shut and fast barred and bolted, and the watch perhaps asleep, not expecting his coming until daylight: and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all ; did not stand to break open the doors of the gate, but took the two side posts up, on which the folding doors of the gate were hung, out of the ground in which they were fastened, with the bar which went across the doors for the security of them: and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron ; if this hill was near Hebron, as the words thus read seem to intimate, he must carry the gates twenty miles upon his shoulders, for so far was Hebron from Gaza; so Josephus says it was over Hebron; but according to Adrichomius f323 , it was near Gaza, looking towards Hebron; and so Sandys says f324 , in the valley, on the east side of the city, are many straggling buildings, beyond which there is a hill more eminent than the rest, on the north side of the way that leads to Babylon, said to be that to which Samson carried the gates of the city. It is very probable, as some think, that it was between Gaza and Hebron, in sight of both cities, which may be meant by the phrase “before”, or “on the face of”; being so high might be seen as far as Hebron, as well as at Gaza. This was an emblem of Christ’s resurrection, of whom Samson was a type, who being encompassed in a sepulchre, and sealed and watched by soldiers, broke through the bars of death and the grave, and carried off the doors in triumph; and in a short time ascended to heaven, whereby he declared himself to be the Son of God with power. It was usual for doors and bars of gates to be carried in triumph, and laid up in temples f325 ; and the Jews say these doors were not less than sixty cubits, and suppose Samson’s shoulders to be as broad f326 .
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-3 - Hitherto Samson's character has appeared glorious, though uncommon. I this chapter we find him behaving in so wicked a manner, that man question whether or not he were a godly man. But the apostle ha determined this, Heb 11:32. By adverting to the doctrines and example of Scripture, the artifices of Satan, the deceitfulness of the huma heart, and the methods in which the Lord frequently deals with his people, we may learn useful lessons from this history, at which some needlessly stumble, while others cavil and object. The peculiar time in which Samson lived may account for many things, which, if done in ou time, and without the special appointment of Heaven, would be highl criminal. And there might have been in him many exercises of piety which, if recorded, would have reflected a different light upon his character. Observe Samson's danger. Oh that all who indulge their sensual appetites in drunkenness, or any fleshly lusts, would se themselves thus surrounded, way-laid, and marked for ruin by their spiritual enemies! The faster they sleep, the more secure they feel the greater their danger. We hope it was with a pious resolution not to return to his sin, that he rose under a fear of the danger he was in Can I be safe under this guilt? It was bad that he lay down withou such checks; but it would have been worse, if he had laid still unde them.
Original Hebrew וישׁכב7901 שׁמשׁון8123 עד5704 חצי2677 הלילה3915 ויקם6965 בחצי2677 הלילה3915 ויאחז270 בדלתות1817 שׁער8179 העיר5892 ובשׁתי8147 המזוזות4201 ויסעם5265 עם5973 הבריח1280 וישׂם7760 על5921 כתפיו3802 ויעלם5927 אל413 ראשׁ7218 ההר2022 אשׁר834 על5921 פני6440 חברון׃2275
