Fastening Torches to the Foxes Tails

Judges 15:1–13
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It is important to note that the wife that Samson asked his parents to get for him apparently continued to live with her parents. He was probably taking her an expectant gift on his periodic visit. However, Samson learned that his bride had been given to another by her father who thought Samson hated her (vv. 1-3). (The same word is used for divorce in Deut. 24:3).                       

Samson was unimpressed with the offer of marriage to her younger sister, and he again took his anger out on the Philistines, this time by burning the grain fields.  He did this by fastening torches to the tied tails of 300 pairs of foxes (vv. 4-5). (The Hebrew word also means jackals which run in packs and are more easily caught).  The fiery destruction was to the dry shocks of grain already harvested and spread to the standing grain yet to be harvested. It also spread to the vineyards and olive groves.  Thus, it destroyed the land’s three main crops. (Deut. 7:13, Hag 1:11). 

When the Philistines found out that Samson caused the destruction, they retaliated by burning his wife and her father to death (v. 6). Because Samson was motivated again by personal revenge, he slaughtered many of the Philistines and then went to a cave (vv. 7-8). The Philistines camped in Judah and when the men of Judah learned about Samson, they sought him with 3000 men to turn him over to the Philistines (vv. 9-12). Samson let them surrender him to the Philistines, and they bound him with 2 new ropes (v. 13).

Application

It is never right when I try to take vengeance into my own hands. I always need to let the Lord fight my battle for me and he always knows what is best.