Wholesale Slaughter with the Jawbone of a donkey
March 29, 2022
Commentary
The cords that bound Samson were snapped and he grabbed a fresh jawbone of a donkey and made a wholesale slaughter of the Philistines (vv. 14-17). A fresh jawbone of a donkey would be heavier and less brittle and thus a more effective weapon than a jawbone that was old and dry. This great victory can be attributed to the Spirit of the Lord. The place where it happened was Ramath Lehi which probably means “the hill of the jawbone.” Thus, the phrase translated I have made donkeys of them is often translated “heaps upon heaps” and interpreted to mean something like, “I have piled them in heaps”.
Samson was thirsty after his effort in the hot and dry climate (vv. 18-19). He was physically and emotionally exhausted. After a great personal victory, his attitude declined quickly into self-pity when he said, “Shall I die of thirst?” He cried to the Lord and God opened the hollow place and water came. This place where Samson’s strength was restored was called “the spring of the caller.” Samson’s leadership over Israel, summarized at this point is also noted in 16:31. The 20 years, mentioned here would cover Samson’s adult life until his death in Gaza (v. 20).
Application
Emotionally, we are most vulnerable after great achievements or when faced by real physical needs and it is easy to have a self-pity party. In this type of circumstances I want to be able to avoid the temptation to feel sorry for myself and to concentrate on keeping my attitude, actions and words focused on God instead of myself.
Judges 15:14– 20 (NET)
14 When he arrived in Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they approached him. But the Lord’s Spirit empowered him. The ropes around his arms were like flax dissolving in fire, and they melted away from his hands. 15 He happened to see a solid jawbone of a donkey. He grabbed it and struck down 1,000 men. 16 Samson then said, “With the jawbone of a donkey I have left them in heaps; with the jawbone of a donkey I have struck down a thousand men!”
17 When he finished speaking, he threw the jawbone down and named that place Ramath Lehi.
18 He was very thirsty, so he cried out to the Lord and said, “You have given your servant this great victory. But now must I die of thirst and fall into the hands of these uncircumcised Philistines?” 19 So God split open the basin at Lehi and water flowed out from it. When he took a drink, his strength was restored and he revived. For this reason he named the spring En Hakkore. It remains in Lehi to this very day. 20 Samson led Israel for twenty years during the days of Philistine prominence.