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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Judges 15:20 And Samson judged Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/judges/15-20.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/2/07_Jdg_15_20.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Judges 15:20 - Samson's Revenge" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="And Samson judged Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines." /><script type="application/javascript" 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id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/judges/15-20.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/judges/">Judges</a> > <a href="/judges/15.htm">Chapter 15</a> > Verse 20</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad20.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/judges/15-19.htm" title="Judges 15:19">◄</a> Judges 15:20 <a href="/judges/16-1.htm" title="Judges 16:1">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/judges/15.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/judges/15.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Samson led Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/judges/15.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Samson judged Israel for twenty years during the period when the Philistines dominated the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/judges/15.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/judges/15.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />And Samson judged Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/judges/15.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/judges/15.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And he judged Israel twenty years in the days of the Philistines.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/judges/15.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />So he judged Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/judges/15.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />So he judged Israel twenty years in the days of the Philistines.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/judges/15.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />So he judged Israel twenty years in the days of the Philistines.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/judges/15.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And he judged Israel twenty years in the days of the Philistines.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/judges/15.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />And Samson judged Israel in the days of [occupation by] the Philistines for twenty years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/judges/15.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />And he judged Israel twenty years in the days of the Philistines.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/judges/15.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />And he judged Israel 20 years in the days of the Philistines. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/judges/15.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/judges/15.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Samson was a leader of Israel for 20 years, but the Philistines were still the rulers of Israel. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/judges/15.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/judges/15.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Samson judged Israel for 20 years during the time of the Philistines.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/judges/15.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Samson led Israel for twenty years while the Philistines ruled the land. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/judges/15.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Samson governed Israel for twenty years during the Philistine domination.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/judges/15.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />And Samson judged Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/judges/15.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Samson led Israel for twenty years during the days of Philistine prominence. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/judges/15.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />He judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/judges/15.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And he judged Israel, in the days of the Philistines, twenty years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/judges/15.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />He judged Israel twenty years in the days of the Philistines. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/judges/15.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And he judges Israel in the days of the Philistines [for] twenty years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/judges/15.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And he judgeth Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/judges/15.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And he will judge Israel in the days of Philisteim twenty years.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/judges/15.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/judges/15.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And he judged Israel, in the days of the Philistines, for twenty years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/judges/15.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Samson judged Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/judges/15.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/judges/15.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And he judged Israel twenty years in the days of the Philistines.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/judges/15.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years <div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/judges/15.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/judges/15.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/judges/15-20.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AjzBiIYY2Dc?start=4677" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/judges/15.htm">Samson's Revenge</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">19</span>So God opened up the hollow place in Lehi, and water came out of it. When Samson drank, his strength returned, and he was revived. That is why he named it En-hakkore, and it remains in Lehi to this day. <span class="reftext">20</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/8199.htm" title="8199: way·yiš·pōṭ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To judge, govern. ">And Samson judged</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: yiś·rā·’êl (N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity.">Israel</a> <a href="/hebrew/6242.htm" title="6242: ‘eś·rîm (Number-cp) -- Twenty. From eser; twenty; also twentieth.">for twenty</a> <a href="/hebrew/8141.htm" title="8141: šā·nāh (N-fs) -- A year. (in plura or shanah; from shanah; a year.">years</a> <a href="/hebrew/3117.htm" title="3117: bî·mê (Prep-b:: N-mpc) -- Day. From an unused root meaning to be hot; a day, whether literal, or figurative.">in the days</a> <a href="/hebrew/6430.htm" title="6430: p̄ə·liš·tîm (N-proper-mp) -- Inhab. of Philistia. Patrial from Plesheth; a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth.">of the Philistines.</a> </span><div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/16-31.htm">Judges 16:31</a></span><br />Then Samson’s brothers and his father’s family came down, carried him back, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of his father Manoah. And he had judged Israel twenty years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/2-16.htm">Judges 2:16-18</a></span><br />Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them from the hands of those who plundered them. / Israel, however, did not listen to their judges. Instead, they prostituted themselves with other gods and bowed down to them. They quickly turned from the way of their fathers, who had walked in obedience to the LORD’s commandments; they did not do as their fathers had done. / Whenever the LORD raised up a judge for the Israelites, He was with that judge and saved them from the hands of their enemies while the judge was still alive; for the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning under those who oppressed them and afflicted them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/7-15.htm">1 Samuel 7:15-17</a></span><br />So Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. / Every year he would go on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all these places. / Then he would return to Ramah because his home was there, and there he judged Israel and built an altar to the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/3-9.htm">Judges 3:9-11</a></span><br />But when the Israelites cried out to the LORD, He raised up Othniel son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz as a deliverer to save them. / The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he became Israel’s judge and went out to war. And the LORD delivered Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram into the hand of Othniel, who prevailed against him. / So the land had rest for forty years, until Othniel son of Kenaz died.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/3-15.htm">Judges 3:15-30</a></span><br />And again they cried out to the LORD, and He raised up Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed Benjamite, as their deliverer. So they sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab. / Now Ehud had made for himself a double-edged sword a cubit long. He strapped it to his right thigh under his cloak / and brought the tribute to Eglon king of Moab, who was an obese man. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/4-4.htm">Judges 4:4-5</a></span><br />Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. / And she would sit under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, where the Israelites would go up to her for judgment.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/6-11.htm">Judges 6:11-14</a></span><br />Then the angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites. / And the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon and said, “The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.” / “Please, my Lord,” Gideon replied, “if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all His wonders of which our fathers told us, saying, ‘Has not the LORD brought us up out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has forsaken us and delivered us into the hand of Midian.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/11-29.htm">Judges 11:29-33</a></span><br />Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh, then through Mizpah of Gilead. And from there he advanced against the Ammonites. / Jephthah made this vow to the LORD: “If indeed You will deliver the Ammonites into my hand, / then whatever comes out the door of my house to greet me on my triumphant return from the Ammonites will belong to the LORD, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/12-11.htm">1 Samuel 12:11</a></span><br />So the LORD sent Jerubbaal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel, and He delivered you from the hands of your enemies on every side, and you dwelt securely.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/11-32.htm">Hebrews 11:32</a></span><br />And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/4-18.htm">1 Samuel 4:18</a></span><br />As soon as the ark of God was mentioned, Eli fell backward from his chair by the city gate, and being old and heavy, he broke his neck and died. And Eli had judged Israel forty years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/12-9.htm">1 Samuel 12:9-11</a></span><br />But they forgot the LORD their God, and He sold them into the hand of Sisera the commander of the army of Hazor, and into the hands of the Philistines and the king of Moab, who fought against them. / Then they cried out to the LORD and said, ‘We have sinned, for we have forsaken the LORD and served the Baals and Ashtoreths. Now deliver us from the hands of our enemies, that we may serve You.’ / So the LORD sent Jerubbaal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel, and He delivered you from the hands of your enemies on every side, and you dwelt securely.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/3-20.htm">1 Samuel 3:20</a></span><br />So all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/8-1.htm">1 Samuel 8:1-3</a></span><br />When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel. / The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba. / But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/10-1.htm">1 Samuel 10:1</a></span><br />Then Samuel took a flask of oil, poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “Has not the LORD anointed you ruler over His inheritance?</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/judges/13-1.htm">Judges 13:1,5</a></b></br> And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/judges/16-31.htm">Judges 16:31</a></b></br> Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought <i>him</i> up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the buryingplace of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/judges/14-4.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/judges/12-14.htm">Judge</a> <a href="/judges/12-14.htm">Judged</a> <a href="/judges/12-14.htm">Judgeth</a> <a href="/judges/15-13.htm">Led</a> <a href="/judges/15-14.htm">Philistines</a> <a href="/judges/15-19.htm">Samson</a> <a href="/judges/11-33.htm">Twenty</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/judges/16-31.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/1_samuel/2-10.htm">Judge</a> <a href="/judges/16-31.htm">Judged</a> <a href="/1_samuel/2-10.htm">Judgeth</a> <a href="/1_samuel/18-13.htm">Led</a> <a href="/judges/16-5.htm">Philistines</a> <a href="/judges/16-1.htm">Samson</a> <a href="/judges/16-31.htm">Twenty</a><div class="vheading2">Judges 15</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/15-1.htm">Samson is denied his wife</a></span><br><span class="reftext">3. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/15-3.htm">He burns the Philistines' corn with foxes and firebrands</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/15-6.htm">His wife and her father are burnt by the Philistines</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/15-8.htm">Samson smites them hip and thigh</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/15-9.htm">He is bound by the men of Judah, and delivered to the Philistines</a></span><br><span class="reftext">14. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/15-14.htm">He kills them with a jawbone</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/judges/15-18.htm">God makes the fountain En-hakkore for him in Lehi</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/judges/15.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/judges/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/judges/15.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>And Samson judged Israel</b><br>Samson's role as a judge was unique compared to other judges in the Book of Judges. Unlike others who led military campaigns, Samson's leadership was more personal and individualistic. His judgeship was marked by his extraordinary physical strength, which was a gift from God, and his Nazirite vow, which set him apart for divine purposes. The role of a judge in Israel was not only to lead in battle but also to provide guidance and deliverance from oppression. Samson's life, however, was a mix of personal failings and divine empowerment, reflecting the complex relationship between God and His chosen leaders.<p><b>for twenty years</b><br>The twenty-year period of Samson's judgeship is significant as it represents a substantial time of leadership during the era of the judges, which was characterized by cycles of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. This period suggests that despite his personal flaws, Samson was able to provide a measure of stability and resistance against the Philistines. The number twenty in biblical terms can symbolize a period of waiting or completeness, indicating that Samson's judgeship fulfilled a specific purpose in God's plan for Israel.<p><b>in the days of the Philistines.</b><br>The Philistines were a dominant force in the region during this time, often oppressing the Israelites. They were a seafaring people who settled along the coastal regions of Canaan and were known for their advanced iron technology, which gave them a military advantage. The phrase "in the days of the Philistines" highlights the context of oppression under which Samson operated. This period was marked by frequent conflicts between the Israelites and the Philistines, setting the stage for Samson's acts of defiance against them. The Philistine oppression is a recurring theme in the narrative of Judges, illustrating the consequences of Israel's disobedience to God and their need for deliverance.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/s/samson.htm">Samson</a></b><br>A judge of Israel known for his extraordinary strength, which was a gift from God. His life was marked by personal struggles and conflicts with the Philistines.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israel.htm">Israel</a></b><br>The nation chosen by God, often in conflict with surrounding nations, including the Philistines during Samson's time.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/p/philistines.htm">Philistines</a></b><br>A significant enemy of Israel during the period of the Judges. They oppressed Israel, and Samson's role as a judge involved delivering Israel from their domination.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/j/judges.htm">Judges</a></b><br>Leaders raised by God to deliver Israel from oppression and lead them in times of crisis. Samson was one of these judges.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/twenty_years.htm">Twenty Years</a></b><br>The period during which Samson served as a judge over Israel, indicating a significant duration of leadership and influence.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_leadership.htm">God's Sovereignty in Leadership</a></b><br>Despite Samson's personal flaws, God used him to fulfill His purposes for Israel. This reminds us that God can work through imperfect people to achieve His plans.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_faithfulness.htm">The Importance of Faithfulness</a></b><br>Samson's life illustrates the consequences of personal failings and the importance of remaining faithful to God's calling.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_judges_as_deliverers.htm">The Role of Judges as Deliverers</a></b><br>Judges like Samson were raised to deliver Israel from oppression, pointing to the ultimate deliverance found in Christ.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_impact_of_leadership.htm">The Impact of Leadership</a></b><br>Samson's twenty-year judgeship had a lasting impact on Israel. Our leadership and influence can have long-term effects on those around us.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_grace_and_redemption.htm">God's Grace and Redemption</a></b><br>Despite his failures, Samson is remembered for his faith. This highlights God's grace and the possibility of redemption for all who turn to Him.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_judges_15.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Judges 15</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what's_the_meaning_of_samson_and_delilah.htm">What is the meaning of Samson and Delilah's story?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/do_judges_15's_supernatural_events_align.htm">How do these supernatural elements in Judges 15 align or conflict with other biblical passages or historical sources describing similar events?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_did_26,000_benjamites_resist_israel.htm">Judges 20:15 - How could only 26,000 men from Benjamin withstand the combined forces of Israel for so long, given the massive numerical imbalance?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_could_one_kill_800_men_at_once.htm">(2 Samuel 23:8) How could one warrior realistically kill eight hundred men at one time?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/judges/15.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(20) <span class= "bld">And he judged Israel.</span>--Probably, as Jephthah had done, with the sort of vague prerogatives of a military hero. Why the verse is found here, as though to close the narrative (comp. <a href="/judges/12-7.htm" title="And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died Jephthah the Gileadite, and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.">Judges 12:7</a>, &c.), and is again repeated in <a href="/judges/16-31.htm" title="Then his brothers and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the burial plot of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.">Judges 16:31</a>, we cannot say. The next chapter belongs mainly to Samson's fall and humiliation. These twenty years probably fell within the contemporary judgeship of Eli.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/judges/15.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 20.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And he judged Israel</span>, etc. See ch. 16:81. It looks as if it had been the intention to close the history of Samson with these Words, but that ch. 16. was subsequently added, possibly from other sources. Compare the close of chs. 20. and 21. of the Gospel of St. John. A possible explanation, however, of this verse being placed here is that it results from the statement in ver. 19, that Samson's spirit came again, and he revived, or came to life again, after being on the very point of death; and, adds the writer, he judged Israel after this for twenty years. <p> <p> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/judges/15-20.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">And [Samson] judged</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּשְׁפֹּ֧ט</span> <span class="translit">(way·yiš·pōṭ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8199.htm">Strong's 8199: </a> </span><span class="str2">To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Israel</span><br /><span class="heb">יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל</span> <span class="translit">(yiś·rā·’êl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3478.htm">Strong's 3478: </a> </span><span class="str2">Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc</span><br /><br /><span class="word">for twenty</span><br /><span class="heb">עֶשְׂרִ֥ים</span> <span class="translit">(‘eś·rîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6242.htm">Strong's 6242: </a> </span><span class="str2">Twenty, twentieth</span><br /><br /><span class="word">years</span><br /><span class="heb">שָׁנָֽה׃</span> <span class="translit">(šā·nāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8141.htm">Strong's 8141: </a> </span><span class="str2">A year</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in the days</span><br /><span class="heb">בִּימֵ֥י</span> <span class="translit">(bî·mê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3117.htm">Strong's 3117: </a> </span><span class="str2">A day</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the Philistines.</span><br /><span class="heb">פְלִשְׁתִּ֖ים</span> <span class="translit">(p̄ə·liš·tîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6430.htm">Strong's 6430: </a> </span><span class="str2">Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/judges/15-20.htm">Judges 15:20 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/judges/15-20.htm">Judges 15:20 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/judges/15-20.htm">Judges 15:20 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/judges/15-20.htm">Judges 15:20 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/judges/15-20.htm">Judges 15:20 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/judges/15-20.htm">Judges 15:20 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/judges/15-20.htm">Judges 15:20 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/judges/15-20.htm">Judges 15:20 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/judges/15-20.htm">Judges 15:20 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/judges/15-20.htm">Judges 15:20 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/judges/15-20.htm">OT History: Judges 15:20 He judged Israel in the days (Jd Judg. Jdg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/judges/15-19.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Judges 15:19"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Judges 15:19" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/judges/16-1.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Judges 16:1"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Judges 16:1" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>