Judges 15:18 - He was very thirsty, and called on Yahweh, and said, “You have given this great deliverance by the hand of your servant; and now shall I die of thirst, and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?”
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What does "Judges 15:18" mean?
Judges 15:18 describes a moment of crisis for Samson after a major victory against the Philistines. Let's break down the verse:
"He was very thirsty...": Samson has just killed a thousand Philistines (Judges 15:15). This would have been an incredibly strenuous physical feat, leaving him utterly exhausted and, crucially, dehydrated.
"...and called on Yahweh...": Samson recognizes that his strength comes from God. In his distress, he turns to God in prayer. This highlights a recognition of his dependence on a higher power, even amidst his superhuman abilities.
"...and said, 'You have given this great deliverance by the hand of your servant...' ": Samson acknowledges that his victory over the Philistines was a gift from God. He attributes the "deliverance" (rescue, victory) not to his own strength alone, but to God's power working through him ("by the hand of your servant"). This is a moment of humility and recognition of divine intervention.
"...and now shall I die of thirst, and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?' ": This is the core of Samson's complaint. He is experiencing the irony of being victorious but potentially dying a humiliating death from thirst. He argues that it would be absurd for God to grant him a great victory only to let him perish of thirst and potentially be captured by the Philistines ("uncircumcised").
The phrase "uncircumcised" is significant. It was a derogatory term the Israelites used for non-Israelites, particularly the Philistines. To be captured by them would be a great indignity and a potential mockery of God's power. Dying of thirst could be seen as a greater defeat than falling in the hands of the Philistines.
In summary, the verse portrays:
Human limitation after divine enablement: Despite being extraordinarily strong through God's power, Samson is still susceptible to basic human needs like thirst.
A desperate plea: Samson feels abandoned by God after accomplishing a divinely ordained task. It shows the humanness of the biblical figures, who wrestle with their faith.
A challenge to God: Samson's words carry an implicit challenge. He questions whether God would allow such a trivial thing like thirst to undo a victory he orchestrated. The verse implies that the Lord won't abandon him.
The precariousness of victory: The verse highlights that victory can be fleeting. Despite his recent triumph, Samson is on the verge of a potentially fatal and humiliating defeat.
Ultimately, this verse reveals Samson's dependence on God, the tension between divine power and human weakness, and the vulnerability even the strongest of people can face. It shows a very human moment of need and doubt in the life of a powerful figure. The fact that he calls upon God shows that Samson has some faith, and recognizes that God's power is at least in part responsible for his victory.
Judges 15:18 - He was very thirsty, and called on Yahweh, and said, “You have given this great deliverance by the hand of your servant; and now shall I die of thirst, and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?”
What does "Judges 15:18" mean?
Judges 15:18 describes a moment of crisis for Samson after a major victory against the Philistines. Let's break down the verse:
"He was very thirsty...": Samson has just killed a thousand Philistines (Judges 15:15). This would have been an incredibly strenuous physical feat, leaving him utterly exhausted and, crucially, dehydrated.
"...and called on Yahweh...": Samson recognizes that his strength comes from God. In his distress, he turns to God in prayer. This highlights a recognition of his dependence on a higher power, even amidst his superhuman abilities.
"...and said, 'You have given this great deliverance by the hand of your servant...' ": Samson acknowledges that his victory over the Philistines was a gift from God. He attributes the "deliverance" (rescue, victory) not to his own strength alone, but to God's power working through him ("by the hand of your servant"). This is a moment of humility and recognition of divine intervention.
"...and now shall I die of thirst, and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?' ": This is the core of Samson's complaint. He is experiencing the irony of being victorious but potentially dying a humiliating death from thirst. He argues that it would be absurd for God to grant him a great victory only to let him perish of thirst and potentially be captured by the Philistines ("uncircumcised").
The phrase "uncircumcised" is significant. It was a derogatory term the Israelites used for non-Israelites, particularly the Philistines. To be captured by them would be a great indignity and a potential mockery of God's power. Dying of thirst could be seen as a greater defeat than falling in the hands of the Philistines.
In summary, the verse portrays:
Human limitation after divine enablement: Despite being extraordinarily strong through God's power, Samson is still susceptible to basic human needs like thirst.
A desperate plea: Samson feels abandoned by God after accomplishing a divinely ordained task. It shows the humanness of the biblical figures, who wrestle with their faith.
A challenge to God: Samson's words carry an implicit challenge. He questions whether God would allow such a trivial thing like thirst to undo a victory he orchestrated. The verse implies that the Lord won't abandon him.
The precariousness of victory: The verse highlights that victory can be fleeting. Despite his recent triumph, Samson is on the verge of a potentially fatal and humiliating defeat.
Ultimately, this verse reveals Samson's dependence on God, the tension between divine power and human weakness, and the vulnerability even the strongest of people can face. It shows a very human moment of need and doubt in the life of a powerful figure. The fact that he calls upon God shows that Samson has some faith, and recognizes that God's power is at least in part responsible for his victory.