Judges 15:5 - When he had set the torches on fire, he let them go into the standing grain of the Philistines, and burned up both the shocks and the standing grain, and also the olive groves.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Judges 15:5" mean?
This verse describes a destructive act by Samson against the Philistines. Let's break it down:
"When he had set the torches on fire...": Samson devised a plan to use fire as a weapon. He tied torches (likely made of flammable material) to animals.
"...he let them go into the standing grain of the Philistines...": He released these torch-bearing animals into the Philistines' fields of ripe, unharvested grain. "Standing grain" refers to grain crops that are still in the field, ready to be harvested.
"...and burned up both the shocks and the standing grain...": The fire quickly spread through the fields. "Shocks" are bundles of harvested grain stalks that are stood upright in the field to dry before being threshed. So, both the unharvested grain and the already harvested bundles were consumed by the flames.
"...and also the olive groves.": The fire didn't stop at the grain fields; it also spread to the Philistines' olive groves, destroying their olive trees. Olive trees were a valuable source of food and oil, making their destruction a significant economic blow.
In essence, this verse describes Samson enacting a devastating act of arson against the Philistines' agricultural resources. It represents a calculated and widespread destruction of their food supply and economic assets. This was a form of revenge and warfare, intended to inflict significant damage and hardship on the Philistine population.
Contextual Significance:
Revenge: This act was motivated by Samson's personal vendetta against the Philistines, who had wronged him in some way (often related to his relationships with Philistine women).
Warfare: Samson's actions were part of the ongoing conflict between the Israelites and the Philistines. This was a time when individuals like Samson acted as judges and military leaders, fighting to liberate their people from foreign oppression.
Divine Empowerment: The book of Judges portrays Samson as being empowered by the Spirit of the Lord. This suggests that his actions, however extreme, were seen as being divinely sanctioned to some degree, as part of God's plan to deliver Israel. However, it is worth noting that Samson's actions are often morally ambiguous and driven by personal desire, suggesting a complex relationship with divine will.
Economic Impact: Destroying crops and olive groves was a way to weaken the enemy economically, making it harder for them to sustain themselves and wage war.
This verse highlights the brutality of the conflict and the extreme measures that Samson was willing to take to achieve his goals. It also reflects the importance of agriculture in ancient societies and how destroying crops was a common tactic of warfare.
Judges 15:5 - When he had set the torches on fire, he let them go into the standing grain of the Philistines, and burned up both the shocks and the standing grain, and also the olive groves.
What does "Judges 15:5" mean?
This verse describes a destructive act by Samson against the Philistines. Let's break it down:
"When he had set the torches on fire...": Samson devised a plan to use fire as a weapon. He tied torches (likely made of flammable material) to animals.
"...he let them go into the standing grain of the Philistines...": He released these torch-bearing animals into the Philistines' fields of ripe, unharvested grain. "Standing grain" refers to grain crops that are still in the field, ready to be harvested.
"...and burned up both the shocks and the standing grain...": The fire quickly spread through the fields. "Shocks" are bundles of harvested grain stalks that are stood upright in the field to dry before being threshed. So, both the unharvested grain and the already harvested bundles were consumed by the flames.
"...and also the olive groves.": The fire didn't stop at the grain fields; it also spread to the Philistines' olive groves, destroying their olive trees. Olive trees were a valuable source of food and oil, making their destruction a significant economic blow.
In essence, this verse describes Samson enacting a devastating act of arson against the Philistines' agricultural resources. It represents a calculated and widespread destruction of their food supply and economic assets. This was a form of revenge and warfare, intended to inflict significant damage and hardship on the Philistine population.
Contextual Significance:
Revenge: This act was motivated by Samson's personal vendetta against the Philistines, who had wronged him in some way (often related to his relationships with Philistine women).
Warfare: Samson's actions were part of the ongoing conflict between the Israelites and the Philistines. This was a time when individuals like Samson acted as judges and military leaders, fighting to liberate their people from foreign oppression.
Divine Empowerment: The book of Judges portrays Samson as being empowered by the Spirit of the Lord. This suggests that his actions, however extreme, were seen as being divinely sanctioned to some degree, as part of God's plan to deliver Israel. However, it is worth noting that Samson's actions are often morally ambiguous and driven by personal desire, suggesting a complex relationship with divine will.
Economic Impact: Destroying crops and olive groves was a way to weaken the enemy economically, making it harder for them to sustain themselves and wage war.
This verse highlights the brutality of the conflict and the extreme measures that Samson was willing to take to achieve his goals. It also reflects the importance of agriculture in ancient societies and how destroying crops was a common tactic of warfare.