Judges 16:25 - When their hearts were merry, they said, “Call for Samson, that he may entertain us.” They called for Samson out of the prison; and he performed before them. They set him between the pillars;
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What does "Judges 16:25" mean?
This verse describes a pivotal moment in the story of Samson, the Israelite judge known for his incredible strength. Let's break down the meaning:
"When their hearts were merry...": The Philistines, Samson's enemies, were celebrating a great victory, likely a religious feast or festival to their god Dagon. Their capture of Samson was a major source of joy and pride for them. "Merry" implies they were drunk and in a celebratory mood.
"...they said, 'Call for Samson, that he may entertain us.'": In their drunken revelry, the Philistines wanted to humiliate Samson. The word "entertain" here suggests that they intended to mock and abuse him, using him as a spectacle for their amusement. He was reduced to a source of cheap entertainment for his captors.
"They called for Samson out of the prison; and he performed before them.": Samson was brought from his prison cell, where he had been blinded and forced to grind grain like an animal. He was likely forced to perform demeaning acts, to dance, sing, or otherwise be a figure of ridicule.
"They set him between the pillars;": This is the key setup for the climax of the story. The Philistine leaders and a massive crowd were gathered in a temple of Dagon. By placing Samson between the two central pillars that supported the building, they were positioning him for his final act of revenge. He was likely chained or otherwise restrained between them.
In Summary:
This verse depicts the Philistines at their most arrogant and cruel. They are reveling in their victory over Samson and using him as a source of humiliating entertainment. This sets the stage for Samson's final, desperate act of faith and vengeance, where he uses his restored strength (granted by God after he prayed) to bring down the temple and kill himself along with thousands of Philistines. The placement between the pillars is not accidental; it's a deliberate act that enables his plan.
The verse highlights themes of:
Humiliation and Degradation: Samson's fall from a powerful judge to a humiliated prisoner.
Cruelty and Oppression: The Philistines' enjoyment of Samson's suffering.
Setting the Stage for Revenge: The events described directly lead to Samson's final act of destruction.
Divine Providence: The eventual restoring of Samson's strength in response to his prayer.
Judges 16:25 - When their hearts were merry, they said, “Call for Samson, that he may entertain us.” They called for Samson out of the prison; and he performed before them. They set him between the pillars;
What does "Judges 16:25" mean?
This verse describes a pivotal moment in the story of Samson, the Israelite judge known for his incredible strength. Let's break down the meaning:
"When their hearts were merry...": The Philistines, Samson's enemies, were celebrating a great victory, likely a religious feast or festival to their god Dagon. Their capture of Samson was a major source of joy and pride for them. "Merry" implies they were drunk and in a celebratory mood.
"...they said, 'Call for Samson, that he may entertain us.'": In their drunken revelry, the Philistines wanted to humiliate Samson. The word "entertain" here suggests that they intended to mock and abuse him, using him as a spectacle for their amusement. He was reduced to a source of cheap entertainment for his captors.
"They called for Samson out of the prison; and he performed before them.": Samson was brought from his prison cell, where he had been blinded and forced to grind grain like an animal. He was likely forced to perform demeaning acts, to dance, sing, or otherwise be a figure of ridicule.
"They set him between the pillars;": This is the key setup for the climax of the story. The Philistine leaders and a massive crowd were gathered in a temple of Dagon. By placing Samson between the two central pillars that supported the building, they were positioning him for his final act of revenge. He was likely chained or otherwise restrained between them.
In Summary:
This verse depicts the Philistines at their most arrogant and cruel. They are reveling in their victory over Samson and using him as a source of humiliating entertainment. This sets the stage for Samson's final, desperate act of faith and vengeance, where he uses his restored strength (granted by God after he prayed) to bring down the temple and kill himself along with thousands of Philistines. The placement between the pillars is not accidental; it's a deliberate act that enables his plan.
The verse highlights themes of:
Humiliation and Degradation: Samson's fall from a powerful judge to a humiliated prisoner.
Cruelty and Oppression: The Philistines' enjoyment of Samson's suffering.
Setting the Stage for Revenge: The events described directly lead to Samson's final act of destruction.
Divine Providence: The eventual restoring of Samson's strength in response to his prayer.