Clarke's Bible Commentary - Judges 15:17
Verse 17. Ramath-lehi.] The lifting up or casting away of the jaw-bone. Lehi was the name of the place before, Ramath was now added to it here; he lifted up the jaw-bone against his enemies, and slew them.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 17. And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking , etc.] Of delivering out the above song, which very probably consisted of much more than what is here expressed: that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand ; which he held in his hand had wrought by him through the means of it, and so served to animate him to praise and thankfulness; but having no further use for it, he threw it away: and called the place Ramathlehi ; that is, the casting away the jawbone, so Kimchi; but Ben Gersom thinks it was an high place where it was thrown, and so signifies the elevation or lifting up of the “jawbone”, as the Septuagint version renders it.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 9-17 - Sin dispirits men, it hides from their eyes the things that belong to their peace. The Israelites blamed Samson for what he had done agains the Philistines, as if he had done them a great injury. Thus our Lor Jesus did many good works, and for those the Jews were ready to ston him. When the Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson, his cords wer loosed: where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty, and thos are free indeed who are thus set free. Thus Christ triumphed over the powers of darkness that shouted against him, as if they had him in their power. Samson made great destruction among the Philistines. To take the bone of an ass for this, was to do wonders by the foolis things of the world, that the excellency of the power might be of God not of man. This victory was not in the weapon, was not in the arm; but it was in the Spirit of God, which moved the weapon by the arm. We can do all things through Him that strengtheneth us. Seest thou a poor Christian, who is enabled to overcome a temptation by weak, feebl counsel, there is the Philistine vanquished by a sorry jaw-bone.
Original Hebrew
ויהי 1961 ככלתו 3615 לדבר 1696 וישׁלך 7993 הלחי 3895 מידו 3027 ויקרא 7121 למקום 4725 ההוא 1931 רמת לחי׃ 7437
