SEV Biblia, Chapter 16:3
Mas Sansón durmió hasta la medianoche; y a la medianoche se levantó, y tomando las puertas de la ciudad con sus dos pilares y su cerrojo, se las echó al hombro, y se fue, y se subió con ellas a la cumbre del monte que está delante de Hebrón.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Judges 16:3
Verse 3. Took the doors of the gate] Though Samson was a very strong man, yet we do not find that he was a giant; consequently we may conjecture that the gates of the city were not very large, as he took at once the doors, the two posts, and the bar, with him. The cities of those days would appear to disadvantage among modern villages. A hill-before Hebron.] Possibly there were two Hebrons; it could not be the city generally understood by the word Hebron, as that was about twenty miles distant from Gaza: unless we suppose that wrbj ynp l[ al peney Chebron is to be understood of the road leading to Hebron: he carried all to the top of that hill which was on the road leading to Hebron.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 3. And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight , etc.] Either not being able to lie any longer through the conviction of his conscience for his lewdness, or being warned by a dream, or having an impulse upon his spirit, which suggested to him that wait was laid for him, and the danger he was in; and coming to the gate of the city, which he found shut and fast barred and bolted, and the watch perhaps asleep, not expecting his coming until daylight: and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all ; did not stand to break open the doors of the gate, but took the two side posts up, on which the folding doors of the gate were hung, out of the ground in which they were fastened, with the bar which went across the doors for the security of them: and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron ; if this hill was near Hebron, as the words thus read seem to intimate, he must carry the gates twenty miles upon his shoulders, for so far was Hebron from Gaza; so Josephus says it was over Hebron; but according to Adrichomius f323 , it was near Gaza, looking towards Hebron; and so Sandys says f324 , in the valley, on the east side of the city, are many straggling buildings, beyond which there is a hill more eminent than the rest, on the north side of the way that leads to Babylon, said to be that to which Samson carried the gates of the city. It is very probable, as some think, that it was between Gaza and Hebron, in sight of both cities, which may be meant by the phrase “before”, or “on the face of”; being so high might be seen as far as Hebron, as well as at Gaza. This was an emblem of Christ’s resurrection, of whom Samson was a type, who being encompassed in a sepulchre, and sealed and watched by soldiers, broke through the bars of death and the grave, and carried off the doors in triumph; and in a short time ascended to heaven, whereby he declared himself to be the Son of God with power. It was usual for doors and bars of gates to be carried in triumph, and laid up in temples f325 ; and the Jews say these doors were not less than sixty cubits, and suppose Samson’s shoulders to be as broad f326 .
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-3 - Hitherto Samson's character has appeared glorious, though uncommon. I this chapter we find him behaving in so wicked a manner, that man question whether or not he were a godly man. But the apostle ha determined this, Heb 11:32. By adverting to the doctrines and example of Scripture, the artifices of Satan, the deceitfulness of the huma heart, and the methods in which the Lord frequently deals with his people, we may learn useful lessons from this history, at which some needlessly stumble, while others cavil and object. The peculiar time in which Samson lived may account for many things, which, if done in ou time, and without the special appointment of Heaven, would be highl criminal. And there might have been in him many exercises of piety which, if recorded, would have reflected a different light upon his character. Observe Samson's danger. Oh that all who indulge their sensual appetites in drunkenness, or any fleshly lusts, would se themselves thus surrounded, way-laid, and marked for ruin by their spiritual enemies! The faster they sleep, the more secure they feel the greater their danger. We hope it was with a pious resolution not to return to his sin, that he rose under a fear of the danger he was in Can I be safe under this guilt? It was bad that he lay down withou such checks; but it would have been worse, if he had laid still unde them.
Original Hebrew
וישׁכב 7901 שׁמשׁון 8123 עד 5704 חצי 2677 הלילה 3915 ויקם 6965 בחצי 2677 הלילה 3915 ויאחז 270 בדלתות 1817 שׁער 8179 העיר 5892 ובשׁתי 8147 המזוזות 4201 ויסעם 5265 עם 5973 הבריח 1280 וישׂם 7760 על 5921 כתפיו 3802 ויעלם 5927 אל 413 ראשׁ 7218 ההר 2022 אשׁר 834 על 5921 פני 6440 חברון׃ 2275
