Judg 16:3-4 | Clarke | e4.org | 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 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.

‏ Judges 16:3-4

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 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.

Verse 4. He loved a woman in the valley of Sorek] Some think Samson took this woman for his wife; others, that he had her as a concubine. It appears she was a Philistine; and however strong his love was for her, she seems to have had none for him. He always matched improperly, and he was cursed in all his matches. Where the valley or brook of Sorek was, is not easy to be ascertained. Eusebius and Jerome say it lay southward of Eleutheropolis; but where was Eleutheropolis? Ancient writers take all their measurements from this city; but as it is nowhere mentioned in the Scriptures, it is impossible to fix its situation for we know not its ancient name.