◄ Judges 16:1 ►
One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute and went in to spend the night with her.
Study Bible
One day
The phrase "One day" suggests a specific moment in time, indicating a transition in the narrative. It serves as a reminder that the events of Samson's life are part of a larger divine timeline. In the Hebrew context, this phrase can denote a significant turning point, emphasizing the unfolding of God's plan despite human actions.

Samson
Samson, a judge of Israel, is a complex figure known for his extraordinary strength and flawed character. His name in Hebrew, "Shimshon," is derived from "shemesh," meaning "sun," symbolizing brightness and strength. Samson's life is a testament to the potential and pitfalls of divine gifting, illustrating how God can use imperfect individuals to fulfill His purposes.

went to Gaza
Gaza was one of the five Philistine cities, representing the heart of Israel's enemies. Archaeologically, Gaza was a significant city with strong fortifications. Samson's journey to Gaza signifies a deliberate move into enemy territory, highlighting his boldness but also his vulnerability to temptation and danger.

where he saw a prostitute
The act of seeing a prostitute indicates a moment of moral and spiritual weakness. In the Hebrew text, the word for "saw" can imply not just physical sight but also desire and intent. This encounter reflects Samson's recurring struggle with lust, a theme that underscores the tension between his divine calling and human frailty.

and went in to spend the night with her
This phrase reveals Samson's decision to engage in sin, illustrating the consequences of yielding to temptation. The Hebrew verb for "went in" often implies intimacy, marking a departure from his Nazirite vow. This action foreshadows the ensuing conflict and serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of compromising one's spiritual commitments.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Samson
A judge of Israel known for his extraordinary strength, which was a gift from God tied to his Nazirite vow. His life is marked by personal weaknesses and lapses in judgment.

2. Gaza
A Philistine city, one of the five major cities of the Philistines, who were enemies of Israel. It represents a place of temptation and danger for Samson.

3. The Prostitute
An unnamed woman in Gaza with whom Samson spends the night. This encounter highlights Samson's recurring struggle with lust and his tendency to disregard his Nazirite vow.
Teaching Points
The Danger of Compromise
Samson's visit to Gaza and his actions there demonstrate the danger of compromising one's values and commitments. As believers, we must be vigilant in maintaining our spiritual integrity.

The Consequences of Sin
Samson's life illustrates that sin, especially habitual sin, can lead to destructive consequences. We must be aware of the long-term impact of our choices.

God's Grace and Redemption
Despite Samson's failures, God still used him to fulfill His purposes. This reminds us that God's grace is available, and He can redeem our mistakes for His glory.

The Importance of Accountability
Samson often acted alone, which contributed to his downfalls. Having accountability partners can help us stay on the right path and avoid similar pitfalls.

Guarding Against Temptation
Samson's account is a cautionary tale about the need to guard our hearts and minds against temptation. We must be proactive in setting boundaries and seeking God's strength to resist.
Bible Study Questions
1. What can we learn from Samson's decision to go to Gaza, and how can we apply this lesson to our own lives when facing temptation?

2. How does Samson's encounter with the prostitute in Gaza reflect his spiritual state, and what steps can we take to ensure our spiritual health?

3. In what ways does the account of Samson challenge us to consider the consequences of our actions, particularly in areas where we may be compromising?

4. How can we apply the teachings of 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 to our lives in light of Samson's account, and what practical steps can we take to flee from sexual immorality?

5. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's grace and redemption after a failure. How does Samson's account encourage you to trust in God's ability to use your life for His purposes despite past mistakes?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Judges 14-15
These chapters provide context for Samson's life and his previous encounters with the Philistines, showcasing his strength and his weaknesses.

Proverbs 6:32
This verse warns against adultery and the lack of sense in engaging in such acts, which can be related to Samson's actions in Gaza.

1 Corinthians 6:18-20
Paul’s teaching on fleeing sexual immorality can be connected to Samson's failure to resist temptation.
Sermons
God Redeeming the Error of His ServantA.F. Muir Judges 16:1-3
A Grist from the Prison Mill of Gaza. A. Scott, D. D.Judges 16:1-31
As At Other TimesJ. Durran.Judges 16:1-31
Blessed and Tragic UnconsciousnessA. MaclarenJudges 16:1-31
How not to PrayJ. Parker, D. D.Judges 16:1-31
Ignominious TasksR. A. Watson, M. A.Judges 16:1-31
Individulalism in Religion R. Balgarnie, D. D.Judges 16:1-31
Lessons from the Life of SamsonAbp. Wm. Alexander.Judges 16:1-31
Loss of StrengthW. M. Taylor, D. D.Judges 16:1-31
Lost Grace UnrealisedR. Rogers.Judges 16:1-31
Man's Cannot and Man's Can: a New Year's AddressHomilistJudges 16:1-31
Man's Power for God's WorkHomilistJudges 16:1-31
Moral StrengthJoseph Ritson.Judges 16:1-31
Our ChampionJudges 16:1-31
Pleasure and Peril in GazaR. A. Watson, M. A.Judges 16:1-31
Samson ConqueredSpurgeon, Charles HaddonJudges 16:1-31
Samson Shorn of His StrengthThe Preacher's MonthlyJudges 16:1-31
Samson, the Jewish HerculesHomilistJudges 16:1-31
Shaven and Shorn, But not Beyond HopeSpurgeon, Charles HaddonJudges 16:1-31
Strength LostH. J. Bevis.Judges 16:1-31
Strength Lost and RestoredH. J. Bevis.Judges 16:1-31
The Death of SamsonG. M. Boynton.Judges 16:1-31
The Evil of Knowing EvilJ. C. Coghlan, D. D.Judges 16:1-31
The Fall and Rise of a Great ManHomilistJudges 16:1-31
The Giant's LocksT. De Witt Talmage.Judges 16:1-31
The Gradual and Subtle Advance of SinBp. Boyd Carpenter.Judges 16:1-31
The Influence of Amusements on Character and DestinyT. De Witt Talmage.Judges 16:1-31
The Man Who has Trifled Once Too OftenDean Vaughan.Judges 16:1-31
The Secret of Samson's StrengthJ. Clifford, D. D.Judges 16:1-31
The Victim and the VictorE. P. Hood.Judges 16:1-31
The Weakness of StrengthG. Elliott.Judges 16:1-31
The Withdrawal of Divine InfluencesJ. Williamson.Judges 16:1-31
People
Dagon, Delilah, Gazathites, Gazites, Manoah, Samson
Places
Eshtaol, Gaza, Hebron, Valley of Sorek, Zorah
Topics
Gaza, Harlot, Loose, Prostitute, Samson, Spend
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Judges 16:1

     6189   immorality, examples
     6241   seduction
     8410   decision-making, examples

Judges 16:1-2

     6239   prostitution

Judges 16:1-22

     5155   hair

Library
Strength Profaned and Lost
'But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison-house. 22, Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven. 23. Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand. 24. And when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they said, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Samson Conquered
Now, why have I narrated this story? Why should I direct your attention to Samson? For this reason. Every child of God is a consecrated man. His consecration is not typified by any outward symbol; we are not commanded to let our hair grow for ever, nor to abstain from meats or drinks. The Christian is a consecrated man, but his consecration is unseen by his fellows, except in the outward deeds which are the result thereof. And now I want to speak to you, my dear friends, as consecrated men, as Nazarites, …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 4: 1858

Whether it is Lawful to Kill Oneself?
Objection 1: It would seem lawful for a man to kill himself. For murder is a sin in so far as it is contrary to justice. But no man can do an injustice to himself, as is proved in Ethic. v, 11. Therefore no man sins by killing himself. Objection 2: Further, it is lawful, for one who exercises public authority, to kill evil-doers. Now he who exercises public authority is sometimes an evil-doer. Therefore he may lawfully kill himself. Objection 3: Further, it is lawful for a man to suffer spontaneously …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Christian Ballads.
Echoes of Hebrew thought, if not Hebrew psalmody, may have made their way into the more serious pagan literature. At least in the more enlightened pagans there has ever revealed itself more or less the instinct of the human soul that "feels after" God. St. Paul in his address to the Athenians made a tactful as well as scholarly point to preface a missionary sermon when he cited a line from a poem of Aratus (B.C. 272) familiar, doubtless, to the majority of his hearers. Dr. Lyman Abbot has thus translated …
Theron Brown—The Story of the Hymns and Tunes

Blessed and Tragic Unconsciousness
'... Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him.'--EXODUS xxxiv. 29. '... And Samson wist not that the Lord had departed from him.'--JUDGES xvi. 20. The recurrence of the same phrase in two such opposite connections is very striking. Moses, fresh from the mountain of vision, where he had gazed on as much of the glory of God as was accessible to man, caught some gleam of the light which he adoringly beheld; and a strange radiance sat on his face, unseen by himself, but …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Here, by Way of Objection, Several Questions are Raised. ...
Here, by way of objection, several questions are raised. Scripture relates that God sometimes complied with certain prayers which had been dictated by minds not duly calmed or regulated. It is true, that the cause for which Jotham imprecated on the inhabitants of Shechem the disaster which afterwards befell them was well founded; but still he was inflamed with anger and revenge (Judges 9:20); and hence God, by complying with the execration, seems to approve of passionate impulses. Similar fervour …
John Calvin—Of Prayer--A Perpetual Exercise of Faith

The Mountainous Country of Judea.
"What is the mountainous country of Judea? It is the king's mountain." However Judea, here and there, doth swell out much with mountains, yet its chief swelling appears in that broad back of mountains, that runs from the utmost southern cost as far as Hebron, and almost as Jerusalem itself. Which the Holy Scripture called "The hill-country of Judah," Joshua 21:11; Luke 1:39. Unless I am very much mistaken,--the maps of Adricomus, Tirinius, and others, ought to be corrected, which have feigned to …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Sundry Sharp Reproofs
This doctrine draws up a charge against several sorts: 1 Those that think themselves good Christians, yet have not learned this art of holy mourning. Luther calls mourning a rare herb'. Men have tears to shed for other things, but have none to spare for their sins. There are many murmurers, but few mourners. Most are like the stony ground which lacked moisture' (Luke 8:6). We have many cry out of hard times, but they are not sensible of hard hearts. Hot and dry is the worst temper of the body. Sure …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Effectual Calling
THE second qualification of the persons to whom this privilege in the text belongs, is, They are the called of God. All things work for good "to them who are called." Though this word called is placed in order after loving of God, yet in nature it goes before it. Love is first named, but not first wrought; we must be called of God, before we can love God. Calling is made (Rom. viii. 30) the middle link of the golden chain of salvation. It is placed between predestination and glorification; and if …
Thomas Watson—A Divine Cordial

He Does Battle for the Faith; He Restores Peace among those who were at Variance; He Takes in Hand to Build a Stone Church.
57. (32). There was a certain clerk in Lismore whose life, as it is said, was good, but his faith not so. He was a man of some knowledge in his own eyes, and dared to say that in the Eucharist there is only a sacrament and not the fact[718] of the sacrament, that is, mere sanctification and not the truth of the Body. On this subject he was often addressed by Malachy in secret, but in vain; and finally he was called before a public assembly, the laity however being excluded, in order that if it were …
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh

Trials of the Christian
AFFLICTION--ITS NATURE AND BENEFITS. The school of the cross is the school of light; it discovers the world's vanity, baseness, and wickedness, and lets us see more of God's mind. Out of dark afflictions comes a spiritual light. In times of affliction, we commonly meet with the sweetest experiences of the love of God. The end of affliction is the discovery of sin; and of that, to bring us to a Saviour. Doth not God ofttimes even take occasion, by the hardest of things that come upon us, to visit …
John Bunyan—The Riches of Bunyan

Judges
For the understanding of the early history and religion of Israel, the book of Judges, which covers the period from the death of Joshua to the beginning of the struggle with the Philistines, is of inestimable importance; and it is very fortunate that the elements contributed by the later editors are so easily separated from the ancient stories whose moral they seek to point. That moral is most elaborately stated in ii. 6-iii. 6, which is a sort of programme or preface to iii. 7-xvi. 31, which constitutes …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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