Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” He bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell on the lords, and on all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than those who he killed in his life.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 30. Let me die. Literally, let my soul die. Samson did not sin on this occasion, though he was indirectly the cause of his own death. Because he was moved to what he did, by a particular inspiration of God, who also concurred with him by a miracle, in restoring his strength upon the spot, in consequence of his prayer. Samson, by dying in this manner, was a figure of Christ, who by his death overcame all his enemies. Challoner. Worthington.—Saint Augustine says, “he was not under a human delusion, but divinely inspired … Who will accuse his obedience?” De Calmet. i. 21. and 26. and so forth And Saint Bernard (de præc. 3.) observes that he would have sinned, if he had not received a particular inspiration. But many think that he might have acted as he did, without it, in quality of judge, as he might intend primarily to avenge his people and the glory of God. He was willing to sacrifice his life for this purpose, though he would have preserved it, if it had been in his power. Cajet. Lessius, and so forth—The Church honours many virgin martyrs, ( Calmet.) who have thrown themselves into fire or water, in similar dispositions. Saint Ambrose says, “it is to be presumed that their zeal came from God.” De Virg. iii. 7. He mentions S. Pelagia, and her mother and sisters, and S. Soteris, a relation of his, whose memory is honoured on the 10th of February. S. Apollonia’s feast occurs the day before. “She leapt into the fire, having her breast enkindled with a stronger flame of the holy spirit. Brev. Rom. See the fact of Razas, 2 Maccabees 14:37. Bible.—So that the revelation of S. Mathildes doubting of his, Solomon’s, Origen’s, and Trajan’s salvation, as if God would thus keep mankind in fear, seems to be a fabrication. Baronius. A.D. 604. Saint Paul ranks Samson among the saints. Hebrews 11:32.—Life. Express mention is made of 1000 slain by Samson, besides the great numbers, which excited the astonishment of the Philistines. Calmet. 15:8. But on this occasion he destroyed 3000 at once, and the death of all the princes made the slaughter more terrible, ( Calmet.) insomuch that the people being without a head, were glad to let Samson’s brethren take away his body without molestation, as they have every reason to fear that the Israelites would now fall upon them. Salien.—If 3000 perished on the outside of the temple, ( Bible.) Serarius concludes that not less than 20,000 were destroyed in all.