By hip and thigh, Samson makes a slaughter of the Philistines.

Judges 15:6-8

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In the previous posts on Judges 14:8-20 and Judges 14:20-15:5, Samson decided to marry a Gentile Philistine woman instead of a Jewish-born woman. This is like Jesus Christ who has married us Gentile/non-Jewish people through the Spirit. Samson posed a riddle to the Gentile Philistines, which his wife explained the answer to her people, the Philistines. This is like the mystery of Christ [the Gospel of Christ] being revealed to everyone, Jewish or non-Jewish. Samson’s father-in-law thought Samson hated his wife for revealing the riddle to the Philistines, so he gave Samson’s wife to another man. This is like the Pharisees and Jewish culture who tried to steal away Christ’s bride [born-again Christians] from their faith in Him. Actually, Samson was angry that his Philistine wife was stolen from him, so he set fire to the Philistines’ grain fields, vineyards, and olive groves. This is like Jesus who tore down the corrupt laws of Judaism [the Jewish culture] by burning them down with the fire of the Holy Spirit.

From here is where the verses of this post picks-up…the Philistines plan to take retribution on the person responsible for burning their fields.

“Then the Philistines said, “Who has done this?” And they answered, “Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he has taken his wife and given her to his companion.” So the Philistines came up and burned her and her father with fire.” Judges 15:6

The Gentile Philistines were asking the same question as the Pharisees and the Jewish people loyal to the laws of Judaism, “Who has done this?” The Philistines wanted to know who burned their standing grain, wheat stacks, vineyards, and olive groves. This is like the Pharisees and their people wanting to know who burned up their standing grain [which were the potential converts to Judaism], their stacks of wheat [which is to draw many Jewish people away from Judaism to follow Him], their vineyards [which is where Judaism grew], and their olive groves [where benefits were derived from belonging to Judaism].

The Gentile Philistines were told that Samson had burnt their fields, in the same way that the Pharisees questioned many people to discover that Jesus Christ was the one responsible for starting the fires that drew people away from the laws of Judaism to serve God through the Spirit. The Pharisees warned the Jewish people against believing Jesus, “Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” John 12:42-43

The Philistines learned why Samson burnt their fields, which was because his Gentile Philistine wife was given to another man. This is the same as the Pharisees knowing that Jesus Christ considered them to be corrupt robbers and thieves. The Pharisees were stealing His Gentile bride, which consists of us non-Jewish Gentiles, from the family of God, as quoted, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.” Matthew 23:15

The Philistines burned Samson’s wife and her father with fire, in the same way that the Pharisees stoned many who believed the Gospel of Christ, excommunicated them, and persecuted them in many ways. The post on Judges 14:8-20 reveals how the Philistines threatened to burn a Philistine woman [Samson’s wife] and her father’s house [all the people who lived in his house] if she didn’t reveal the answer to the riddle/mystery/parable of Samson, as quoted, “But it came to pass on the fourth day they said to Samson’s wife, “Entice your husband, that he may explain the riddle to us, or else we will burn you and your father’s house with fire. Have you invited us in order to take what is ours? Is that not so?” Judges 14:15

As we read in the verses of this post, the Philistines burnt alive Samson’s wife and her father anyway. This is like the Pharisees coercing people to tell what they knew about Jesus, and when they did tell them, they persecuted them in some way anyway, as quoted, “[The Pharisees] said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes? He said, “He is a prophet…[The Pharisees] answered and said to [the blind man], “You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?” And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” The blind man’s parents also feared the Pharisees, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself.” His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue…  John 9:17-35

“Samson said to them, “Since you would do a thing like this, I will surely take revenge on you, and after that I will cease.” So he attacked them hip and thigh with a great slaughter; then he went down and dwelt in the cleft of the rock of Etam.” Judges 15:7-8

The phrase, ““Since you would do a thing like this…” refers to the Gentile Philistines burning alive Samson’s Gentile Philistine wife and everyone in the house of her father’s. Samson vowed retribution. Likewise, Jesus was also saying to the Pharisees, “Since you would do a thing like this…” referring to them persecuting those who believed in God through Him, and stirring up the Jewish population against Him, as quoted, “But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that [Pilate] should rather release Barabbas [a murderer] to them [instead of Jesus]  Mark 15:11 And, “And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” Matthew 12:23-24 They wanted Christ Jesus to die, “Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation…then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.” John 11:47-48, 53

Like Samson who vowed vengeance against the Philistines for burning alive his wife, God promises retribution against all those who bring harm to those who have faith in Jesus [His bride], “For thus says the Lord of hosts: “He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye. For surely I will shake My hand against them…” Zechariah 2:8-9

Samson attacked the Gentile Philistines by hip and thigh, which means he demobilized them and took away their ability to move around. More specifically, he literally killed them by attacking their ability to stand, rendering them defenseless to his further attacks. After that, Samson took refuge by hiding in the caves, spaces, etc. of the rocks. By the Holy Spirit, our Lord Jesus took away the legs of the Pharisees and crippled their ability to move around comfortably. Jesus was putting to death the laws of Judaism to give life to the Spirit. The Pharisees feared the followers of Jesus Christ, as quoted, “…and [the Pharisees] schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. “But not during the festival,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.” Matthew 26:4-5 Jesus often spent time alone, away from everybody, where He took refuge in the cleft of the rocks, per say.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11