Question 1

What does Samson say about the source of the “great deliverance,” and how does he describe his own role in it (v. 18)?

Accepted Answer

Samson explicitly credits Yahweh as the one who gave the great deliverance. He describes it as something done “by the hand of your servant,” which keeps two ideas together: God is the giver of the rescue, and Samson is the human agent through whom it happened. That wording fits the flow of the narrative: Samson’s remarkable strength has been central, but here Samson himself names Yahweh as the decisive cause. The sentence structure also shows Samson’s surprise and fear that a God-given rescue could be followed by an ordinary, deadly need: thirst.

Question 2

How does the passage build tension between victory and vulnerability (vv. 18–19)?

Accepted Answer

The tension is created by sharp contrast. Samson has just experienced a “great deliverance,” yet he immediately becomes “very thirsty,” to the point that death seems possible. The danger is not a new battle but a basic human limit. Samson’s prayer makes the contrast explicit: the same moment that confirms divine help in battle also exposes how quickly the deliverer can be brought low. God’s response resolves this tension by providing water in a dramatic way at the same place connected with the victory (Lehi), restoring Samson from near-collapse.

Question 3

What two outcomes does Samson fear if he dies of thirst, and why do they matter in the story (v. 18)?

Accepted Answer

Samson fears (1) dying of thirst after the rescue, and (2) “falling into the hand of the uncircumcised,” meaning being captured or overwhelmed by the Philistines. In the story’s logic, dying immediately after a victory would turn deliverance into embarrassment and reverse the power dynamic. The second fear is not just death but the manner of defeat—ending up at the mercy of the enemy he has just struck. The wording also keeps the Philistines in view as the central conflict partner in this period.

Question 4

What does God do in response to Samson’s cry, and how does the text describe Samson’s recovery (v. 19)?

Accepted Answer

God “split the hollow place that is in Lehi,” and water comes out. The response is concrete and immediate: a physical provision for a physical need. After Samson drinks, the text says “his spirit came again, and he revived.” At minimum, the passage portrays a return of strength and life—he moves from near-death thirst to renewed vitality. The description emphasizes recovery rather than triumph: the hero is stabilized, not celebrated. It also links the miracle to a specific location, preparing for the place-name explanation that follows.

Question 5

How does the naming of En-hakkore interpret the event, and what does “to this day” suggest (v. 19)?

Accepted Answer

The name En-hakkore (“spring of the caller/cry”) interprets the water source as connected to Samson’s calling out to Yahweh. The narrator draws attention to the repeated idea of “calling”: Samson called to Yahweh, and the place-name memorializes that cry as the defining moment. “To this day” suggests the name (and likely the site’s association) was still known when the account was told or written, anchoring the story in local memory. It functions like a note that the event left a lasting mark on the landscape and community.

Question 6

What does it mean in context that Samson “judged Israel” for twenty years “in the days of the Philistines” (v. 20)?

Accepted Answer

In Judges, “judged” often signals a period of recognized leadership tied to deliverance and guidance, not only courtroom activity. The verse functions as a closing notice: Samson’s actions are not isolated episodes but part of a defined tenure lasting twenty years. The phrase “in the days of the Philistines” sets the time frame and main threat environment, aligning with earlier statements that the Philistines were a dominant problem in the land. The notice also implies continuity—Samson’s role persisted beyond the immediate crisis at Lehi.

Question 7

What parts of vv. 18–19 are clearly stated, and what parts must be inferred (especially about the “spirit” and what was “split”)?

Accepted Answer

Clearly stated: Samson was extremely thirsty; he called to Yahweh; he credited Yahweh with the deliverance; God split a hollow place at Lehi and water came out; Samson drank and revived; the site was named En-hakkore and the name endured. Inferred details include the exact nature of the “hollow place” (rock cavity, ground hollow, springhead) and the precise nuance of “his spirit came again” (breath returning, strength returning, or a broader statement about life returning). The story’s main point does not depend on resolving those specifics.

Judges 15:18-20

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