And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father’s house.
The Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, where he killed thirty men and took their belongings. He gave their clothes to those who had solved his riddle. His anger burned hot, and he went back to his father's house.
The writer is describing how Samson, empowered by God's Spirit but driven by anger, violently obtained the payment he owed for losing a riddle bet, then stormed off home.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs during Samson's wedding feast, where he had made a riddle bet with thirty Philistine companions. When they solved it through his wife's betrayal, he owed them thirty sets of clothes as payment. Ashkelon was a major Philistine city about 23 miles away, where Samson could kill Philistines without attacking his wedding guests directly.
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