And he smote them hip and thigh with a great slaughter: and he went down and dwelt in the top of the rock Etam.
And he struck them down completely with a devastating attack, killing many of them. Then he went down and lived in a cave at the top of the rock of Etam.
This verse describes Samson's fierce retaliation against the Philistines, after which he retreated to a rocky stronghold for safety.
📚 Historical Context
In the period of the Judges, Israel was a loosely governed nation frequently oppressed by neighboring peoples like the Philistines, and God raised up leaders called judges to deliver them. Samson, a Nazirite dedicated to God from birth with supernatural strength, was in the midst of a personal conflict with the Philistines after they betrayed and killed his wife, leading him to launch a devastating attack on them. After this fierce assault, he sought refuge in the rock of Etam to evade further retaliation.
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