Judges 15:10

Study note

Setting — The men of Judah confront the Philistine army that has recently deployed near Lehi, asking for the purpose of their advance. The Philistines respond that their objective is to capture Samson and exact retribution for his prior actions.

The words — The Hebrew phrase לָ/מָ֖ה עֲלִיתֶ֣ם עָלֵ֑י/נוּ (la./Mah 'a.li.Tem 'a.Lei./nu) literally renders "why have you come up upon us," while לֶ/אֱס֤וֹר (le./'e.Sor) means "to bind" or "to arrest." These terms frame the encounter as a direct inquiry about military movement followed by a stated intent of capture.

The thread — The motif of Judah questioning military action appears in Judges 15:11 when the same tribe confronts Samson about bringing Philistine rule upon them. The theme of retribution for prior deeds tracks the cycle of violence throughout the Judges narrative.

Why it lands — The verse demands recognition that local authorities often view external military action through the lens of immediate political consequence. It requires the reader to weigh the stated intent of captors against the preceding actions that provoked them.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.