Bible Strands
Judges 15:20
And Samson judged Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Judges 15:20 functions as a narrative summary following Samson’s physical revival at Lehi. It is an editorial statement, not spoken dialogue, marking the duration of his leadership while Israel remains under Philistine control.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַיִּשְׁפֹּט (va-yishpot) translates literally as "and he judged," taking אֵת (et) as an object marker before יִשְׂרָאֵל (Israel). The timeframe is fixed by עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה (esrim shanah), "twenty years," occurring בִּימֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים (bi-yemei pelishtim), "in the days of the Philistines."
The thread — This twenty-year period falls within the broader forty-year Philistine oppression introduced in Judges 13:1 and precedes Samson’s burial account in Judges 16:31. The narrative places his leadership directly inside the ongoing cycle of Israel’s rebellion and temporary deliverance.
Why it lands — The text records a fixed span of governance under foreign domination without detailing battles or spiritual reform. It requires the reader to observe that divine arrangement continues through appointed leaders even while the oppressive political reality remains unbroken.
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.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.
Cross-references
- Judges 13:1 Again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD, so He delivered them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.
- Judges 16:31 Then Samson’s brothers and his father’s family came down, carried him back, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of his father Manoah. And he had judged Israel twenty years.
- Judges 13:5 For behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son. And no razor shall touch his head, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”
- Hebrews 11:32 And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets,