Verse 27:[1] Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the (Deut. 22:8) roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport.
[And from the roof and terrace about three thousand] Therefore, this temple was exceedingly spacious, on the roof of which were three thousand: how many more might the remaining surface of the roof contain? how many in the lower floors? how many Philistines were in the subjoined area? Moreover, roofs in Palestine were flat, so that on them one might pleasantly linger and walk (Menochius): and they have fences laid out in such a way that they might be able to see whatever was in the lower part of the house (Lapide out of Tostatus). But why does he say, about? Is not the Holy Spirit the author of Sacred Scripture? and did He not more definitely know the number? Response: Thus He willed to speak, 1. Because He accommodates Himself to a human manner of speaking; 2. so that He might teach us modesty and caution in speaking (Serarius).
The roof, after the manner of the times, was flat, and had windows through which they might see what was done in the lower parts of the house.
[1] Hebrew: וְהַבַּ֗יִת מָלֵ֤א הָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ וְהַנָּשִׁ֔ים וְשָׁ֕מָּה כֹּ֖ל סַרְנֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וְעַל־הַגָּ֗ג כִּשְׁלֹ֤שֶׁת אֲלָפִים֙ אִ֣ישׁ וְאִשָּׁ֔ה הָרֹאִ֖ים בִּשְׂח֥וֹק שִׁמְשֽׁוֹן׃
Matthew Henry: 'How justly the God of Israel brought sudden destruction upon them by the hands of Samson. Thousands of the Philistines had got together, to attend their lords in the sacrifices and joys of this day, and to be the spectators of this comedy; but it proved to them a fatal tragedy, for they were all slain, and buried in the ruins of the house: whether it was a temple or a theatre, or whether it was some slight building run up for the purpose, is uncertain. Observe...Who were destroyed: All the lords of the Philistines (Judges 16:27), who had by bribes corrupted Delilah to betray Samson to them. Evil pursued those sinners. Many of the people likewise, t…
Hebrew: Some good general exercise in Hebrew, and some particular exercise with the preposition kaph...