Judges, Ruth: Revised Edition (The NIV Application Commentary)

by K. Lawson Younger

THE OPENING VERSES OF THIS FINAL SECTION of the Samson cycle introduce a new twist: The Philistines lay claim to the supremacy of their god Dagon (16:23–24). Dagon is the Hebrew form of the important Upper Mesopotamian and West Semitic deity Dagan, an important grain deity. The Philistines apparently adopted the deity from the local Semitic population,113 no doubt in some syncretistic form with an original Aegean grain deity.114 In the biblical texts, he appears as a grain deity.115 In this connection, Samson’s burning of the grain stocks is seen to be more serious. Likewise, in their excitement over the capture of Samson, it is understandable why the Philistines in their victory116 give the credit for this to Dagon (note especially the third line): Our god has delivered our enemy into our hands, the one who laid waste our land and multiplied our slain.