Judges 15:15
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith.
American King James Version (AKJV)
And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith.
American Standard Version (ASV)
And he found a fresh jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and smote a thousand men therewith.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
And taking up the mouth-bone of an ass newly dead, which he saw by chance on the earth, he put to death a thousand men with it.
Webster's Revision
And he found a fresh jaw-bone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men with it.
World English Bible
He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, and put forth his hand, and took it, and struck a thousand men therewith.
English Revised Version (ERV)
And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and smote a thousand men therewith.
Clarke's Judges 15:15 Bible Commentary
He found a new jaw-bone of an ass - I rather think that the word טריה teriyah, which we translate new, and the margin moist, should be understood as signifying the tabia or putrid state of the ass from which this jawbone was taken. He found there a dead ass in a state of putrefaction; on which account he could the more easily separate the jaw from its integuments; this was a circumstance proper to be recorded by the historian, and a mark of the providence of God. But were we to understand it of a fresh jaw-bone, very lately separated from the head of an ass, the circumstance does not seem worthy of being recorded.
With the jaw-bore of an ass, heaps upon heaps - I cannot see the propriety of this rendering of the Hebrew words בלחי החמור חמור חמרתים bilchi hachamor, chemor chamorathayim; I believe they should be translated thus: -
"With the jaw-bone of this ass, an ass (the foal) of two asses;
"With the jaw-bone of this ass I have slain a thousand men."
This appears to have been a triumphal song on the occasion; and the words are variously rendered both by the versions, and by expositors.
Barnes's Judges 15:15 Bible Commentary
Slew a thousand men therewith - Compare the marginal references. The Philistines, seized with a panic at seeing Samson suddenly burst his cords and rush at them, offered no resistance, but fell an easy prey to the blows of their mighty foe. Some perhaps were dashed down the cliffs in their flight.
Wesley's Judges 15:15 Bible Commentary
15:15 New jaw - bone - And therefore the more tough and strong.