Judges 15: Group Study Handout

How to use: read Judges 15 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

Samson attempts to visit his wife but is denied entry by her father, who has given her to another man (vv. 1-2). In response, Samson plans revenge against the Philistines, capturing three hundred foxes and setting fire to their grain and olive groves (vv.

Key verse

“He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, put out his hand, took it, and struck a thousand men with it.”
Judges 15:15 (WEB)

Outline

Judges 15:1–2 Samson's Visit Denied
Judges 15:3–5 Samson's Revenge Plan
Judges 15:6–8 Philistines' Retaliation
Judges 15:9–12 Judah's Dilemma
Judges 15:13–14 Samson Bound
Judges 15:15–17 Samson's Victory
Judges 15:18–20 Divine Provision

Discussion questions

In v6, why do the Philistines say they are retaliating against Samson?
What does Samson mean when he states, 'As they did to me, so I have done to them' in v11?
Samson's actions in v4 are drastic; what motivates him to catch 'three hundred foxes'?
In v18, why does Samson question if he will 'die of thirst' after his victory?
When has anger led you to actions you later regretted, like Samson's 'great slaughter' in v8?

Go deeper

Passages that echo Judges 15: Joshua 23, Judges 14, Judges 16.

Before next time: read Judges 16.