1. Judges 16:27 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Why does the mention of a full house catch our attention?

Judges 16:27 (ESV)

27 Now the house was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there, and on the roof there were about 3,000 men and women, who looked on while Samson entertained.

The narrator notes that the house (temple) was so packed to capacity inside, with men and women as well as all the lords of the Philistines, that even the roof was covered with Philistines—about 3,000 men and women! This notice catches our attention because we realize that if somehow Samson could perform another superhuman act of strength (like when he lifted up the gate of Gaza and took it away to distant Hebron, the Philistine house of worshippers inside and on top is in deep trouble!1 The gathering is totally absorbed in the spectacle of Samson, and thus ignorant of how vulnerable they are. If Samson could somehow get the building to collapse, that would wipe out a large part of the Philistine population, including the whole of its leadership.2