Shouted against him. — Rather, cheered as they came to meet him (LXX., ἠλάλαξαν εἰς συνάντησιν αὐτοῦ; Vulg., cum vociferantes occurrissent ei). The verb heerioo is an onomatopœia, like our “hurrah.” This was not a war cry, as in 1 Samuel 17:20, but a shout of
joy.
The cords that were upon his arms became as flax. — It seems clear that the poetical colour and rhythmic structure of the narrative are influenced by some poem which described the deeds of Samson.
That was burnt with fire. — In both the LXX. and the Vulg. we find the metaphor, “flax when it has smelt the fire.”
His bands loosed. — Literally, melted, or flowed off, a highly poetic expression. A legend of Hercules in Egypt, who suddenly burst his bonds and slew the Egyptians who were leading him to sacrifice, may possibly have been coloured by this event in the life of Samson. (See Rawlinson’s Herodotus, 2, p. 70.)