Judges 16:5 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

The lords of the Philistines; the lords of their five principal cities, who seem to have been united together at this time in one aristocratical government; or at least were leagued together against him as their common enemy. To afflict him; to chastise him for his injuries done to us. They mean to punish him severely, as they did; but they express it in mild words, lest the horror of it might move her to pity him. Pieces of silver, i.e. shekels, as that phrase is commonly used, as Numbers 7:13,85 2 Samuel 18:12 2 Kings 6:25.

Judges 16:5

5 And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflictc him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.