This act of destruction is not easy to explain. Samson uses live animals to destroy the crops of the Philistines, presumably killing these animals as well. Some scholars see this extensive destruction as Samson’s revenge for the Philistines’ act against his “seed,” that is, descendants. By taking away his wife, the Philistines have in some sense taken away his children. Thus, with an “eye for eye” mentality, Samson’s destroys their “seeds,” that is, their crops. Whatever the explanation, Samson’s acts are often not justifiable, such as his killing thirty innocent men to obtain their clothes to pay his gambling debt (verse 14.19). Certainly this scene of wildfire and destruction adds great drama to the narration and creates a high level of suspense.
And when he had set fire to the torches renders an independent clause in Hebrew, which is literally “And he burned fire on the torches.” Here is another overt reference to fire (see also verse 1.8; verse 6.21; verse 9.15, 20, 49, 52; verse 12.1; verse 14.15). Set fire to the torches may be rendered “set the torches on fire” or “put a fire to the torches.” New International Version and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh say simply “lit the torches.”
He let the foxes go into the standing grain of the Philistines is literally “and he sent into the standing grain of the Philistines.” Revised Standard Version adds the implied object the foxes for naturalness in English. This clause uses the key Hebrew verb meaning “send” (shalach), which is often used in contexts of conflict (see, for example, verse 3.18; verse 7.24; verse 9.23; verse 11.12; verse 18.2; verse 19.29). “Sent” expresses Samson’s determination to carry out his act, so it is stronger than let … go. Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh say “turned … loose,” and New Jerusalem Bible has “set … free.” Many languages will follow the Hebrew by using the verb “sent.” The standing grain refers to the ripe grain that had not yet been cut. Contemporary English Version makes this explicit by saying “the … wheat fields that were ready to be harvested.” However, the Hebrew word for standing grain does not refer specifically to wheat. It can refer to any grain crop. New Living Translation says “grain fields.” New Jerusalem Bible has “cornfields,” which is misleading and should not be followed. The phrase of the Philistines emphasizes who owned these fields, so it should be kept if possible.
And burned up the shocks and the standing grain: The subject affix of the Hebrew verb rendered burned up is masculine singular, designating either Samson himself or the fire. Burned up renders the same Hebrew verb used at the beginning of this verse. Burned up is a good rendering in this context, but in some languages an idiomatic expression such as “ate up” may be more appropriate. The shocks and the standing grain is literally “from heap and to standing grain.” This phrase shows that the fire was moving from one place to another, out of control. The shocks refers to the stacks or sheaves of grain already harvested and left to dry in the fields. Good News Translation proposes “not only the wheat that had been harvested but also the wheat that was still in the fields.” Some languages may be able to convey the notion of “from … to…,” which is present in Hebrew (see second model below). New Living Translation has “He burned all their grain to the ground, including the sheaves and the uncut grain.”
As well as the olive orchards: A small textual problem exists here, since the Hebrew says “and to vineyard of olive tree.” Revised Standard Version renders the Hebrew word for “vineyard” as orchards, but it usually refers to a field where grapes are grown (see verse 9.27). This reference could be a link back to Samson’s first experience with a vineyard (verse 14.5). The Septuagint says “and to vineyard and olive tree,” which many versions follow. For example, New Revised Standard Version has “as well as the vineyards and olive groves,” and Contemporary English Version says “Even the Philistine vineyards and olive orchards burned.” Olive orchards refers to plantations of olive trees. For olive see verse 9.8.
Translation models for this verse are:
• Then Samson set fire to the torches and sent the foxes into the Philistines’ fields. The fields caught fire, beginning with the bundles of cut grain and consuming all that was still standing. Even the vineyards and olive groves burned.
• Samson then lit the torches and sent the jackals running into the fields belonging to Philistines. Everything went up in flames: from the stacks of grain to the grain that was not even cut. Even the vineyards and olive trees were destroyed.
Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .