Judges 13:25

Spirit of the Lord. See on ch. 11:29. Samson knew that he was consecrated to God for a special function. His long hair and habits of abstinence that set him apart from the rest of the people were constant reminders of that. But human efforts and advantages are not sufficient of themselves to accomplish the work of God (see AA 53).

Began to move him. The Hebrew verb means “to disturb,” “to disquiet,” “to agitate.” Promptings from the Lord began to stir him up, to agitate his mind to plan action against the oppression of the Philistines. Samson felt impelled to exercise his unusual strength in deeds of valor.

At times. Some have thought that Samson used his unusual strength at times in this period to perform deeds of valor that the author does not describe, and that his beginning exploits are thus briefly referred to.

Camp of Dan. This is a proper name. Sometimes it is not translated, but given as Mahaneh-dan, as in ch. 18:12. The name originated in the migration of the hard-pressed tribe, which is described in chs. 18 and 19. Dan’s camp, or Mahaneh-dan, was near Kirjath-jearim (ch. 18:12), 8 mi. north of Zorah (see ch. 18:2).

Eshtaol. The exact location of this town is not known. It is always mentioned in connection with Zorah, which has led to the supposition that they were twin towns (see on v. 2). It has been thought to be the modern Eshwa‘ 2 mi. (3.2 km.) northeast of Zorah (see on v. 2).