Shoftim 15: Dr. Dolittle

Last chapter, Shimshon had the assistance of a lion and some bees. This chapter its foxes and a donkey. Foxes: In Rabbi Natan Slifkin’s book- The Torah Encyclopedia of the Animal Kingdom, he discusses the debate as to whether the “shual” in this chapter is a fox or a jackal. Foxes tend to be loner animals who run quickly. Jackals are pack animals that are not as fast. As such, some commentators believe that Shimshon captured jackals because it would have been easier to catch 300 of them. Jackels would also be more comfortable moving in packs. On the other hand, Shimshon has already done quite a few extraordinary things, so the idea of capturing 300 foxes is not out of the realm of possibility. Foxes are more likely to twist and run in circles trying to escape the fire. Other animals would run away from each other pulling the torches to the ground. The circuitous route of the foxes would help create maximum damage. Donkey: Why a jawbone of a donkey? Ralbag explains that this is meant to enhance the miracle of Shimshon’s victory. Against heavily armed fighters he is able to defeat the enemy with a simple jawbone. Animal bones were some of the most primitive weapons. The Abarbanel focuses on the other side of the coin, that this is utter humiliation for the Philistines to be defeated by someone who only uses a jawbone. Malbim credits it to the spontaneity of the moment. Shimshon does not kill a donkey and rip out the jawbone. He simply finds a jawbone on the ground and attacks the Philistines unlike the complex war planning seen earlier in the book. None of these explain why it specifically is a donkey jawbone. If Shimshon spontaneously found the jawbone, this means the donkey must have been dead for quite some time. The last time donkeys appeared in the text was back during Gideon’s time. The hordes of Midyanites and Amalekites would swarm the land during harvest season. וַיַּחֲנוּ עֲלֵיהֶם וַיַּשְׁחִיתוּ אֶת־יְבוּל הָאָרֶץ עַד־בּוֹאֲךָ עַזָּה וְלֹא־יַשְׁאִירוּ מִחְיָה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וְשֶׂה וָשׁוֹר וַחֲמוֹר "They would encamp against them and destroy the produce of the land as far as Gaza, and leave no sustenance in Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor donkey." (Judges 6:4) Notice that these swarms would stretch all the way to Gaza- Philistine territory. It is possible, then, that this jawbone is left over from these swarms. Shimshon’s attack could be further retribution against the Philistines living in the south east of the land. Recall also that Shimshon’s backstory was similar to Gideon’s backstory opening with a visit from an angel. This could be another easter egg dropped by the Navi to connect the two judges.