It happened, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. They called for Samson out of the prison-house; and he made sport before them. They set him between the pillars:
In his death Samson vindicated Yahweh over Dagon. He also killed more of Israel’s enemies than he had slain in his 20 years of previous ministry (Judges 16:30). While this is a complementary note, it also reminds us of the tragedy of Samson’s failure as a judge. He could have routed many more Philistines if he had walked with God. The "brothers" who buried him (Judges 16:31) could have been members of his tribe or extended family, not necessarily members of his immediate family.