Verse 9:[1] Then the Philistines went up, and pitched in Judah, and spread themselves (Judg. 15:19) in Lehi.
[The Philistine, going up] Properly: For it is an ascent from Palestine proper into Judea (Drusius).
Pitched in Judah: The rock Etam was in Judah: see 1 Chronicles 4:32; 2 Chronicles 11:5, 6.
[They camped, וַיִּנָּטְשׁוּ[2]] And they extended themselves (Pagnine, Montanus); and they were spread out, or, they spread themselves, after the manner of the making camp (Vatablus): and they were left/remained (Munster).
Spread themselves, as coming in great numbers with a powerful host.
[At Lehi, בַּלֶּחִי] In Lehi (Pagnine, Montanus, Vatablus). Thus the name of the place was called afterwards from the outcome of the matter (Vatablus); namely, from the jaw of an ass[3] (Bonfrerius).
Lehi; a place so called by anticipation, Judges 15:17.
Verse 10:[4] And the men of Judah said, Why are ye come up against us? And they answered, To bind Samson are we come up, to do to him as he hath done to us.
[1] Hebrew: וַיַּעֲל֣וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ בִּיהוּדָ֑ה וַיִּנָּטְשׁ֖וּ בַּלֶּֽחִי׃
[2] Judges 15:9: “Then the Philistines went up, and pitched in Judah, and spread themselves (וַיִּנָּטְשׁוּ) in Lehi.” נָטַשׁ, to leave or permit, in the Niphal, is to be left or let go, to spread abroad.
[3] Judges 15:17: “And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast away the jawbone (הַלְּחִי) out of his hand, and called that place Ramath-lehiרָ֥מַת) לֶֽחִי׃, that is, the High Place of the Jawbone).”
[4] Hebrew: וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ יְהוּדָ֔ה לָמָ֖ה עֲלִיתֶ֣ם עָלֵ֑ינוּ וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ לֶאֱס֤וֹר אֶת־שִׁמְשׁוֹן֙ עָלִ֔ינוּ לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת ל֔וֹ כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר עָ֥שָׂה לָֽנוּ׃