And when the people saw him, they praised their god, saying: ``Our god has given into our hands our enemy and the devastator of our land, who has killed many of us'' (וַיִּרְאוּ אוֹתוֹ הָעָם וַיְהַלְלוּ אֶת־אֱלֹהֵיהֶם כִּי אָמְרוּ נִתַּן אֱלֹהֵינוּ בְּיָדֵנוּ אֶת־אוֹיְבֵנוּ וְאֶת־מַשְׁחִית אַרְצֵנוּ אֲשֶׁר הִרְבָּה אֶת־הֲרוּגֵינוּ) — the Philistine multitude joins in the celebration, praising Dagon for the capture of ``the devastator of their land'' (מַשְׁחִית אַרְצֵנוּ). Their language acknowledges Samson's actual impact: he has killed many of them and caused significant devastation. Yet their praise is built on a false assumption—that Dagon has finally defeated the God of Israel through Samson's capture. The crowd's participation suggests that Samson has become a symbol not merely of military defeat but of theological triumph for Philistine religion. This public celebration will make his final act not merely a personal redemption but a public refutation of Philistine claims and a vindication of Israel's God.

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