1Samson desireth to take one of the daughters of the Philistines to wife. 5In his journey to Timnath he killeth a lion. 8In a second journey thither he findeth honey in the lion's carcase. 10Samson's marriage feast. 12His riddle, which his wife prevaileth upon him to unfold to her, and she discovereth to the guests. 19He slayeth thirty Philistines, and giveth their spoil to those who had expounded his riddle; he leaveth his wife in anger, who is given to another.
1AND Samson went down to 1Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.
1 Located in the west of Zorah, not far from the Mediterranean Sea.
2And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore 2get her for me to wife.
2 See concerning the right of parents in the marriages of their children, Gen. 21 on verse 21; Gen. 24 on verse 3; Gen. 26 on verse 34.
3Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy 3brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the 4uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, 5Get her for me; for she pleaseth me 6well.
3 That is, kindred or countrymen. See Gen. 13 on verse 8; Gen. 24 on verse 27.
4 See Gen. 34:14. God had expressly forbidden to make any league or marriage with these heathenish inhabitants of Canaan. See Exod. 34:12, 16, and elsewhere. Wherefore they had cause to heed the revealed command of God and to reprove Samson, forasmuch as they were ignorant of the secret Providence and purpose of God, (see the following verse), Who hath not only right and power to impose laws upon His creatures, but even to do according to His own good pleasure, and to permit something contrary extraordinarily to be done. Compare Gen. 22:2; Exod. 3:22, etc.
5 See Gen. 19 on verse 14.
6 Hebr. right.
4But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the 7LORD, that 8he sought an occasion 9against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had 10dominion over Israel.
7 Who hereby intended to give Samson the occasion or opportunity to fulfil his calling and function.
8 Namely, Samson. For though he was called to it of God, yet might he so seek to begin that which without it was good and right, that men could not justly blame him for it.
9 That they from their side might give occasion to begin against them.
10 See Judges 13:1.
5¶Then went Samson down, and his 11father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a 12young lion roared against him.
11 Being now changed, either because they imagined and suspected by all that happened before his conception and birth, that this must needs be of God, or because Samson had discovered unto them his purpose and the Divine instigation.
12 Hebr. a young of lions, roaring in his meeting. It seems that he was gone down some other way from his parents. Compare verse 8.
6And the Spirit of the LORD came 13mightily upon him, and he rent 14him as he would have rent a kid, and he had 15nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.
13 Or, fell or came mightily upon him; making him extraordinarily courageous and strong, to qualify him by this evidence for the execution of his office and calling, and therein to confirm and strengthen him; as also to administer matter unto him for the riddle, and what followed after this.
14 The lion.
15 No instrument or weapon; only using his hands.
7And he went down, and 16talked with the woman; and she 17pleased Samson well.
16 Both himself and his parents.
17 Hebr. she was right in Samson’s eyes.
8¶And 18after a time he returned to 19take her, and he turned 20aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion.
18 Hebr. from or after days. See Gen. 4 on verse 3.
19 That is, to marry her.
20 Namely, from the common road, toward the place where he had cast the slain and torn lion. See on verse 5.
9And he took 21thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion.
21 The honey.
10¶So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there 22a feast; for so used the young men to do.
22 The Hebrew word signifies commonly a feast, but here it is to be understood a wedding feast.
11And it came to pass, when 23they saw him, that they 24brought thirty companions to be with him.
23 Namely, the Philistines of Timnath, who, having observed some special thing in Samson by his countenance and behavior, became suspicious; and therefore under show and color of honor by this adjoined company (which they by the bride’s friends could perceive with a glance) did exceedingly watch him.
24 That is, that they took and brought. See Gen. 12 on verse 15.
12¶And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a 25riddle unto you: if ye can 26certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty 27sheets 28and thirty 29change of garments:
25 That is, a witty, dark, and strange saying or proverb, under which something is hidden, which the words do not declare, but with pondering and considering upon it must be found out, and is then clear and delightful. Hebr. as if he would say: to riddle a riddle; also verses 13, 16; Ezek. 17:2. See further 1 Kings 10 on verse 1.
26 Hebr. declaring declare.
27 The Hebrew word is taken for fine linen, and a sheet, shirt, or something else made from it, to cover one in the night therewith, or also to wear in the day. The same word we find used in the New Testament in the Greek tongue, Mat. 27:59; Mark 14:51, 52; 15:46; Luke 23:53.
28 Other, to wit thirty changeable suits of apparel, made of the same fine linen. Compare verse 19.
29 Hebr. changes of garments.
13But if ye cannot declareait me, then shall ye give me thirty sheets and thirty change of garments. And they said unto him, Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it.
a explain
14And he said unto them, 30Out of the 31eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth 32sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle.
30 Or, for the entertainment of the riddle, and to come nearer to the Hebrew tongue, thus: Eating (as we say, Bring the eating, that is, the food on the table) went forth or came forth from the eater, and sweet came forth from the sour or sharp one. The Hebrew word signifies not only strong, but also hard, cruel, sharp, and so forth sour; as we say of very sour vinegar, that it is very strong; and a sour countenance is taken for a surly, cruel, strong look or countenance.
31 From it, that used to give no meat from itself, but to devour even all, namely, the lion.
32 Namely, honey.
15And it came to pass on the 33seventh day, that they said unto Samson’s wife, 34Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father's house with fire: have ye called us to take that 35we have? 36is it not so?
33 After the first three days, finding that they had profited nothing with their own wit and pains, they seem from time to time to have minded the business more seriously by pressing the matter upon Samson’s wife, until by their threats, and his wife’s craftiness, it happened according to their liking on the seventh day. Other, seven days, understanding thereby a part of the seven days.
34 Induce, allure, entice him with persuasive words and carriage; such does the Hebrew word properly signify.
35 Hebr. to inherit after us, or to possess hereditarily. Us, that is, our goods, substance; because, besides the disgrace, they would have the loss and damage of the linen and the clothes.
36 Other, or not?
16And Samson's wife wept before him, and said, 37Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto the 38children of my people, and hast not told it me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told it my father nor my mother, and shall I tell it thee?
37 Or, at least thou hatest me.
38 Samson’s companions of the Philistine; also in the next verse.
17And she wept before him the 39seven days, while their feast lasted: and it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she lay sore upon him: and she told the riddle to the children of her people.
39 Hebr. seven, that is here, on the seventh, as 1 Chron. 9:25, and so elsewhere often.
18And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my 40heifer, ye had not found out my riddle.
40 As if he would say: If you had not by means of my wife drawn from me the exposition. It is a rhetorical phrase, taken from the plowing of husbandmen, who by the service of beasts do in a manner dig and cast up the ground, that whatever was hidden therein may be discovered. Thus did Samson at once upbraid them wittily with his wife’s unfaithfulness, and their deceit.
19¶And the Spirit of the LORD 41came upon him, and he went down to 42Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their 43spoil, and gave 44change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his 45father’s house.
41 Compare on verse 6.
42 Hebr. Ashkelon; that is, those of Ashkelon, as Judges 1:27, etc., situated on the borders of Dan, beyond the brook Sorek, at the Mediterranean Sea, belonging to the tribes of Judea and Simeon, but inhabited by the Philistines. See Judges 1:18.
43 Which they had on, and he had stripped from them.
44 See verse 12.
45 Leaving his wife for a time. See Judges 15:1.
20But Samson’s wife 46was given to 47his companion, whom 48he had used as his friend.
46 Hebr. became to his companion, namely, a wife.
47 See Judges 15:2, 6.
48 See on verse 11.