1 And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.
2 And 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 get her for me to wife.
3 Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.
4 But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.
5 Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him.
6 And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.
7 And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.
8 And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcass of the lion.
9 And he took thereof 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 carcass of the lion.
1 And Samson H8123 went down H3381 to Timnath, H8553 and saw H7200 a woman H802 in Timnath H8553 of the daughters H1323 of the Philistines. H6430
2 And he came up, H5927 and told H5046 his father H1 and his mother, H517 and said, H559 I have seen H7200 a woman H802 in Timnath H8553 of the daughters H1323 of the Philistines: H6430 now therefore get H3947 her for me to wife. H802
3 Then his father H1 and his mother H517 said H559 unto him, Is there never H369 a woman H802 among the daughters H1323 of thy brethren, H251 or among all my people, H5971 that thou goest H1980 to take H3947 a wife H802 of the uncircumcised H6189 Philistines? H6430 And Samson H8123 said H559 unto his father, H1 Get H3947 her for me; for she pleaseth me well. H3474 H5869
4 But his father H1 and his mother H517 knew H3045 not that it was of the LORD, H3068 that he sought H1245 an occasion H8385 against the Philistines: H6430 for at that time H6256 the Philistines H6430 had dominion H4910 over Israel. H3478
5 Then went H3381 Samson H8123 down, H3381 and his father H1 and his mother, H517 to Timnath, H8553 and came H935 to the vineyards H3754 of Timnath: H8553 and, behold, a young H3715 lion H738 roared H7580 against H7125 him.
6 And the Spirit H7307 of the LORD H3068 came mightily H6743 upon him, and he rent H8156 him as he would have rent H8156 a kid, H1423 and he had nothing H3972 in his hand: H3027 but he told H5046 not his father H1 or his mother H517 what he had done. H6213
7 And he went down, H3381 and talked H1696 with the woman; H802 and she pleased H3474 Samson H8123 well. H3474 H5869
8 And after a time H3117 he returned H7725 to take H3947 her, and he turned aside H5493 to see H7200 the carcase H4658 of the lion: H738 and, behold, there was a swarm H5712 of bees H1682 and honey H1706 in the carcase H1472 of the lion. H738
9 And he took H7287 thereof in his hands, H3709 and went on H3212 eating, H398 and came H1980 to his father H1 and mother, H517 and he gave H5414 them, and they did eat: H398 but he told H5046 not them that he had taken H7287 the honey H1706 out of the carcase H1472 of the lion. H738
1 And Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines.
2 And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.
3 Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.
4 But his father and his mother knew not that it was of Jehovah; for he sought an occasion against the Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines had rule over Israel.
5 Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnah, and came to the vineyards of Timnah: and, behold, a young lion roared against him.
6 And the Spirit of Jehovah came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid; and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.
7 And he went down, and talked with the woman, and she pleased Samson well.
8 And after a while he returned to take her; and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey.
9 And he took it into his hands, and went on, eating as he went; and he came to his father and mother, and gave unto them, and they did eat: but he told them not that he had taken the honey out of the body of the lion.
1 And Samson goeth down to Timnath, and seeth a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines,
2 and cometh up and declareth to his father, and to his mother, and saith, `A woman I have seen in Timnath, of the daughters of the Philistines; and now, take her for me for a wife.'
3 And his father saith to him -- also his mother, `Is there not among the daughters of thy brethren, and among all my people, a woman, that thou art going to take a woman from the uncircumcised Philistines?' and Samson saith unto his father, `Take her for me, for she is right in mine eyes.'
4 And his father and his mother have not known that from Jehovah it `is', that a meeting he is seeking of the Philistines; and at that time the Philistines are ruling over Israel.
5 And Samson goeth down -- also his father and his mother, to Timnath, and they come unto the vineyards of Timnath, and lo, a lion's whelp roareth at meeting him,
6 and the Spirit of Jehovah prospereth over him, and he rendeth it as the rending of a kid, and there is nothing in his hand, and he hath not declared to his father and to his mother that which he hath done.
7 And he goeth down and speaketh to the woman, and she is right in the eyes of Samson;
8 and he turneth back after `some' days to take her, and turneth aside to see the carcase of the lion, and lo, a company of bees `are' in the body of the lion -- and honey.
9 And he taketh it down on to his hands, and goeth on, going and eating; and he goeth unto his father, and unto his mother, and giveth to them, and they eat, and he hath not declared to them that from the body of the lion he took down the honey.
1 Samson went down to Timnah, and at Timnah he saw one of the daughters of the Philistines.
2 Then he came up, and told his father and mother, "I saw one of the daughters of the Philistines at Timnah; now get her for me as my wife."
3 But his father and mother said to him, "Is there not a woman among the daughters of your kinsmen, or among all our people, that you must go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?" But Samson said to his father, "Get her for me; for she pleases me well."
4 His father and mother did not know that it was from the LORD; for he was seeking an occasion against the Philistines. At that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.
5 Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah, and he came to the vineyards of Timnah. And behold, a young lion roared against him;
6 and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he tore the lion asunder as one tears a kid; and he had nothing in his hand. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.
7 Then he went down and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.
8 And after a while he returned to take her; and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion, and behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey.
9 He scraped it out into his hands, and went on, eating as he went; and he came to his father and mother, and gave some to them, and they ate. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey from the carcass of the lion.
1 Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines.
2 He came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me as wife.
3 Then his father and his mother said to him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of your brothers, or among all my people, that you go to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? Samson said to his father, Get her for me; for she pleases me well.
4 But his father and his mother didn't know that it was of Yahweh; for he sought an occasion against the Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines had rule over Israel.
5 Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnah, and came to the vineyards of Timnah: and, behold, a young lion roared against him.
6 The Spirit of Yahweh came mightily on him, and he tore him as he would have torn a kid; and he had nothing in his hand: but he didn't tell his father or his mother what he had done.
7 He went down, and talked with the woman, and she pleased Samson well.
8 After a while he returned to take her; and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey.
9 He took it into his hands, and went on, eating as he went; and he came to his father and mother, and gave to them, and they ate: but he didn't tell them that he had taken the honey out of the body of the lion.
1 Now Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah, of the daughters of the Philistines;
2 And when he came back he said to his father and mother, I have seen a woman in Timnah, of the daughters of the Philistines: get her now for me for my wife.
3 Then his father and mother said to him, Is there no woman among the daughters of your relations or among all my people, that you have to go for your wife to the Philistines, who are without circumcision? But Samson said to his father, Get her for me, for she is pleasing to me.
4 Now his father and mother had no knowledge that this was the purpose of the Lord, who had the destruction of the Philistines in mind. Now the Philistines at that time were ruling over Israel.
5 Then Samson went down to Timnah (and his father and his mother,) and came to the vine-gardens of Timnah; and a young lion came rushing out at him.
6 And the spirit of the Lord came on him with power, and, unarmed as he was, pulling the lion in two as one might do to a young goat, he put him to death; (but he said nothing to his father and mother of what he had done.)
7 So he went down and had talk with the woman; and she was pleasing to Samson.
8 Then after a time he went back to take her; and turning from the road to see the dead body of the lion, he saw a mass of bees in the body of the lion, and honey there.
9 And he took the honey in his hand, and went on, tasting it on the way; and when he came to his father and mother he gave some to them; but did not say that he had taken the honey from the body of the lion.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Keil & Delitzsch Commentary » Commentary on Judges 14
Commentary on Judges 14 Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
Samson's First Transactions with the Philistines. - Judges 14:1-9. At Tibnath, the present Tibne , an hour's journey to the south-west of Sur'a (see at Joshua 15:10), to which Samson had gone down from Zorea or Mahaneh-dan, he saw a daughter of the Philistines who pleased him; and on his return he asked his parents to take her for him as a wife ( לקח , to take, as in Exodus 21:9).
His parents expressed their astonishment at the choice, and asked him whether there was not a woman among the daughters of his brethren (i.e., the members of his own tribe), or among all his people, that he should want to fetch one from the Philistines, the uncircumcised. But Samson repeated his request, because the daughter of the Philistines pleased him. The aversion of his parents to the marriage was well founded, as such a marriage was not in accordance with the law. It is true that the only marriages expressly prohibited in Exodus 34:16 and Deuteronomy 7:3-4, are marriages with Canaanitish women; but the reason assigned for this prohibition was equally applicable to marriages with daughters of the Philistines. In fact, the Philistines are reckoned among the Canaanites in Joshua 13:3 upon the very same ground. But Samson was acting under a higher impulse, whereas his parents did not know that it was from Jehovah, i.e., that Jehovah had so planned it; “ for Samson was seeking an opportunity on account of the Philistines, ” i.e., an occasion to quarrel with them, because, as is afterwards added in the form of an explanatory circumstantial clause, the Philistines had dominion over Israel at that time. תּאנה , ἁπ. λεγ. , an opportunity (cf. התאנּה , 2 Kings 5:7).
When Samson went down with his parents to Timnath, a young lion came roaring towards him at the vineyards of that town. Then the Spirit of Jehovah came upon him, so that he tore the lion in pieces as a kid is torn ( lit . “like the tearing in pieces of the kid”), although he had nothing, i.e., no weapon, in his hand. David, when a shepherd, and the hero Benaiah, also slew lions (1 Samuel 17:34-35; 2 Samuel 23:20); and even at the present day Arabs sometimes kill lions with a staff (see Winer , Bibl. R. W. Art. Lצwe). Samson's supernatural strength, the effect of the Spirit of Jehovah, which came upon him, was simply manifested in the fact that he tore the lion in pieces without any weapon whatever in his hand. But he said nothing about it to his parents, who were not eyewitnesses of the deed. This remark is introduced in connection with what follows.
When he came to Timnath he talked with the girl, and she pleased him. He had only seen her before (Judges 14:1); but now that his parents had asked for her, he talked with her, and found the first impression that he had received of her fully confirmed.
When some time had elapsed after the betrothal, he came again to fetch her (take her home, marry her), accompanied, as we learn from Judges 14:9, by his parents. On the way “ he turned aside (from the road) to see the carcase of the lion; and behold a swarm of bees was in the body of the lion, also honey. ” The word מפּלת , which only occurs here, is derived from נפל , like πτῶμα from πίπτω , and is synonymous with נבלה , cadaver , and signifies not the mere skeleton, as bees would not form their hive in such a place, but the carcase of the lion, which had been thoroughly dried up by the heat of the sun, without passing into a state of putrefaction. “In the desert of Arabia the heat of a sultry season will often dry up all the moisture of men or camels that have fallen dead, within twenty-four hours of their decease, without their passing into a state of decomposition and putrefaction, so that they remain for a long time like mummies, without change and without stench” ( Rosenmüller , Bibl. Althk. iv. 2, p. 424). In a carcase dried up in this way, a swarm of bees might form their hive, just as well as in the hollow trunks of trees, or clefts in the rock, or where wild bees are accustomed to form them, notwithstanding the fact that bees avoid both dead bodies and carrion (see Bochart, Hieroz, ed. Ros . iii. p. 355).
Samson took it (the honey) in his hands, ate some of it as he went, and also gave some to his father and mother to eat, but did not tell them that he had got the honey out of the dead body of the lion; for in that case they would not only have refused to eat it as being unclean, but would have been aware of the fact, which Samson afterwards took as the subject of the riddle that he proposed to the Philistines. רדה , to tread, to tread down; hence to get forcible possession of, not to break or to take out, neither of which meanings can be established. The combination of רדה and אל־כּפּיו is a pregnant construction, signifying to obtain possession of and take into the hands.
Samson's Wedding and Riddle . - Judges 14:10. When his father had come down to the girl (sc., to keep the wedding, not merely to make the necessary preparations for his marriage), Samson prepared for a feast there (in Timnath), according to the usual custom (for so used the young men to do).
Judges 14:11
“ And when they saw him, they fetched thirty friends, and they were with him .” The parents or relations of the bride are the subject of the first clause. They invited thirty of their friends in Timnath to the marriage feast, as “children of the bride-chamber” (Matthew 9:15), since Samson had not brought any with him. The reading כּראותם from ראה needs no alteration, though Bertheau would read כּראתם daer from ירא , in accordance with the rendering of the lxx ( Cod. Al .) and Josephus , ἐν τῷ φοβεῖσθαι αὐτούς . Fear of Samson would neither be in harmony with the facts themselves, nor with the words אתּו ויּהיוּ , “ they were with him, ” which it is felt to be necessary to paraphrase in the most arbitrary manner “they watched him.”
Judges 14:12-14
At the wedding feast Samson said to the guests, “ I will give you a riddle. If you show it to me during the seven days of the meal (the wedding festival), and guess it, I will give you thirty sedinim ( σινδόνες , tunicae , i.e., clothes worn next to the skin) and thirty changes of garments (costly dresses, that were frequently changed: see at Genesis 45:22); but if ye cannot show it to me, ye shall give me the same number of garments. ” The custom or proposing riddles at banquets by way of entertainment is also to be met with among the ancient Grecians. (For proofs from Athenaeus, Pollux, Gellius, see Bochart , Hieroz. P. ii. l. ii. c. 12; and K. O. Müller , Dorier, ii. p. 392). As the guests consented to this proposal, Samson gave them the following riddle (Judges 14:14): “ Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. ” This riddle they could not show, i.e., solve, for three days. That is to say, they occupied themselves for three days in trying to find the solution; after that they let the matter rest until the appointed term was drawing near.
Judges 14:15-16
On the seventh day they said to Samson's wife, “ Persuade thy husband to show us the riddle, ” sc., through thee, without his noticing it, “ lest we burn thee and thy father's house with fire. Have ye invited us to make us poor; is it not so? ” In this threat the barbarism and covetousness of the Philistines came openly to light. הלירשׁנוּ without Metheg in the י is the inf . Kal of ירשׁ , to make poor-a meaning derived from inheriting, not the Piel of ירשׁ = רוּשׁ , to be poor. הלא , nonne , strengthens the interrogative clause, and has not the signification “here” = הלם . Samson's wife, however, wept over him, i.e., urged him with tears in her eyes, and said, “ Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not; thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people (my countrymen), and hast not shown it to me .” חדתּה is from חוּד . Samson replied, that he had not even shown it to his father and mother, “ and shall I show it to thee? ”
Judges 14:17
“ Thus his wife wept before him the seven days of the banquet. ” This statement is not at variance with that in Judges 14:15, to the effect that it was only on the seventh day that the Philistine young men urged her with threats to entice Samson to tell the riddle, but may be explained very simply in the following manner. The woman had already come to Samson every day with her entreaties from simple curiosity; but Samson resisted them until the seventh day, when she became more urgent than ever, in consequence of this threat on the part of the Philistines. And “ Samson showed it to her, because she lay sore upon him; ” whereupon she immediately betrayed it to her countrymen.
Judges 14:18
Thus on the seventh day, before the sun went down ( חרסה = חרס , Judges 8:13; Job 9:7, with a toneless ah , a softening down of the feminine termination: see Ewald , §173, h .), the men of the city (i.e., the thirty young men who had been invited) said to Samson, “What is sweeter than honey, and what stronger than a lion?” But Samson saw through the whole thing, and replied, “ If ye had not ploughed with my heifer, ye had not hit upon (guessed) my riddle, ”-a proverbial saying, the meaning of which is perfectly clear.
Judges 14:19
Nevertheless he was obliged to keep his promise (Judges 14:12). Then the Spirit of Jehovah came upon him. He went down to Ashkelon, slew thirty men of them, i.e., of the Ashkelonites, took their clothes ( חליצות , exuviae : see 2 Samuel 2:21), and gave the changes of garments to those who had shown the riddle. This act is described as the operation of the Spirit of Jehovah which came upon Samson, because it showed to the Philistines the superior power of the servants of Jehovah. It was not carnal revenge that had impelled Samson to the deed. It was not till the deed itself was done that his anger was kindled; and even then it was not against the Philistines, to whom he had been obliged to pay or give the thirty garments, but against his wife, who had betrayed his secret to her countrymen, so that he returned to his father's house, viz., without his wife.
Judges 14:20
“ And Samson's wife was given to his friend, whom he had chosen as a friend .” מרע is not doubt to be understood here in the sense of “the friend of the bridegroom” (John 3:29), ὁ νυμφαγωγός (lxx), the conductor of the bride-namely, one of the thirty companions (Judges 14:10), whom Samson had entrusted with this office at the marriage festival. The faithlessness of the Philistines towards the Israelites was no doubt apparent here; for even if Samson went home enraged at the treacherous behaviour of his wife, without taking her with him, he did not intend to break the marriage tie, as Judges 15:1-2 clearly shows. So that instead of looking at the wrong by which Samson felt himself aggrieved, and trying to mitigate his wrath, the parents of the woman made the breach irreparable by giving their daughter as a wife to his companion.