(10) Went down unto the woman.—Formally, to claim her as the bride of his son.Made there a feast.—According to the universal custom in all ages (Genesis 29:22; Revelation 19:9). The LXX. add the words “seven days.” (Comp. Genesis 29:27.) read more
Judges 14:1 All transitions are dangerous; and the most dangerous is the transition from the restraint of the family circle to the non-restraint of the world. Herbert Spencer. Reference. XIV. 4. J. N. Norton, Golden Truths, p. 369. Judges 14:5-6 God never gives strength, but he employs it. Poverty meets one like an armed man; infamy, like some furious mastiff, comes flying in the face of another; the wild boar out of the forest, or the bloody tiger of persecution, sets on one; the brawling... read more
5SAMSON PLUNGING INTO LIFEJudges 13:24-25; Judges 14:1-20Or all who move before us in the Book of Judges Samson is preeminently the popular hero. In rude giant strength and wild daring he stands alone against the enemies of Israel, contemptuous of their power and their plots. It is just such a man who catches the public eye and lives in the traditions of a country. Most Hebrews of the time minded piety and culture as little as did the Norsemen when they first professed Christianity. Both races... read more
CHAPTER 14 The First Deeds of Samson 1. The woman in Timnath (Judges 14:1-4 ) 2. The killing of the young lion and the honey in the carcass (Judges 14:5-9 ) 3. The marriage feast and the riddle (Judges 14:10-14 ) 4. The riddle answered (Judges 14:15-18 ) 5. Thirty Philistines slain by Samson (Judges 14:19-20 ) Samson was called of God to be a true Nazarite, but in his life which was to manifest the Nazarite character he failed. “He went down to Timnath” is a foreboding beginning. It... read more
14:10 So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a {d} feast; for so used the young men to do.(d) Meaning when he was married. read more
SAMSON THE NAZARITE The close of chapter 12 furnishes the history of three other civil judges, and then we reach that of another warrior as picturesque as Gideon or Jephthah. Sampson’s life is so full of inconsistencies and mysteries from the divine standpoint, that again we can only await the explanations until we shall know as we are known. THE PROMISED SON (Judges 13:0 ) Here is another theophany, for “the angel of the Lord” is none other than Jehovah Jesus. The beginning of this... read more
Samson Light and Shadow Judges 14-16 IT would be unjust to consider this as a finished picture of the man of strength. In all that we have said we have endeavoured to establish by good reasoning and clear reference. But it would be unjust to pronounce upon any life after merely looking at a few incidental points in its course. That is a danger to which all criticism is exposed. We are prone to look upon vivid incidents, and to omit all the great breadths and spaces of the daily life, and to... read more
There is always reason to suspect the kindness of false friends. Satan never more effectually deceives than under this cover. See his first proof of this, Genesis 3:1-5 . read more
Father. Before the nuptial, the young man was not accustomed to go to the house of his future bride. (Montanus) --- Samson's mother also accompanied him. (Abulensis) --- Do. Septuagint, "Samson made there a feast for seven days, because young men do so." (Haydock) read more
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John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 14:1-20
The Marriage of Samson1-5. Samson chooses a wife among the Philistines. He and his parents go down to Timnath.2. Timnath] some 4 m. SW. of Zorah, allotted to Dan (Joshua 19:43); it was retaken by the Philistines in the reign of Ahaz (2 Chronicles 28:18). Get her for me to wife] It was customary for parents to conduct the negotiations and pay the dowry: cp. Genesis 34:4-12.3. Cp. Genesis 24:3; Genesis 26:34; Genesis 27:46; Genesis 4. It was of the Lord] God purposed to use Samson as a weapon... read more