Judges 14:10,Judges 14:17

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Judges 14:10-20

10-20 Samson's riddle literally meant no more than that he had got honey, for food and for pleasure, from the lion, which in its strength and fury was ready to devour him. But the victory of Christ over Satan, by means of his humiliation, agonies, and death, and the exaltation that followed to him, with the glory thence to the Father, and spiritual advantages to his people, seem directly alluded to. And even death, that devouring monster, being robbed of his sting, and stripped of his horror,... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Judges 14:10-20

The Riddle at the Wedding-Feast. v. 10. So his father went down unto the woman, to signify his parental approval of the match and to attend the wedding; and Samson made there a feast, intending to live in Timnath and not take his bride to the city of his parents; for so used the young men to do, that was the custom at that time, that the bridegroom provided the entertainment. v. 11. And it came to pass, when they, the parents and relatives of the bride, saw him, that they brought thirty... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Judges 14:10-14

Samson’s wedding-feast. He proposes a riddle to his companions.Judges 14:10-14.10So [And] his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used [it is customary for] the young men to do. 11And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought [chose] thirty companions to be with him. 12And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly [if ye indeed] declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - Judges 14:1-14

a Self-willed Youth Judges 14:1-14 Timnath lay just across the frontier, in the Philistine country. It was a bad match and the beginning of life-trouble. Young people cannot be too careful as to their first love-match. Pray over it before you let your heart go. Take the advice of parents and friends. Whatever you do, marry only “in the Lord.” For a Christian to marry one who is destitute of the divine life, is not only to set Christ’s law at defiance, but to incur the misery of perpetual... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Judges 14:1-20

This is the record of tragic things. The boy Samson had grown to manhood's estate full of strength and passion. Going to Timnah, he saw a woman of the Philistines and desired to take her to wife. His parents attempted to dissuade him, but he allowed himself to be swept by his passion and determined to realize his own desires. All through the transactions connected with this woman, he is seen as a man of animal strength, bold, adventurous, determined, and of sporting propensities. There is... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 14:10

‘ And his father went down to the woman, and Samson made a feast there, for so the young men used to do.’ His father then continued on to meet the woman to assist with preparations for the wedding, while Samson arranged a pre-marriage feast for the young men. This would seem to have been a feast for men only, taking place before the marriage. It lasted seven days. The fact that it was arranged by Samson himself indicates that it was not the wedding-feast. read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 14:5-20

Judges 14:5-Proverbs : . Samson’ s Marriage.— As he could not take an unwelcomed bride to his father’ s house, Samson resolved to contract a marriage in which his wife would remain at her father’ s house ( Judges 9:2 *). Judges 14:5 conveys the idea that his parents after all gave their consent, and even went down with him to the wedding. This in itself is improbable, and there is no indication of their presence at Timnath or of their returning home. Moore plausibly suggests that a later... read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - Judges 14:1-20

SAMSON’S FIRST DEALINGS WITH THE PHILISTINES(Judges 14:1-20.)CRITICAL NOTES.— Judges 14:1. Timnath.] This was a town on the frontier which, like many other towns had been at first assigned to Judah to subdue and occupy (Joshua 15:57), but as Dan had too small a territory for its people, it and other towns were transferred to Dan. It is referred to in Joshua 15:43, also in ch. Judges 15:10. It was only a few miles from Samson’s mountain home, and though it should have all along belonged to the... read more

Chuck Smith

Chuck Smith Bible Commentary - Judges 14:1-20

Chapter 14NOW Samson went down to Timnath ( Judges 14:1 ),Which was a Philistine city and there he fell in love with one of the daughters of the Philistines. And he came home and he said to his parents, "I want you to go down and make arrangements for me to marry that girl."And they said, "Awe come on, Samson. All these beautiful Israeli girls around here, why do you have to go down and fall in love with a Philistine?" Now they didn't know that God was seeking an occasion against the... read more

Joseph Sutcliffe

Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments - Judges 14:1-20

Judges 14:1 . Timnath, situate in mount Ephraim, often taken and retaken in successive wars. To form a matrimonial connection with the Philistines, or with any of the idolatrous nations, was a violation of the Jewish law. Exodus 34:16. But truly, as Ovid says, Amor est cæcus, love is blind. Judges 14:5 . A young lion roared against him. To kill a lion placed a man among the first of heroes. He, like Hercules, mostly wore the skin as a proud trophy of victory. Old Æneas says, that he... read more