Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 14:1-9

Here, I. Samson, under the extraordinary guidance of Providence, seeks an occasion of quarrelling with the Philistines, by joining in affinity with them?a strange method, but the truth is Samson was himself a riddle, a paradox of a man, did that which was really great and good, by that which was seemingly weak and evil, because he was designed not to be a pattern to us (who must walk by rule, not by example), but a type of him who, though he knew no sin, was made sin for us, and appeared in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 14:5

Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath ,.... They were prevailed upon to go with him, either because they perceived his affections were so strongly set upon a wife, that they thought it advisable to agree to it, lest it should be of bad consequence to him, or because he let them know that the thing was of God, and what was his design in it: and came to the vineyards of Timnath ; the land of Canaan was a land of vineyards, and particularly that part of it which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 14:6

And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him ,.... The Spirit of might from the Lord, as the Targum, inspiring him with courage and intrepidity of mind, and increasing his bodily strength: and he rent him as he would rend a kid ; as he came up to him to seize him, he laid hold on him and strangled him, as Josephus F2 Antiqu l. 5. c. 8. sect. 5. says, caught him by the throat, and tore it out; for it does not seem that the carcass was torn to pieces, or limb from limb, by what... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 14:7

And he went down, and talked with the woman ,.... Entered into a conversation with her, that he might the better judge of her other qualifications, besides that of outward form and beauty, whether she would be a suitable yoke fellow for him; and he talked with her about marriage, and proposed it to her, or talked about her to her father and near relations; and, as the Targum expresses it, asked the woman, not only asked of her consent, but demanded her of her friends: it may refer, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 14:8

And after a time he returned to take her ,.... Matters being agreed on, and settled on both sides, and the espousals made, he and his parents returned, and, at the proper usual time for the consummation of the marriage, he went again to Timnath for that purpose. It is in the Hebrew text, "after days" F3 מימים "a diebus", Montanus; "post dies", Vatablus. , which sometimes signifies a year, see Genesis 4:3 and so Ben Gersom interprets it, that a year after this woman became Samson's... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 14:9

And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating ,.... Josephus F11 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 8. sect. 6.) says he took three honeycombs, he means three pieces of the honeycomb, and ate the honey as he went along to Timnath; which he might do without touching the carcass of the lion, and defiling himself thereby, which, as a Nazarite, he was more especially to be careful of: and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat ; who went down with him to the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 14:5

A young lion roared against him - Came fiercely out upon him, ready to tear him to pieces. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 14:6

He rent him as he would have rent a kid - Now it is not intimated that he did this by his own natural strength, but by the Spirit of the Lord coming mightily upon him: so that his strength does not appear to be his own, nor to be at his command; his might was, by the will of God, attached to his hair and to his Nazarate. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 14:7

And talked with the woman - That is, concerning marriage; thus forming the espousals. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 14:8

After a time - Probably about one year; as this was the time that generally elapsed between espousing and wedding. A swarm of bees and honey in the carcass - By length of time the flesh had been entirely consumed off the bones, and a swarm of bees had formed their combs within the region of the thorax, nor was it an improper place; nor was the thing unfrequent, if we may credit ancient writers; the carcasses of slain beasts becoming a receptacle for wild bees. The... read more

Group of Brands