Judges 14:6-19 NIV

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 14:10-20

We have here an account of Samson's wedding feast and the occasion it gave him to fall foul upon the Philistines. I. Samson conformed to the custom of the country in making a festival of his nuptial solemnities, which continued seven days, Jdg. 13:10. Though he was a Nazarite, he did not affect, in a thing of this nature, to be singular, but did as the young men used to do upon such occasions. It is no part of religion to go contrary to the innocent usages of the places where we live: nay, it... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 14:10

So his father went down unto the woman ,.... At Timnath, whom Samson had espoused; the Targum is,"about the business of the woman;'about the consummation of the marriage with her; they all three went, the father, the mother, and the son, as appears from the preceding verse: for Samson made a feast, for so used the young men to do ; at the time of marriage; this was the nuptial feast common in all nations; but it seems the custom now and here was for the bridegroom to make it; whereas... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 14:11

And it came to pass; when they saw him ,.... That is, the Philistines, the citizens of Timnath, when they saw that he was come to consummate his marriage: that they brought thirty companions to be with him ; to be the bridegroom's men, or children of the bridechamber, as they are called, Matthew 9:15 or friends of the bridegroom, John 3:29 to keep him company during the nuptial feast: this they did according to custom, and in honour and respect unto him; though some think, and so... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 14:12

And Samson said unto them ,.... His thirty companions, very likely on the first day of the feast: I will now put forth a riddle to you : a secret, hidden, abstruse thing, not easy to be understood; a dark saying, wrapped up in figurative terms; and this he proposed as an amusement to them, to exercise their wits, which it seems was usual to entertain guests with, and might be both pleasing and profitable: if you can certainly declare it unto me within the seven days of the feast ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 14:13

But if ye cannot declare it unto me ,.... Explain the riddle in the space of time allowed: then shall ye give me thirty sheets, and thirty change of garments ; so many shirts and suits of apparel: and they said unto him, put forth thy riddle that we may hear it ; not thereby to judge whether they would agree to his proposals, but hereby suggesting that they accepted his terms and conditions, either to give or receive the above premium, if they did or did not hit on the explanation of... read more

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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 14:10-20

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

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

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 14:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 14:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 14:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 14:13

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