Judges 14

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 14

The idea which this chapter gives us of Samson is not what one might have expected concerning one who, by the special designation of heaven, was a Nazarite to God and a deliverer of Israel; and yet really he was both. Here is, I. Samson's courtship of a daughter of the Philistines, and his marriage to her, Jdg. 14:1-5, 7, 8. II. His conquest of a lion, and the prize he found in the carcase of it, Jdg. 14:5, 6, 8, 9. III. Samson's riddle proposed to his companions (Jdg. 14:10-14) and unriddled... read more

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

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

INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES 14 This chapter treats of Samson's courtship, and marriage of a Philistine woman, Judges 14:1 of his meeting with a young lion as he went courting, and of his slaying it, and afterwards finding honey in it, Judges 14:6 , of a riddle which be framed out of this incident, and put to his companions at his marriage to solve, giving them seven days to do it in, with a promise of a reward, Judges 14:10 and of their solving it by means of his wife, who got the secret... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 14:1

And Samson went down to Timnath ,.... A city which by lot fell to the tribe of Judah, but was afterwards given to the tribe of Dan, and now in the hands of the Philistines, Joshua 15:57 . Judah is said to go up to it, because the place where he lived lay below it, Genesis 38:13 , but Samson is said to go down to it, because he lived above it. The Jews F20 T. Bab. Sotah, fol. 10. 1. differ about the reconciliation of these two places; some say there were two of this name, the one is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 14:2

And he came up, and told his father and his mother ,.... Of his passion of love, being desirous of having their approbation and consent, in which he acted a dutiful part, and what became him; and may be an example to children to advise with their parents, and have their opinion and consent before they engage in such an enterprise, even before courtship: and said: I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines ; whom he had a good liking of, and a strong affection for;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 14:3

Then his father and his mother said unto him ,.... What he might expect, and doubtless did expect: 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 ? none in their own family, nor in the tribe of Dan, nor among the whole nation of Israel, but must go among the uncircumcised Philistines; for though they were not of the seven nations of the Canaanites, with whom marriage was forbidden, yet... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 14:4

And his father and mother knew not that it was of the Lord ,.... That he should marry this uncircumcised Philistine; Samson knew it was, and that his desire of having her in marriage did not arise from carnal affection to her merely, being captivated with her beauty and external form, for she was not so very fair, her younger sister was fairer than she, Judges 15:2 but he perceived it was the mind and will of God that he should take such a person to wife, by the impulse of the Spirit of... 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

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