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Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines.
Verse 1. Thamnatha, in the confines of the tribes of Juda and Gad, and of the Philistines, who often took it from the latter. It is called Thamna, Genesis 38:12, (Bonfrere) and lies near Lidda. Euseb.
He came up, and told his father and his mother, saying, “I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. Now therefore get her for me as my wife.”
Then his father and his mother said to him, “Isn’t there a woman among your brothers’ daughters, or among all my people, that you go to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines?” Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she pleases me well.”
Verse 3. Eyes. He probably informed his parents ( Bible.) that he was inspired by the Lord, verse 4. Worthington.—The Jews say that he had first converted this woman; and interpreters generally excuse his conduct. But Saint Ambrose thinks that he forfeited God’s grace; (ep. 19) and Theodoret also supposes that he transgressed the law, (Exodus 34:12) and God only permitted him to fall in love with women, without approving his conduct, q. 21. The Scripture often says, that he does and wills what he only permits. Exodus 4:21. Joshua 11:20. Calmet.—If the conversion of this woman were well attested, there would be no difficulty about his marrying her, as Salmon did Rahab. S. Matthew 1:5. We have only conjecture that the women whom these and other holy personages espoused, embraced the true faith. But these may suffice in a matter of this nature. We cannot condemn Samson on this occasion, without involving his parents in the same censure, as they were charged to keep him from any contamination. Saint Ambrose justly observes that a woman was the occasion of his fall, but he might allude to Dalilia. Calmet. 16:4. It seems hard to pass sentence on this judge of Israel, on his first appearance, without the most cogent reasons. See Lyran, A. Lapide, and so forth Bible.—Hebrew “She is right in my eyes.” His parents were at length convinced that he was directed by God. Tirinus.
But his father and his mother didn’t know that it was of the LORD; for he sought an occasion against the Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines ruled over Israel.
Verse 4. He sought. This may be understood either of the Lord, or rather of Samson. Calmet.—Septuagint “because he himself sought to retaliate upon the Philistines.” Hebrew “that it was of the Lord that, or because he sought an occasion to take,” and so forth Bible.
Then Samson went down to Timnah with his father and his mother, and came to the vineyards of Timnah; and behold, a young lion roared at him.
Verse 5. Young lion, not quite so strong as an old one, but in its vigour. Rabbins. Calmet.—Met him. Hebrew “roared against him.” Bible.—His parents were at some distance. Menochius.—Saint Augustine (in Ps. lxxxviii.) shews the application of this history to Christ’s establishing and adorning the church of the Gentiles with sweet and wholesome laws. D.
The LORD’s Spirit came mightily on him, and he tore him as he would have torn a young goat with his bare hands, but he didn’t tell his father or his mother what he had done.
Verse 6. Spirit, increasing his courage and strength. Menochius.—This shews that the strength of Samson was miraculous, attached to the keeping of his hair, and the observance of the duties of the Nazarites. Calmet. Calmet. 16:19.—Mother. The modesty which he displays is more wonderful than the feat of valour. Bible.—Brave men are never boasters. Menochius.—He kept what he had done secret, designing to propose a riddle. Salien.
He went down and talked with the woman, and she pleased Samson well.
Verse 7. Spoke. Septuagint “they spoke;” both Samson and his parents ( Menochius.) asked the young woman in marriage. Genesis 24:57. Song of Songs 8:8. Calmet.—That had. Prot. “and she pleased Samson well,” as at first, verse 3. Bible.
After a while he returned to take her, and he went over to see the carcass of the lion; and behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey.
Verse 8. A honeycomb. There was a very remarkable providence in this particular of the history of Samson. From which also in the mystical sense we may learn what spiritual sweetness and nourishment our souls will acquire from slaying the lions of our passions and vices. Challoner.—Samson waited some time before he went to celebrate his marriage. The Rabbins say a full year was the usual term after the espousals; (Esther 2:12,) and many have translated “after a year.” Chal. Arab. and so forth During this space the flesh of the lion would be consumed, and bees might make honey in its skeleton. Herodotus (verse 114,) informs us that a swarm lodged in the skull of Onesylus, the tyrant of Cyprus, which had been suspended for a long time. They keep at a distance from carrion and every fetid smell. Some say that they were produced from the corrupted flesh of the lion, in the same manner as Virgil (iv.) describes the proceeding from a young ox beaten to death, and covered with boughs, in a place closely shut up. The bees might have laid their eggs upon these boughs, and the grass upon which an ox feeds, and so forth But none of these precautions were taken with the lion which Samson tore in pieces. Calmet.
He took it into his hands, and went on, eating as he went. He came to his father and mother and gave to them, and they ate, but he didn’t tell them that he had taken the honey out of the lion’s body.
His father went down to the woman; and Samson made a feast there, for the young men used to do so.
Verse 10. 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. Abul.—Do. Septuagint “Samson made there a feast for seven days, because young men do so.” Bible.
When they saw him, they brought thirty companions to be with him.
Verse 11. With him. Some imagine that these were placed to watch his motions. But he had surely invited them, verse 15. During the time that the nuptials were celebrated, these men (who are called the friends of the bridegroom, Matthew 9:15,) are said to have been exempted from all public charges. Mont. Calmet.
Samson said to them, “Let me tell you a riddle now. If you can tell me the answer within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing;
Verse 12. Riddle. Such obscure and ingenious questions were much liked in the East. 3 Kennicott. 10:1. The Egyptians concealed the mysteries of their religion, and Pythagoras his choicest maxims under them. Saint Clement strom. 5. The Greeks proposed these γριφους at feasts, determining some reward or punishment to those who succeeded or failed to explain them. Athenæus (x. 22,) relates that Simonides proposed this to his companions, after he had seen a blacksmith asleep, with a skin of win and a craw-fish beside him. “The father of the kid, which eateth all sorts of herbs, and the miserable fish knocked their heads against each other, and he who has received upon his eye-lids the son of the night, would not feed the minister, who kills the oxen of king Bacchus.” He could not get his ax mended. The ancients kept their wine in skins of kids, and so forth whence he alludes to the bottle of wine, near the miserable craw-fish or lobster.—Shirts. Hebrew sedinim, “sindons,” the garment which was worn next the skin. Mar. 14:51. It was used also by women, (Isaiah 3:23,) and is probably the same which is called a tunic. Calmet.—Coats. Hebrew “change of garments.” Some understand new and splendid garments. But Samson complied with his promise, by giving such as he found upon the 30 men, whom he slew, verse 19. Bible.—The custom of making presents of garments has long prevailed in the East. The Turkish emperor still receives and makes such presents to ambassadors. Calmet.—Their long robes may easily be made to fit any person. Bible.
but if you can’t tell me the answer, then you shall give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing.” They said to him, “Tell us your riddle, that we may hear it.”
He said to them, “Out of the eater came out food. Out of the strong came out sweetness.” They couldn’t in three days declare the riddle.
Verse 14. Sweetness. The explication of the ancient riddles frequently depended on the knowledge of something that had taken place. Our riddle-makers follow other rules. In a spiritual sense, the Philistines might be considered as those strong ones who had domineered over Israel, but would shortly afford them the spoils of a glorious victory. Jesus rises triumphant from the grave, and, after he has been persecuted and torn in pieces, becomes the food of Christians. Saint Augustine and so forth Calmet.
On the seventh day, they said to Samson’s wife, “Entice your husband, that he may declare to us the riddle, lest we burn you and your father’s house with fire. Have you called us to impoverish us? Isn’t that so?”
Verse 15. Seventh day of the week, (Salien) which was the fourth of the feast; and the Syr. Arab. and some editions of the Septuagint read, “the fourth.” The young men tried their skill for three days; when, despairing of success, they solicited Samson’s wife to draw the secret from him. She tried; but the seventh day being come, or at hand, ( Menochius.) the men began to threaten her, so that she became more importunate, and obtained her request. She had been weeping during a great part of the seven days, (verse 17. Calmet.) or perhaps she had begun to tease him from the beginning. Menochius.—Strip us. Septuagint “to impoverish us.” Homer (Odys. Z.) insinuates, that it was customary for the bride to furnish her attendants with white linen garments. These companions of Samson fear that they are going to be losers, by the honour which they do him. Calmet.—The compel his wife by threats to betray his secret, and still destroy her afterwards: thus persecutors frequently treat those who comply with they demands, and deny the faith. Worthington.
Samson’s wife wept before him, and said, “You just hate me, and don’t love me. You’ve told a riddle to the children of my people, and haven’t told it to me.” He said to her, “Behold, I haven’t told my father or my mother, so why should I tell you?”
She wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted; and on the seventh day, he told her, because she pressed him severely; and she told the riddle to the children of her people.
The men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, “What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?” He said to them, “If you hadn’t plowed with my heifer, you wouldn’t have found out my riddle.”
Verse 18. Down, at which time the day ended among the Jews.—Heifer. This proverbial expression means, that another’s property had been used against himself; (Delrio adag.162) or it may intimate, that improper liberties had been taken with Samson’s wife, ( Calmet.) as her so readily taking one of them for her husband, (verse 20) might lead us to suspect. Bible.—The Greek and Latin authors speak of a faithless wife in similar terms. Theognis. lviii. and so forth
The LORD’s Spirit came mightily on him, and he went down to Ashkelon and struck thirty men of them. He took their plunder, then gave the changes of clothing to those who declared the riddle. His anger burned, and he went up to his father’s house.
Verse 19. Riddle. Samson must no longer be considered as a private man. He was authorized by the Spirit of the Lord, thus to punish the oppressors of Israel. Calmet.—Though these 30 men had done him no injury in person, ( Bible.) they had sinned against God, and deserved to die. Salien.—He slew them publicly in the city ( Menochius.) though others believe that he did it in the neighbouring country, as it does not appear that the people knew of their death. Calmet.
But Samson’s wife was given to his companion, who had been his friend.
Verse 20. Companions, the chief friends of the bridegroom, (John 3:29,) the paranymph. Saint Ambrose Calmet.—Prot. “But Samson’s wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.” It seems her father had supposed, from Samson’s keeping away for a long time, that he had abandoned her. Bible.—But, though he offered some sort of recompense, ( Menochius.) he justly fell a victim to the people’s rage, who abhorred adultery, ( Calmet.) and were irritated at the persecution which he had brought upon them. Calmet. 15:2. 6. Bible.