Judges 14:1
_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 xxxviii. 12, (Bonfrere) and lies near Lidda. (Eusebius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_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 xxxviii. 12, (Bonfrere) and lies near Lidda. (Eusebius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Eyes. He probably informed his parents (Haydock) that he was inspired by the Lord, ver. 4. (Worthington) --- The Jews say that he had first converted this woman; and interpreters generally excuse his conduct. But St. Ambrose thinks that he forfeited God's grace; (ep. 19) and Theodoret also supposes... [ Continue Reading ]
_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," &c. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Young lion, not quite so strong as an old one, but in its vigour. (Rabbins) (Calmet) --- Met him. Hebrew, "roared against him." (Haydock) --- His parents were at some distance. (Menochius) --- St. Augustine (in Psalm lxxxviii.) shews the application of this history to Christ's establishing and ador... [ Continue Reading ]
_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) (Chap. xvi. 19.) --- Mother. The modesty which he displays is more wonderful than the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Spoke. Septuagint, "they spoke;" both Samson and his parents (Menochius) asked the young woman in marriage, Genesis xxiv. 57., and Canticle of Canticles viii. 8. (Calmet) --- That had. Protestants, "and she pleased Samson well," as at first, ver. 3. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
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 tim... [ Continue Reading ]
_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. (Abulensis) --- Do. Septuagint, "Samson made there a feast for seven days, because young men do so." (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_With him. Some imagine that these were placed to watch his motions. But he had surely invited them, ver. 15. During the time that the nuptials were celebrated, these men (who are called the friends of the bridegroom, Matthew ix. 15,) are said to have been exempted from all public charges. (Montanus... [ Continue Reading ]
Riddle. Such obscure and ingenious questions were much liked in the East, 3 Kings x. 1. The Egyptians concealed the mysteries of their religion, and Pythagoras his choicest maxims under them. (Clement of Alexandria, strom. 5.) The Greeks proposed the Greek: griphous at feasts, determining some rewar... [ Continue Reading ]
_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 the... [ Continue Reading ]
Seventh day of the week, (Salien) which was the fourth of the feast; and the Syriac, Arabic, 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 t... [ Continue Reading ]
_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 h... [ Continue Reading ]
_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, (Haydock) they had sinned against God, and deserved to die. (Salien) --- He slew the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Companions, the chief friends of the bridegroom, (John iii. 29,) the paranymph. (St. Ambrose) (Calmet) --- Protestants, "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... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XIV.... [ Continue Reading ]