_After. The same term is used in the original as chap. xiv. 8, which may be rendered "a year after," as it is not probable that the wife of Samson should be married to another, nor that he should lay aside his resentment much sooner. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sister. Jacob married two sisters, and such marriages were not uncommon among the eastern nations. (Calmet) --- Samson does not accept the offer, as it was now contrary to the law, Leviticus xviii. 18. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Evils. This is a declaration of war, made by Samson in person, against a whole nation. (Haydock) --- He does not wish to engage his countrymen in the quarrel, that they may not be more oppressed. God chose that he should weaken the Philistines by degrees. They had been apprised of the injustice don... [ Continue Reading ]
Foxes. Being judge of the people, he might have many to assist him to catch with nets or otherwise a number of these animals; of which there were great numbers in that country, (Challoner) as we may gather from Canticle of Canticles ii. 15., and Lamentations v. 15. (Menochius) --- Hence many places... [ Continue Reading ]
_Father. Thus they met with the fate which the woman had endeavoured to avoid, by an infidelity to her husband. (Salien) --- The princes of the Philistines acknowledged the wrong which had been done to Samson, and thus testify their abhorrence of adultery. (Calmet) --- Some Hebrew manuscripts confir... [ Continue Reading ]
_Of you. He intimates that they should answer for the injustice which they ought to have prevented, or punished sooner. (Haydock) --- Hebrew, "If you had done like this," and slain the father and daughter, I should be quiet. (Du Hamel)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thigh. Striking this part is often mentioned as a mark of consternation, Jeremias xxxi. 19. (Menochius) --- Hebrew, "and he smote them thigh and leg, with a great slaughter." (Haydock) --- Vatable supposes this means an entire destruction. Chaldean, "he smote both horse and foot." He rendered them... [ Continue Reading ]
_Spread. Hebrew, "encamped in Juda, and spread themselves in Lechi." (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Kill me, in a treacherous manner. He was not afraid of them. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cords. Hebrew habothim, Septuagint Greek: Kalodiois, denote strong ropes or cables. (Menochius) --- Etam is not in Hebrew or the Septuagint. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bone. Hebrew, "Lechi," as it was called after the slaughter made by Samson, ver. 15. It is about 20 miles to the east of Ascalon. (Calmet) --- Approach: literally, "the smell." This expression is often used to denote burning. (Septuagint; Chap xvi. 9.; Daniel iii. 94.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_There. The Septuagint, Josephus, and the Vulgate agree, reading Hebrew truth, instead of the present teriya, "fresh," or raw, which seems an useless remark in this place. (Calmet) --- Asses are very large in Palestine. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Asses. He insists on this particular, as such an unusual weapon rendering his victory more astonishing, and he would not leave any room for doubt. Hebrew is variously translated, "with the jaw-bone of an ass, I have made a heap, yea two heaps; with the jaw-bone of an ass, I have defeated a thousand... [ Continue Reading ]
_Which is, &c. This is added by the Vulgate being the interpretation of the Septuagint Anairesis; (Calmet) though it also signify, "the slaughter." (St. Ambrose, ep. 19.) (Haydock) --- The Syriac and Arabic have read domoth, "the blood," instead of ramath Lechi, "the lifting up;" or as others would... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thirsty. St. Ambrose (ep. 19 or 70) follows Josephus, (Menochius) is supposing that the arrogance of Samson, in attributing the victory to his own strength, was thus punished. But others are more favourable to the hero, (Calmet) and suppose that his thirst was occasioned by the extraordinary fatigu... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then. Hebrew, "And God clave the Mactesh (Haydock; hollow place, great tooth;" or the name of a rock, as Josephus and others understand it, perhaps on account of its resemblance with a tooth) which was at Lechi; and....he called it the fountain of him who cries out, (Calmet; En-hakkore, Protestants... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XV. _ Years. Salien gathers from this remark being made here, that the Philistines still asserted their dominion over Israel, but with greater moderation than they had done before: and both nations acknowledged the judicial authority of Samson, who had now been giving them such proofs of hi... [ Continue Reading ]