CHAPTER XIV _Samson marries a wife of the Philistines_, 1-4. _Slays a young lion at Timnath, in the carcass of which he_ _afterwards finds a swarm of bees_, 5-9. _He makes a feast; they appoint him thirty companions, to whom_ _he puts forth a riddle, which they cannot expound_, 10-14. _They en... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 14:3. IS THERE _NEVER A WOMAN_] To marry with any that did not belong to the Israelitish stock, was contrary to the law, Exodus 34:16; Deuteronomy 7:3. But this marriage of Samson was said to be _of the Lord_, Jdg 14:4; that is, God _permitted_ it, (for in no other sense can we understa... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 14:5. _A YOUNG LION ROARED AGAINST HIM._] Came fiercely out upon him, ready to tear him to pieces.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 14:6. _HE RENT HIM AS HE WOULD HAVE RENT A KID_] Now it is not intimated that he did this by his own natural strength, but by the _Spirit of the Lord coming mightily upon him_: so that his strength does not appear to be his own, nor to be at his command; his might was, _by the will of G... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 14:7. _AND TALKED WITH THE WOMAN_] That is, concerning marriage; thus forming the espousals.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 14:8. _AFTER A TIME_] Probably about one year; as this was the time that generally elapsed between espousing and wedding. _A SWARM OF BEES AND HONEY IN THE CARCASS_] By length of time the flesh had been entirely consumed off the bones, and a swarm of bees had formed their combs within... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 14:10. _SAMSON MADE THERE A FEAST_] The marriage feast, when he went to marry his espoused wife.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 14:11. _THEY BROUGHT THIRTY COMPANIONS_] These are called in Scripture _children of the bride-chamber_, and _friends of the_ _bridegroom_. See the whole of this subject particularly illustrated in the observations at the end, _Clarke "_John 3:25_"_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 14:12. _I WILL NOW PUT FORTH A RIDDLE_] Probably this was one part of the amusements at a marriage-feast; each in his turn proposing a riddle, to be solved by any of the rest on a particular forfeit; the proposer forfeiting, if solved, the same which the company must forfeit if they cou... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 14:14. _AND HE SAID UNTO THERE_] Thus he states or proposes his riddle: - _Out of the eater came forth meat,_ _And out of the strong came forth sweetness._ Instead of _strong_, the _Syriac_ and _Arabic_ have _bitter_. I have no doubt that the riddle was in _poetry_; and perhaps the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 14:17. _AND SHE WEPT BEFORE HIM_] Not through any love to him, for it appears she had none, but to oblige her paramours; and of this he soon had ample proof.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 14:18. _IF YE HAD NOT PLOUGHED WITH MY HEIFER_] If my wife had not been unfaithful to my bed, she would not have been unfaithful to my secret; and, you being her paramours, your interest was more precious to her than that of her husband. She has betrayed me through her attachment to you... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 14:19. _THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD CAME UPON HIM_] "The spirit of fortitude from before the Lord."-_Targum_. He was inspired with unusual courage, and he felt strength proportioned to his wishes. _HE - SLEW THIRTY MEN - AND TOOK THEIR SPOILS_] He took their _hayks_, their _kumjas_, and _ca... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 14:20. _BUT SAMSON'S WIFE WAS_ GIVEN _TO HIS COMPANION_] This was the same kind of person who is called the friend of the bridegroom, John 3:29. And it is very likely that she loved this person better than she loved her husband, and went to him as soon as Samson had gone to his father'... [ Continue Reading ]