Judges 14:2

_AND HE CAME UP, AND TOLD HIS FATHER AND HIS MOTHER, AND SAID, I HAVE SEEN A WOMAN IN TIMNATH OF THE DAUGHTERS OF THE PHILISTINES: NOW THEREFORE GET HER FOR ME TO WIFE._ Get her for me to wife. In the East, parents did, stud do in many cases still negotiate the marriage alliances for their sons. During their period of ascendancy, the Philistine invaders had settled in the towns; and the contact between them and the Israelites was often of such a friendly and familiar character as to issue in matrimonial relations. Moreover, the Philistines were not in the number of the seven devoted nations of Canaan, with whom the law forbade them to marry....

1-4 As far as Samson's marriage was a common case, it was weak and foolish of him to set his affections upon a daughter of the Philistines. Shall one, not only an Israelite, but a Nazarite, devoted to the Lord, covet to become one with a worshipper of Dagon? It does not appear that he had any reason to think her wise or virtuous, or any way likely to be a help meet for him; but he saw something in her agreeable to his fancy. He that, in the choice of a wife, is only guided by his eye, and governed by his fancy, must afterwards thank himself if he find a Philistine in his arms. Yet it was well done not to proceed till Samson had made his parents acquainted with the matter. Children ought not to marry, nor to move towards it, without the advice and consent of their parents. Samson's parents did well to dissuade him from yoking himself unequally with unbelievers. It seems that it pleased G...

GET HER FOR ME - namely, by Paying the requisite dowry (see marginal references) and gifts to relations. Hence, the frequent mention of parents taking wives for their sons Exodus 34:16; Nehemiah 10:30, because the parents of the bridegroom conducted the negotiation, and paid the dower to the parents of the bride....

EXPOSITION JUDGES 14:1 TIMNATH, or, more correctly, _Thimnathah_,_ _as in Joshua 19:43, a town in the tribe of Dan, the name of which survives in the modern _Tibneh_,_ _about three miles south-west of Zorah (Judges 13:2, note). It may or may not be identical with Timnath in Genesis 38:12-1, and with _Timnah _in Joshua 15:10. It appears to have been in the possession of the Philistines at this time....

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; he is very open and ingenuous in his account, does not go about to hide anything from his parents, or colour things over, or conceal her descent, but frankly tells them she was a Philistine woman, which he knew would at once furnish out an objection against her: NOW THEREFORE GET HER FOR ME TO WIFE: for it seems it was the custom then, when a young man had found a woman he liked, that it was left to his...

CHAPTER 14 THE FIRST DEEDS OF SAMSON _ 1. The woman in Timnath (Judges 14:1)_ 2. The killing of the young lion and the honey in the carcass (Judges 14:5) 3. The marriage feast and the riddle (Judges 14:10) 4. The riddle answered (Judges 14:15) 5. Thirty Philistines slain by Samson (Judges 14:19) Samson was called of God to be a true Nazarite, but in his life which was to manifest the Nazarite character he failed. “He went down to Timnath” is a foreboding beginning. It was a step in the wrong direction. He st

SAMSON AT TIMNATH. Samson's adventures are all bound up with his relations to Philistine women one in Timnath, a second in Gaza, and a third in the valley of Sorek. The name of only one of them is given, and it has become synonymous with an evil enchantress. Judges 14:1. Timnath (p. 31) is the modern Tibnah, 3½ m. to the SW. of Zorah. Judges 14:2. The young man's parents objected to a marriage with an alien (_cf._ Genesis 24:3; Genesis 26:34 f; Genesis 27:46)....

Samson at first behaves as a dutiful son, and consults both parents about his marriage. It is hardly necessary to strike out the reference to his mother....

_Samson and the Woman of Timnath Judges 14:1-7_ And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines. 2 And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife. 3 Then his father and his mother said unto him, 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? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well. 4 But his father and mother knew not that it was of the Lord, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel. 5 Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young

THE MARRIAGE OF SAMSON 1-5. Samson chooses a wife among the Philistines. He and his parents go down to Timnath....