Judges 14:3

_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._ Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren - i:e., of thine own tribe; a Danite woman. SAMSON SAID ... GET HER FOR ME; FOR SHE PLEASETH ME WELL - is literally, 'she is right in mine eyes;' not by her beautiful countenance or handsome figure, but right or fit for his purpose. And this throws light on the historian's remark in reference to the resistance of his parents; 'they knew not that it was of the Lord, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines,'-rather, from the Philistines-originating on their side. The Lord, by a course of retributive proceedings, was about to destroy the Philistine powe...

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...

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 understand the phrase,) that it might be a means of bringing about the deliverance of Israel. _FOR SHE PLEASETH ME WELL._] כי היאישרה בעיני _ki hi yisherah_ _beeynai, for she is right in my eyes_. This is what is supposed to be a sufficient reason to justify either man or woman in their random choice of wife or husband; the maxim is the same with that of the poet: -...

THE UNCIRCUMCISED PHILISTINES - Compare 1 Samuel 14:6; 1Sa 17:26; 1 Samuel 31:4, for a similar use of the term as one of reproach. Also Acts 11:3....

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....

THEN HIS FATHER AND HIS MOTHER SAID UNTO HIM,.... What he might expect, and doubtless did expect: 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? none in their own family, nor in the tribe of Dan, nor among the whole nation of Israel, but must go among the uncircumcised Philistines; for though they were not of the seven nations of the Canaanites, with whom marriage was forbidden, yet they not only dwelt where they did, and where the Israelites should, but were idolaters and impure persons, and therefore affinity should not be contracted with them, as being of a dangerous consequence, which might entice to idolatry. Ben Gersom observes, that their Rabbins say he made her a proselyte first, though he did not acquaint his parents with it, and so Abarbinel; but this seems not likely, for, ha...

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)....

TAKE. WIFE OF, &C. An unlawful connection. Compare Exodus 34:16; Deuteronomy 7:3, with Joshua 23:12. PLEASETH ME WELL. Hebrew is right in mine eyes....

It was the father's business to arrange a marriage and the amount of the dowry, e.g. Genesis 24:2 ff; Genesis 34:4; Genesis 38:6. Hence the father alone is named in clause _b_; in cl. _a_the words _and his mother_look like an insertion to harmonize with Judges 14:2: note _my people_; _said_is singular. _the uncircumcised_ A standing term of contempt in Judg. and Sam., pointing to the alien origin of the Philistines, the only uncircumcised people known to the early Israelites; see on Judges 13:1 and cf....