Judges 14:5-20 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

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Samson's Marriage. As he could not take an unwelcomed bride to his father's house, Samson resolved to contract a marriage in which his wife would remain at her father's house (Judges 9:2 *). Judges 14:5 conveys the idea that his parents after all gave their consent, and even went down with him to the wedding. This in itself is improbable, and there is no indication of their presence at Timnath or of their returning home. Moore plausibly suggests that a later writer, taking offence at the story of an improper marriage, inserted and his father and his mother in order to regularise it. The same applies to Judges 14:10.

Judges 14:6. Cf. David's and Benaiah's exploits (1 Samuel 17:34-36; 2 Samuel 23:20) and Hercules-' fight with a Nemean lion.

Judges 14:8. Omit to take her, a gloss which spoils the sense. Samson was returning home when he turned aside to see the lion's carcase.

Judges 14:10. Read And he went down to the woman, and made a feast there. For young men read bridegrooms.

Judges 14:11. The sense is not good, they being undefined. Making a slight change, read and he took thirty companions, and they were with him. At Syrian village weddings the bride groom is still attended by a bodyguard of young men (Ca. Judges 3:1 f.).

Judges 14:14. As a poetical expression of a remarkable incident, Samson's couplet is perfect; but it was not a good riddle, as the Philistines could know nothing of the facts alluded to

Judges 14:15. They got the answer not by wit, but by guile. Probably in three days and on the seventh day should be omitted. Read And they were not able to guess the riddle, so they said to Samson's wife, etc. He is called her husband, and she his wife, though as yet they were only betrothed. The end of Judges 14:15 reads in some MSS and the Targum, Have ye called us hither to impoverish us?

Judges 14:18. The word for sun cannot be right, and a very slight change gives the reading: Before he entered into the chamber. The week of ante-nuptial festivities was ending, the marriage day had at length come, when the thirty youths read the riddle and enjoyed their triumph. Samson's retort expressed his fierce contempt for the Philistines who had played him false, the women and the men alike.

Judges 14:19. In his rage he rushed away home, leaving the marriage unconsummated, regardless of the feelings of the bride and her family.

Judges 14:19 a is evidently a later insertion.

Judges 14:20. The indignant father at once gave the bride to Samson's groomsman, and the interrupted wedding was completed.

Related Commentaries of Judges 14:5

Judges 14:5-20

5 Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared againsta him.

6 And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.

7 And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.

8 And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion.

9 And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion.

10 So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do.

11 And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.

12 And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheetsb and thirty change of garments:

13 But if ye cannot declare it me, then shall ye give me thirty sheetsc and thirty change of garments. And they said unto him, Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it.

14 And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle.

15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto Samson's wife, Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father's house with fire: have ye called us to take that we have? is it not so?

16 And Samson's wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people, and hast not told it me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told it my father nor my mother, and shall I tell it thee?

17 And she wept before him the sevend days, while their feast lasted: and it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she lay sore upon him: and she told the riddle to the children of her people.

18 And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle.

19 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil,e and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father's house.

20 But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.