Judg 14-15, 16:22-30, 18:22-31, 1Ch 12:35 | TSK | STEP | Samson desires a wife of the Philistines. In his journey he kills a lion. In a second journey he finds honey in the carcase. Samson's marriage feast. His riddle by his wife is made known. He spoils thirty Philistines. His wife is married to another. Timnath. aw.

it was of the Lord.That is, God permitted it, that it might be a means of bringing about the deliverance of Israel. Such marriages were forbidden to the Israelites, to keep them separate from the idolatrous nations.

Jos 11:20; 1Ki 12:15; 2Ki 6:33; 2Ch 10:15; 22:7; 25:20; Ps 115:3

had dominion.

13:1; 15:11; De 28:48

against him. Heb. in meeting him.

the Spirit.

3:10; 11:29; 13:25; 1Sa 11:6

rent him.Now it is not intimated that he did this by his own natural strength; but by the supernatural strength communicated by the Spirit of the Lord coming mightily upon him; which strength was not at his own command, but was, by the will of God, attached to his hair and nazarate.

15:8,15; 16:30; 1Sa 17:34-37,46; Zec 4:6; 1Jo 3:8

he told.

Isa 42:2; Mt 11:29

to take her.

Ge 29:21; Mt 1:20

a swarm.It is probable, that the flesh had been entirely consumed off the bones, which had become dry; and the body having been throw into some private place, (for Samson turned aside to visit it,) a swarm of bees had formed their combs in the cavity of the dry ribs, or region of the thorax; nor was it a more improper place than a hollow rock.

1Sa 14:25-30; Pr 25:15

made there.

Ge 29:22; Es 1:7-22; Ec 10:19; Mt 22:2-4; Joh 2:9; Re 19:9

saw him.

1Sa 10:23; 16:6

thirty.

Mt 9:15; Joh 3:29

a riddle.

1Ki 10:1; Ps 49:4; Pr 1:6; Eze 17:2; 20:49; Mt 13:13,34; Lu 14:7

Joh 16:29; 1Co 13:12; *marg:

the seven.

Ge 29:27,28; 2Ch 7:8

sheets. or, shirts.This will receive illustration from Mr. Jackson's description of the Moorish dress:--"It resembles that of the ancient patriarchs, as represented in paintings; (but the paintings are taken from Asiatic models:) that of the men consists of a red cap and turban, a ({kumja}) shirt, which hangs outside of the drawers, and comes below the knee; a ({caftan}) coat, which buttons close before, and down to the bottom with large open sleeves; over which, when they go out of doors, they throw carelessly, and sometimes elegantly, a {hayk,} or garment of white cotton, silk, or wool, five or six yards long, and five feet wide. The Arabs often dispense with the {caftan,} and even with the shirt, wearing nothing but the {hayk.}"

Mt 27:28; Mr 14:51,52

change.

Ge 45:22; 2Ki 5:5,22; Mt 6:19; Jas 5:2

Out of the eater.

Ge 3:15; De 8:15,16; 1Ki 17:6; 2Ch 20:2,25; Isa 53:10-12; Ro 5:3-5

Ro 8:37; 2Co 4:17; 12:9,10; Php 1:12-20; Heb 2:14,15; 12:10,11

Jas 1:2-4; 1Pe 2:24

they could.

Pr 24:7; Mt 13:11; Ac 8:31

on the seventh day.The LXX. reads "on the fourth day;" with which the Syriac and Arabic agree. This, as Dr. Wall observes, is certainly right; for it appears from ver. 17, that she wept the remainder of the seven days; for which there could have been no time, if they did not threaten her till the seventh.

Entice.

16:5; Ge 3:1-6; Pr 1:11; 5:3; 6:26; Mic 7:5

lest we burn.

12:1; 15:6

take that we have. Heb. possess us, or, impoverish us.

Thou dost.

16:15

I have not.

Ge 2:24

the seven, or, the rest of the seven days. she lay.

16:6,13,16; Ge 3:6; Job 2:9; Pr 7:21; Lu 11:8; 18:4,5

and she told.

Pr 2:16,17

the Spirit.

6; 3:10; 13:25; 15:14; 1Sa 11:6

spoil. or, apparel.

given to.

15:2

his friend.

Ps 55:12,13; Jer 9:5; Mic 7:5; Mt 26:49,50; Joh 3:29; 13:18

Judges 15

1 Samson is denied his wife.

3 He burns the Philistines' corn with foxes and firebrands.

6 His wife and her father are burnt by the Philistines.

7 Samson smites them hip and thigh.

9 He is bound by the men of Judah, and delivered to the Philistines.

14 He kills them with a jawbone.

18 God makes the fountain En-hakkore for him in Lehi.

a kid.

I will go.

I verily.

I gave.

take her. Heb. let her be thine.

Now shall, etc. or, Now shall I be blameless from thePhilistines, though, etc.

14:15

caught three.Dr. Kennicott and others contend, that for {shüâlim,} "foxes," we should read {shöâlim,} "handfuls," or sheaves of corn. But, 1. The word {lachad,} rendered caught, never signifies simply to get or take but always to catch, seize, or take by assault or stratagem. 2. Though the proposed alteration is sanctioned by seven MSS., yet all the versions are on the other side. 3. Admitting this alteration, it will be difficult to prove that the word {shöâl} means either a sheaf or a handful of corn in the ear, and straw. It occurs but thrice in Scriptures (1 Ki 20:10. Isa 40:12. Eze 13:9): where it evidently means as much as can be contained in the hollow of the hand; but when handfuls of grain in the shock, or sheaves are intended, very different words are used. See Ru 2.15, 16, etc. 4. It is not hinted that Samson collected them alone, or in one day; he might have employed many hands and several days in the work. 5. The word {shüâl} properly denotes the jackal, which travellers describe as an animal in size between the wolf and fox, gregarious, as many as 200 having been seen together, and the most numerous of any in eastern countries; so that Samson might have caught many of them together in nets.

Ps 63:10; So 2:15; La 5:18

firebrands. or, torches.

he let them go.

Ex 22:6; 2Sa 14:30

and burnt.

12:1; 14:15; Pr 22:8; 1Th 4:6

Though.

14:4,19; Ro 12:19

Isa 25:10; 63:3,6

Lehi.

17,19

went. Heb. went down. the rock Etam.Probably near the town Etam, mentioned in 1 Ch 4:32.

Philistines.

13:1; 14:4; De 28:13,47,48; Ps 106:41

to bind thee.

Mt 27:2; Ac 7:25

fall.

8:21; 1Ki 2:25,34

the Philistines.

5:30; 16:24; Ex 14:3,5; 1Sa 4:5; Job 20:5; Mic 7:8

the Spirit.

3:10; 14:6,19; Zec 4:6

the cords.

16:9,12; 1Sa 17:35; Ps 18:34; 118:11; Php 4:3

loosed. Heb. were melted.

new jaw-bone. Heb. moist. slew.

3:31; 4:21; 7:16; Le 26:8; Jos 23:10; 1Sa 14:6,14; 17:49,50

1Co 1:27,28

a thousand.Some would render the words {aileph ish,} "a chief;" but it is {alluph,} and not {aileph,} which signifies a chief; besides which, the Hebrew idiom would, even in that case, require it to be {ish alluph,} "a man, a chief," and not {alluph ish,} "a chief, a man." Add to which, that every version renders it "a thousand men."

with the jaw-bone.There is here a fine paronomasia upon the word {chamor,} "an ass," which also signifies "a heap;" {bilchee hachamor, chamor chamorathayim,} "With the jaw-bone of an ass, a heap upon two heaps."

heaps upon heaps. Heb. an heap, two heaps.

Ramath-lehi. that is, the lifting up of the jaw-bone, or,the casting away of the jaw-bone.

he was sore.

8:4; Ps 22:14,15; Joh 19:28; 2Co 4:8,9

Thou hast given.

Ps 3:7,8; 18:31-40

shall.

Ge 32:31; 2Co 12:7,8

and fall.

Ge 12:12,13; 20:11; 1Sa 27:1; 2Co 1:8,9; Heb 11:32

the uncircumcised.

1Sa 17:26,36; 2Sa 1:20

the jaw. or, Lehi.This reading is certainly preferable: it was in the place called Lehi where a spring was supernaturally opened.

there came.

Isa 44:3

his spirit.

Ge 45:27; 1Sa 30:12; Isa 40:26

En-hakkore.Samson gave this expressive name to the miraculously springing water, to be as a memorial of the goodness of God to him. En-hakkore, the well of him that cried, which kept him in remembrance both of his own distress which caused him to cry, and the favour of Jehovah to him in answer to his cry. Many a spring of comfort God opens to his people, which may fitly be called by the name En-hakkore: and this instance of Samson's relief should encourage us to trust in God, for when he pleases he can open rivers in high places.

Isa 41:17,18Samson at first gave the name of Ramath-lehi (the lifting up of the jaw-bone) which denoted him great and triumphant: but now he gives it another name, En-hakkore, which denotes him wanting and dependent.

Ge 16:13, 22:14; 28:19; 30:30; Ex 17:15; Ps 34:6; 120:1

13:1,5; 16:31"He seems to have judged South-west Israel during twenty years of their servitude of the Philistines."

Judges 16:22-30

the hair.

Le 26:44; De 32:36; Ps 106:44,45; 107:13,14

after he was shaven. or, as when he was shaven.

Dagon.

1Sa 5:2-5; Jer 2:11; Mic 4:5; Ro 1:23-25; 1Co 8:4,5; 10:20

to rejoice.

Job 30:9,10; Ps 35:15,16; Pr 24:17

praised.

De 32:27; Isa 37:20; Eze 20:14; Da 5:4,23; Hab 1:16; Re 11:10

which slew many of us. Heb. and who multiplied our slain.

15:8,16

their hearts.

9:27; 18:20; 19:6,9; 2Sa 13:28; 1Ki 20:12; Es 3:15; Isa 22:13

Da 5:2,3; Mt 14:6,7

them. Heb. before them. sport.

Job 30:9,10; Ps 35:15,16; 69:12,26; Pr 24:17,18; Mic 7:8-10

Mt 26:67,68; 27:29,39-44; Heb 11:36

and there."Samson, therefore," says Dr. Shaw, "must have been in a court or area below; and consequently the temple will be of the same kind with the ancient, [temene,] or sacred enclosures, which were only surrounded either in part, or on all sides, with some plain or cloistered buildings. Several palaces, {doutwanas,} (as the courts of justice are called in those countries) are built in this fashion. On their public festivals and rejoicings, the roofs of these cloisters are crowded with spectators. I have often seen numbers of people diverted in this manner on the roof of the dey's palace at Algiers; which, like many others, has an advanced cloister, over against the gate of the palace, like a long pent-house, supported by one or two contiguous pillars in front, or centre."

the roof.

9:51; De 22:8; Jos 2:8; 2Sa 11:2

called.

2Ch 20:12; Ps 50:15; 91:15; 116:4; La 3:31,32; Heb 11:32

remember me.

Ps 74:18-23; Jon 2:1,2,7; Jer 15:15

that I may.

5:31; Ps 58:10,11; 143:12; 2Ti 4:14; Re 6:10

on which it was borne up. or, he leaned on them.

me. Heb. my soul. die.

Mt 16:25; Ac 20:24; 21:13; Php 2:17,30; Heb 12:1-4

and the house.

Job 20:5; 31:3; Ps 62:3; Ec 9:12; Mt 24:38,39; 1Th 5:2

So the dead.

14:19; 15:8,15; Ge 3:15; Php 2:8; Col 2:15; Heb 2:14,15

Judges 18:22-31

What aileth.

Ge 21:17; 1Sa 11:5; 2Sa 14:5; 2Ki 6:28; Ps 114:5; Isa 22:1

comest. Heb. art gathered together.

what have.

17:13; Ps 115:8; Isa 44:18-20; Jer 50:38; 51:17; Eze 23:5

Hab 2:18,19; Ac 19:26; Re 17:2

angry. Heb. bitter of soul.

1Sa 30:6; 2Sa 17:8; Job 3:5; 27:2; *marg:

Laish.

they smote.

burnt.

And there.

Ps 7:2; 50:22; Da 3:15-17

far from.Probably the people of Laish were originally a colony of the Zidonians; who being an opulent people, and in possession of a strong city, lived in a state of security, not being afraid of their neighbours. In this the Leshemites imitated them, though they appear not to have had the same reason for their confidence; and though they might naturally expect help from their countrymen, yet as they lived at a considerable distance from Sidon, the Danites saw they could strike the blow before the news of the invasion could reach that city.

1,7; Jos 11:8; Isa 23:4,12

Beth-rehob.

Nu 13:21

Rehob.

2Sa 10:6

Dan.

20:1; Ge 14:14; Jos 19:47; 2Sa 17:11; 1Ki 12:29,30; 15:20

who was.

Ge 30:6; 32:28Laish, or Dan, was situated at the northern extremity of the land of Canaan, in a beautiful and fertile plain, at the foot of mount Lebanon, on the springs of Jordan, and, according to Eusebius, four miles from Cæsarea Philippi, or Paneas, now Banias, (with which some have confounded it,) towards Tyre. Burckhardt says, that the source of the river El Dhan, or Jordan, is at an hour's distance from Banias, which agrees with Eusebius.

set up.

Ex 20:4; Le 26:1; De 17:2-7; 27:15; 31:16,29; Jos 19:40-48

Ps 78:58-61God had graciously performed his promise, in putting these Danites in possession of that which fell to their lot, obliging them thereby to be faithful to him who had been so to them; they inherited the labour of the people, that they might observe his statues. Ps 105:44, 45. But the first thing they do after they are settled is to break his laws, by setting up the graven image, attributing their success to that idol, which, if God had not been infinitely patient, would have been their ruin. Thus a prosperous idolater goes on to offend, imputing this his power unto his God. Instead of Manasseh, some would read Moses; as it is found in some MSS., in the Vulgate and in the concessions of the most intelligent Jews. But Bp. Patrick takes this to be an idle conceit of the Rabbins, and supposes this Jonathan to be of some other family of the Levites. Yet Kimchi acknowledges, that the Jews, deeply concerned for the honour of their lawgiver, to whom they thought it would be a great dishonour to have a grandson who was an idolater, suspended the letter, [Nûwn,] {noon,} over the word [Môsheh "] Moses, thus [Menashsheh ,] as it is found in the Hebrew Bibles; which, by means of the points, they have changed into Manasseh.

until.

13:1; 1Sa 4:2,3,10,11; Ps 78:60-62

the land.Houbigant contends, that, instead of {haäretz,} "the land," we should read {haäron,} "the ark;" for the [Vâv,] {wav,} and [Nûwn, {noon final,} might easily be mistaken for [Tsâdêy,] {tzadday final;} which is the only difference between the two words. This conjecture is the more likely, as the next verse tells us, that Micah's graven image continued at Dan "all the time that the house of God was at Shiloh;" which was till the ark was taken by the Philistines.

all the time.

19:18; 21:21; Jos 18:1; 1Sa 1:3; 4:4; Jer 7:12

Judges 14

Judges 15

Judges 16:22-30

Judges 18:22-31

1 Chronicles 12:35