Matthew Poole and continuators on Judges 14

AND Samson went down to Timnath , and saw a woman in Timnath, of the daughters of the Philistines.

After he was come to mature Age.

A Place not far from the Sea, of which see Gen. 38. 12. Iosh. 15. 57. and 19. 43.

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 .

With whom the Israelites were forbidden to Marry, Exod. 34. 12, &c. And although the Philistines were not Canaanites in their Original, Gen. 10. 14. Deut. 2. 23. yet they were so in their Habitation, and concurrence with them in wickedness, and therefore were liable to the same censures and judgments with them.

This action of Sampson's, though against common rules, seems to be warranted, partly by the greatness and goodness of his Design in it; and principally by the instinct and direction of God, which is mentioned in the following words, which was known to Sampson, but not to his Parents.

Not so much for her Beauty, as for the Design mentioned in the next Verse.

Marginal references: Heb. she is right in mine eyes.

4 But his father and his 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.

Which he knew by very probable conjecture, if not by particular Inspiration, that Marriage would give him many ways.

Marginal references: 1 King. 12. 15 2 Chron. 10. 15 and 22. 7. and 25. 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 against him.

Who accompanied him, either because they were now acquainted with his Design; or to order the circumstances of that action which they saw he was set upon: or to watch if they could find any occasion to take him off from his intention.

Whither he had turned aside either by a Divine impulse, or upon some real or pretended occasion.

Marginal references: Heb. in meeting 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 .

Stirred up and increased his courage and bodily strength.

As soon and as safely.

Lest by their means it should be publickly known; for he wisely considered, that it was not yet a fit time to awaken the jealousies and fears of the Philistines concerning him, as this would have done.

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.

Heb. after days, i. e. Either after some days: or rather, after a year, as that word oft signifies; as Exod. 13. 10. Levit. 25. 29. Numb. 9. 22. Iudg. 17. 10. 1 Sam. 1. 3. and 27. 7. When the flesh of the Lion, which by its strong smell is offensive to, and avoided by Bees, was wholly consumed, and nothing was left but the bones.

Not generated of the dead Lions body, but elsewhere, and settling themselves there, as they have sometimes done in a man's Skull, and in a Sepulchre, and such like places.

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.

Out of the Lions Carcase. Quest. Did not Sampson transgress in touching a Carcase? Answ. It was in it self a legal Pollution: but some such Pollutions were involuntary and unavoidable, as in one that hath an issue running in his sleep; and some were necessary duties, as in those who were to attend upon a Woman in her Month, or upon the burial of a Dead Body. And such was this Pollution, being contracted by Divine Instinct and direction, and in order to Gods honour, and therefore dispensed with by the Author of that Law, and required by him for his service.

From whom he had turned aside for a season, v. 8. upon some pretence or other.

11 And it came to pass when they saw him , that they brought thirty companions to be wi[illegible: 1+ letters] him .

Or, observed or considered him, [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] and [illegible: 1 word] and countenance, and carriage, which [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word]

Partly in compliance with the Custom of having [illegible: 1 word] men; of which see Matt. 9. 15. Mark 2. 19. [illegible: 1+ letters]oh. [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] though they were not so numerous; and principally by [illegible: 1 word] of caution, and as a Guard put upon him under a prete[illegible: 1+ letters] of respect and affection.

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[illegible: 1+ letters], and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets , and thirty change of garments .

i. e. An obscure sentence for you to resolve and explair▪

For so long Marriage-feasts lasted. See Gen. 29. 27.

Fine linnen Cloathes, which were used for many purposes in those parts. See Matt. 27. 59. Mark 14. 51.

i. e. Changeable suits of Apparel, as below, v. 19. and Gen. 45. 22.

Marginal references: Or, shi[illegible: 1+ letters]ts.

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 these days expound the riddle.

i. e. Out of that strong and devouring Creature, the Lyon, came forth sweet Meat; to wit, honey: withall it is covertly implyed, that the Philistines, though now they had strength on their side, and Dominion over Israel▪ whom they did devour upon all occasions, yet at last they should become Meat to the Israelites.

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

They had doubtless spoken to her before this time, but with some remisness, supposing that they should find it out; but now their time being nigh slipped, they press her with more vehemency, and put her under a necessity of searching it out.

i. e. To strip us of our Garments: and so your civility will end in gross unkindness and injustice.

Marginal references: Heb. to possess us; or, to impoverish us.

16 And Samsons wife wept before him, and said, Thou doest 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?

Though I have had much more experience of their fidelity and taciturnity, than of thine.

17 And she wept before him the seven days, while the 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.

i. e. On the residue of the seven days; to wit, after the third day. It is a familiar Synecdoche. Or, on the seventh of the days on which the Feast was: And then the following Clause, on the seventh day, is only the Noun repeated for the Pronoun, on that day; as is most frequent, as 1 King. 8. 1. Solomon assembled—unto Solomon, i. e. unto himself.

Marginal references: Or, the rest of the seven days, &c.

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.

If you had not employed my Wife to find it out, as men Plough up the ground with an Heifer, thereby Discovering its hidden parts; he calls her Heifer, either, because he now suspected her wantonness and too much familiarity with that Friend which she afterwards Married; or, because she was joined with him in the same Yoak; or, rather because they used such in Ploughing.

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, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle, and his anger was kindled , and he went up to his fathers house.

Though he had a constant habit of eminent Strength and Courage; yet that was exceedingly increased upon special occasions, by the extraordinary influences of Gods Spirit.

Either to the Territory, which oft comes under the name of the City; or to the City it self, where he had both Strength and Courage enough to attempt what here follows; and upon the doing hereof they were doubtles[illegible: 1+ letters] struck with such a Terrour, that every one sought onely to preserve himself, and none durst oppose or pursue him.

Together with their Sheets or Shirts, which it suf [illegible: 1+ letters] to imply here, being expressed above v. 13.

For the Treachery of his Wife and Companions.

To wit, alone or without his Wife.

Marginal references: Or, appar[illegible: 1+ letters].

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

By her Father.

i. e. To the chief of the Bride-men to whom he had shewed most respect and kindness.