Bible Commentaries
Judges 14

Introduction

Overview

Judges 14:1, Samson desires a wife of the Philistines; Judges 14:6, In his journey he kills a lion; Judges 14:8, In a second journey he finds honey in the carcase; Judges 14:10, Samson’s marriage feast; Judges 14:12, His riddle by his wife is made known; Judges 14:19, He spoils thirty Philistines; Judges 14:20, His wife is married to another.

Verse 1

Timnath: Genesis 38:12, Genesis 38:13, Joshua 15:10, Joshua 19:43, aw, Genesis 6:2, Genesis 34:1, Genesis 34:2, 2 Samuel 11:2, Job 31:1, Psalms 119:37, 1 John 2:16

Reciprocal: Genesis 49:17 - shall be 2 Chronicles 28:18 - Timnah Ezekiel 25:15 - to destroy

Verse 2

get her: Genesis 21:21, Genesis 24:2, Genesis 24:3, Genesis 34:4, Genesis 38:6, 2 Kings 14:9

Reciprocal: Genesis 38:2 - saw Deuteronomy 21:11 - desire Joshua 19:43 - Thimnathah Ecclesiastes 2:10 - whatsoever Jeremiah 29:6 - take wives

Verse 3

thy brethren: Genesis 13:8, Genesis 21:3, Genesis 21:4, Genesis 21:27

uncircumcised: Judges 15:18, Genesis 34:14, Exodus 34:12-16, Deuteronomy 7:2, Deuteronomy 7:3, 1 Samuel 14:6, 1 Samuel 17:26, 1 Samuel 17:36, 1 Samuel 31:4, 2 Samuel 1:20

she pleaseth me well: Heb. she is right in mine eyes

Reciprocal: Exodus 21:8 - please not Deuteronomy 21:11 - desire 1 Kings 9:12 - they pleased him not

Verse 4

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. Joshua 11:20, 1 Kings 12:15, 2 Kings 6:33, 2 Chronicles 10:15, 2 Chronicles 22:7, 2 Chronicles 25:20, Psalms 115:3

had dominion: Judges 13:1, Judges 15:11, Deuteronomy 28:48

Reciprocal: Genesis 43:18 - seek occasion against us Deuteronomy 28:43 - General Judges 3:3 - five lords Judges 15:7 - Though Daniel 6:4 - sought

Verse 5

against him: Heb. in meeting him, Judges 14:5

Reciprocal: Joshua 15:10 - Timnah 1 Samuel 17:35 - smote him 2 Samuel 23:20 - slew a lion 1 Chronicles 11:22 - slew a Psalms 91:13 - tread Jeremiah 2:15 - young lions Hebrews 11:33 - stopped 1 Peter 5:8 - as

Verse 6

the Spirit: Judges 3:10, Judges 11:29, Judges 13:25, 1 Samuel 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. Judges 15:8, Judges 15:15, Judges 16:30, 1 Samuel 17:34-37, 1 Samuel 17:46, Zechariah 4:6, 1 John 3:8

he told: Isaiah 42:2, Matthew 11:29

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 33:22 - General Judges 14:19 - the Spirit Judges 15:14 - the Spirit 1 Samuel 10:16 - matter 1 Samuel 14:1 - he told not 1 Samuel 16:13 - the Spirit 1 Samuel 17:35 - smote him 2 Samuel 23:20 - slew a lion 1 Chronicles 11:22 - slew a Psalms 91:13 - tread Hebrews 11:33 - stopped

Verse 8

to take her: Genesis 29:21, Matthew 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.

Reciprocal: Genesis 24:55 - a few days Psalms 81:16 - honey Proverbs 25:16 - Hast

Verse 9

1 Samuel 14:25-30, Proverbs 25:15

Reciprocal: Psalms 81:16 - honey Proverbs 25:16 - Hast

Verse 10

made there: Genesis 29:22, Esther 1:7-22, Ecclesiastes 10:19, Matthew 22:2-4, John 2:9, Revelation 19:9

Reciprocal: Genesis 21:8 - feast Genesis 29:27 - week Esther 2:18 - made a great Mark 2:19 - Can Luke 5:34 - the children John 3:29 - the friend

Verse 11

saw him: 1 Samuel 10:23, 1 Samuel 16:6

thirty: Matthew 9:15, John 3:29

Reciprocal: Job 41:6 - General Song of Solomon 8:13 - the companions Mark 2:19 - Can Luke 5:34 - the children

Verse 12

a riddle: 1 Kings 10:1, Psalms 49:4, Proverbs 1:6, Ezekiel 17:2, Ezekiel 20:49, Matthew 13:13, Matthew 13:34, Luke 14:7, John 16:29, 1 Corinthians 13:12, *marg.

the seven: Genesis 29:27, Genesis 29:28, 2 Chronicles 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." Matthew 27:28, Mark 14:51, Mark 14:52

change: Genesis 45:22, 2 Kings 5:5, 2 Kings 5:22, Matthew 6:19, James 5:2

Reciprocal: Genesis 21:8 - feast Matthew 13:24 - put

Verse 13

Reciprocal: Matthew 13:24 - put

Verse 14

Out of the eater: Genesis 3:15, Deuteronomy 8:15, Deuteronomy 8:16, 1 Kings 17:6, 2 Chronicles 20:2, 2 Chronicles 20:25, Isaiah 53:10-12, Romans 5:3-5, Romans 8:37, 2 Corinthians 4:17, 2 Corinthians 12:9, 2 Corinthians 12:10, Philippians 1:12-20, Hebrews 2:14, Hebrews 2:15, Hebrews 12:10, Hebrews 12:11, James 1:2-4, 1 Peter 2:24

they could: Proverbs 24:7, Matthew 13:11, Acts 8:31

Verse 15

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 Judges 14:17, 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: Judges 16:5, Genesis 3:1-6, Proverbs 1:11, Proverbs 5:3, Proverbs 6:26, Micah 7:5

lest we burn: Judges 12:1, Judges 15:6

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

Reciprocal: Judges 15:3 - though Esther 4:14 - but thou Ecclesiastes 10:13 - beginning 1 Corinthians 2:4 - not

Verse 16

Thou dost: Judges 16:15

I have not: Genesis 2:24

Reciprocal: Judges 15:2 - I verily

Verse 17

the seven: or, the rest of the seven days

she lay: Judges 16:6, Judges 16:13, Judges 16:16, Genesis 3:6, Job 2:9, Proverbs 7:21, Luke 11:8, Luke 18:4, Luke 18:5

and she told: Proverbs 2:16, Proverbs 2:17

Reciprocal: Judges 14:15 - on the seventh day

Verse 18

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 1:23 - stronger Psalms 81:16 - honey Proverbs 30:30 - General Ezekiel 1:10 - the face of a lion

Verse 19

the Spirit: Judges 14:6, Judges 3:10, Judges 13:25, Judges 15:14, 1 Samuel 11:6

spoil: or, apparel

Reciprocal: Genesis 45:22 - each Deuteronomy 33:22 - General Judges 6:34 - the Spirit Judges 15:7 - Though Judges 16:30 - So the dead 1 Samuel 18:27 - slew 2 Samuel 1:20 - Tell 2 Samuel 2:21 - armour 2 Chronicles 14:14 - exceeding

Verse 20

given to: Judges 15:2

his friend: Psalms 55:12, Psalms 55:13, Jeremiah 9:5, Micah 7:5, Matthew 26:49, Matthew 26:50, John 3:29, John 13:18

Reciprocal: Genesis 38:20 - his friend 1 Samuel 18:19 - Adriel 2 Samuel 13:3 - a friend