Commentari biblici

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

And Samson went down to Timnath. — Whether to the market, or the sports, or some great feast, …, it is not recorded; but God had an overruling hand in this journey for the punishment of the Philistines, though Samson cannot be altogether excused; for he went "after the sight of his eyes and lust of his heart." Ecclesiastes 11:9 Ill guides.

And saw a woman in Timnath. — This licentious eye should have been plucked out. Matthew 5:29 A little otherwise than Democritus the philosopher put out his eyes, because he could not look upon a woman but he must lust after her; wherein he did nothing else, saith Tertullian, In Apolog. but lay open his own folly to the whole city where he dwelt. How much better David, who prayed, "Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity," Psalms 119:37 and Job, who voweth and imprecateth Job 31:1 ; Job 31:7 against these oculorum dolores, as great Alexander called the Persian maids.

return to '

And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.

Now therefore get her for me to wife. — Though set upon it, and, as some gather from Judges 14:4 , warranted by God to do as he did, yet he would not take a wife without his parents’ consent. This is of the law of nature.

return to '

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.

Then his father and his mother said unto him. — I wish, saith a grave divine, Manoah and his wife could speak so loud that all our Israelites might hear him.

Is there never a woman? … — If religion be any other than a cipher, how dare we not regard it in our most important choice? Marriage is like a stratagem of war, saith another, where one can err but once. Therefore the heathens were wont to set Mercury, their god of wisdom, by Venus, their goddess of marriage, to note that there was need of judgment there; and that it is not evil to marry, but good to be wary.

For she pleaseth me well. — The eye indeed is to be pleased in the choice of a wife; but that is not the chief thing to be minded; there is a better beauty; and many a man hath died of the wound in the eye.

return to '

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.

For at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel. — Who had haply sworn fealty and subjection to the Philistines; and therefore Samson was to seek an occasion against them.

return to '

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.

Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother. — Who were overcome by his importunity; and being loath to cross his desires, yielded to him, though against their own judgments.

And, behold, a young lion. — Adultus leo, a lion in his full strength and utmost fierceness, met him with open mouth.

return to '

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.

And he rent him as he would have rent a kid. — So did the Lord Christ subdue the devil in the desert, Matthew 4:4 ; Matthew 4:7 ; Matthew 4:10-11 whereof David also was a type, when he slew the lion and the bear. 1 Samuel 17:36

And he had nothing in his hand. — But so had Hercules, when he killed a lion and a bear, as the poets sing of him, and Lysimachus, one of Alexander’s worthies. Polydamus, Milo Crotonitates, and others are famous for their strength, but none comparable to Samson, the Church’s champion.

But he told not his father. — As some braggart would have done: this was his modesty. And it may be he feared to be chidden by his parents, for his rashness in this exploit.

return to '

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

And he went down, and talked with the woman. — Treated with her about the marriage, and perhaps was contracted to her; for that also was in use amongst the heathens.

“ Placuit despondi, nuptiis hic dictus est dies. ” - Terent.

The Hebrews say that Samson converted her to the true religion by this conference; but that is uncertain.

return to '

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.

And after a time. — Some convenient time there must be betwixt the contract and the wedding, but let it not be over long, for many reasons; whereof elsewhere.

And he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion. — That he might recognise God’s goodness to him in so great a deliverance, and be accordingly thankful. Unto true thankfulness for mercies received, there must concur recognition, estimation, and retribution. He was also brought hither again by a secret instinct of the Spirit for a further purpose, as it followeth in the history; and that he might see another wonder, for his further confirmation.

And, behold, there was a swarm of bees. — Prodigiosum est quod mellifiearunt in cadavere, saith one. Lav. It was wondrous strange that bees should breed and make honey so soon in such a place: since they are naturally driven away by an ill smell, as abhorring all stinking things. Some think that the carcass was consumed to the bare bones, and so stank not. Pliny, Columella.

return to '