Judges 14:5-20

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; 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.