Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 14:11
And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.
11. when they saw him ] With a slight change LXX. cod. A etc. read because they feared him; they must be the Philistines, though not mentioned in the context. The sight of Samson, or their fear of him, induced the Philistines to procure thirty companions (cf. Jdg 14:20), nominally as friends and supporters, but really in self-defence. The text does not give an altogether satisfactory sense, and may have suffered from alterations. If we read that he brought, which would be an improvement, we must treat when they saw him as an interpolation. This is Moore’s view, and Budde proposes further re-arrangements; the original state of the verse is not easy to recover. The thirty (cf. Son 3:7 sixty) are of course Philistines, Jdg 14:18. At village weddings in Syria the bridegroom is still attended by a body-guard of young men with their leader ( Jdg 14:20), who superintend the festivities and bear the cost. This ancient institution probably goes back to days when the party really needed protection (Wetzstein, Z. f. Ethnologie, 1873, 288 f.).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Thirty companions – These were the children of the bride-chamber (Mat 9:15; see Jdg 14:20). From the number of them it may be inferred that Samsons family was of some wealth and importance.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 11. They brought thirty companions] These are called in Scripture children of the bride-chamber, and friends of the bridegroom. See the whole of this subject particularly illustrated in the observations at the end, Clarke “Joh 3:25“.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
When they saw him, or, observed or considered him, his stature, and strength, and countenance, and carriage, which were extraordinary.
They brought thirty companions to be with him; partly in compliance with the custom of having bridemen; of which see Mat 9:15; Mar 2:19; Joh 3:29, though they were not so numerous; and principally by way of caution, and as a guard put upon him under a pretence of respect and affection.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And it came to pass; when they saw him,…. That is, the Philistines, the citizens of Timnath, when they saw that he was come to consummate his marriage:
that they brought thirty companions to be with him; to be the bridegroom’s men, or children of the bridechamber, as they are called, Mt 9:15 or friends of the bridegroom, Joh 3:29 to keep him company during the nuptial feast: this they did according to custom, and in honour and respect unto him; though some think, and so Josephus l, that they were brought to be guards upon him, observing that he was a man of great might, strength, and courage, so that they were afraid of him, lest he should have some design upon them; but it is not certain that there was anything very visible or terrible in him, more than in another man, that showed him to be of extraordinary courage and strength, since it was but at times the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and as yet he had done nothing to their knowledge which showed him to be such; had they indeed known of his encounter with the lion, they might have had such thoughts of him, but this they knew nothing of.
l Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 8. sect. 6.)
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(11) When they saw him.The reason why this clause is added is somewhat obscure, and this is perhaps the reason why the LXX. and Josephus, without any warrant, render it when they were afraid of him, which would involve a change in the reading.
They brought thirty companions.It was necessary to the splendour of the marriage feast that there should be these paranymphs (shoshbenim, or children of the bride-chamber, Mat. 9:15). The fact that Samson had brought none with him seems to prove that his marriage was highly unpopular among his own countrymen. Thirty, however, was a most unusual number.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
11. When they saw him That is, when the bride’s parents and relatives saw him. Bush and others think these words indicate that they saw in Samson’s stature and bearing something that aroused their suspicions, and told them he was a man to be watched, and they therefore brought thirty companions more, for the purpose of setting so many spies about him rather than for showing him respect or honour. But the phrase to be with him hardly harmonizes with such a thought, and the joviality and good cheer of their intercourse is against it. The parents and friends of the bride had seen Samson before, and had there been any thing suspicious about his stature and countenance they would have discovered it before this time. The verse merely means that when they saw him make his appearance with his parents in Timnath, to celebrate the wedding feast, they proceeded at once to do their part in furnishing him guests.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ And it happened that when they saw him, they brought thirty companions to be with him.’
The Philistines were seemingly quite content for one of their daughters to marry a wealthy Israelite, demonstrating the reasonable relations that existed between the two nations, even though one was tributary and to some extent cowed. Indeed the Philistines may have seen this powerful young man as somebody who could be useful to them and therefore as someone to be encouraged. He was after all, almost becoming one of them. And they brought a full complement (thirty – that is, three intensified indicating completeness) of young men to share his pre-marriage feast. This suggests that he had gained recognition and respectability among the Philistines. They would be his daily companions while the wedding was in final preparation, for the feasting for the wedding that followed would also last seven days. In view of what follows (they were clearly no friends of the girl’s family) it may be that they were professional ‘companions’, hired for such an occasion. There is no mention of any others present at this feast. This in itself is remarkable. It emphasises that Samson is trying to find an occasion against the Philistines in which he does not want Israelites involved.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jdg 14:11 And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.
Ver. 11. And it came to pass, when they saw him. ] His stature, strength, countenance, carriage, &c.
That they brought thirty companions to be with him.
a Turk. Hist., p. 200, 715.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
when they saw him: i.e. saw what sort of man he was. Note emphasis on “him”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
saw him: 1Sa 10:23, 1Sa 16:6
thirty: Mat 9:15, Joh 3:29
Reciprocal: Job 41:6 – General Son 8:13 – the companions Mar 2:19 – Can Luk 5:34 – the children
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jdg 14:11. When they saw him Or, observed him, his stature, and strength, and countenance, and carriage, which were extraordinary. They brought thirty companions Partly in compliance with the custom of having bride-men; though they were not so numerous, but principally by way of caution, and as a guard put upon him under a pretence of respect and affection.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
14:11 And it came to pass, when {e} they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.
(e) That is, her parents or friends.