Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 14:3
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.
3. It was the father’s business to arrange a marriage and the amount of the dowry, e.g. Gen 24:2 ff; Gen 34:4; Gen 38:6. Hence the father alone is named in clause b; in cl. a the words and his mother look like an insertion to harmonize with Jdg 14:2: note my people; said is singular.
the uncircumcised ] A standing term of contempt in Judg. and Sam., pointing to the alien origin of the Philistines, the only uncircumcised people known to the early Israelites; see on Jdg 13:1 and cf. 1Sa 18:25. A marriage outside the tribe was looked upon with disfavour, Gen 29:19; both tribal feeling and religious motives would combine against an alliance with a Philistine; cf. Gen 24:3, Exo 34:16 (JE), Deu 7:3.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The uncircumcised Philistines – Compare 1Sa 14:6; 1Sa 17:26; 1Sa 31:4, for a similar use of the term as one of reproach. Also Act 11:3.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. Is there never a woman] To marry with any that did not belong to the Israelitish stock, was contrary to the law, Ex 34:16; De 7:3. But this marriage of Samson was said to be of the Lord, Jdg 14:4; that is, God permitted it, (for in no other sense can we understand the phrase,) that it might be a means of bringing about the deliverance of Israel.
For she pleaseth me well.] ki hi yisherah beeynai, for she is right in my eyes. This is what is supposed to be a sufficient reason to justify either man or woman in their random choice of wife or husband; the maxim is the same with that of the poet: –
“Thou hast no fault, or I no fault can spy;
Thou art all beauty or all blindness I.”
When the will has sufficient power, its determinations are its own rule of right. That will should be pure and well directed that says, It shall be so, because I WILL it should be so. A reason of this kind is similar to that which I have seen in a motto on the brass ordnance of Lewis XIV., ULTIMA RATIO REGUM, the sum of regal logic; i.e., “My will, backed by these instruments of destruction, shall be the rule of right and wrong.” The rules and principles of this logic are now suspected; and it is not likely to be generally received again without violent demonstration.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The uncircumcised Philistines, with whom the Israelites were forbidden to marry, Exo 34:12, &c. And although the Philistines were not Canaanites in their original, Gen 10:14; Deu 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.
Get her for me: this action of Samsons, 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 Samson, but not to his parents.
She pleaseth me well; not so much for her beauty, as for the design mentioned in the next verse.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3, 4. Is there never a woman amongthe daughters of thy brethrenthat is, “of thine owntribe”a Danite woman.
Samson said . . . Get her forme; for she pleaseth me wellliterally, “she is right inmine eyes”; not by her beautiful countenance or handsome figure,but right or fit for his purpose. And this throws lighton the historian’s remark in reference to the resistance of hisparents: they “knew not that it was of the Lord, that he soughtan occasion against the Philistines”rather, “fromthe Philistines”originating on their side. The Lord, by acourse of retributive proceedings, was about to destroy thePhilistine power, and the means which He meant to employ was not theforces of a numerous army, as in the case of the preceding judges,but the miraculous prowess of the single-handed champion of Israel.In these circumstances, the provocation to hostilities could onlyspring out of a private quarrel, and this marriage scheme wasdoubtless suggested by the secret influence of the Spirit as the bestway of accomplishing the intended result.
Jud14:5-9. HE KILLSA LION.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Then his father and his mother said unto him,…. What he might expect, and doubtless did expect:
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? none in their own family, nor in the tribe of Dan, nor among the whole nation of Israel, but must go among the uncircumcised Philistines; for though they were not of the seven nations of the Canaanites, with whom marriage was forbidden, yet they not only dwelt where they did, and where the Israelites should, but were idolaters and impure persons, and therefore affinity should not be contracted with them, as being of a dangerous consequence, which might entice to idolatry. Ben Gersom observes, that their Rabbins say he made her a proselyte first, though he did not acquaint his parents with it, and so Abarbinel; but this seems not likely, for, had this been the case, he would have had an easy and ready reply to this objection of theirs:
and Samson said unto his father, get her for me, for she pleaseth me well; or “is right in mine eyes” x; not only his eyes were taken with her beauty or external form, but it was right in his sight, in his judgment, to marry her; he having an impulse upon his mind from the Spirit of God unto it, though he did not let his parents know of it, but left them to conclude it sprung from a strong affection to her person. Abarbinel observes, that he only addressed his father, and not his mother, she being most vehemently against the match, and expressing more uneasiness at it than his father did; but it is most likely that he addressed his father particularly, because he was the proper person to negotiate this affair for him.
x “recta in oculis meis”, Montanus, Junius et Tremellius.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
His parents expressed their astonishment at the choice, and asked him whether there was not a woman among the daughters of his brethren (i.e., the members of his own tribe), or among all his people, that he should want to fetch one from the Philistines, the uncircumcised. But Samson repeated his request, because the daughter of the Philistines pleased him. The aversion of his parents to the marriage was well founded, as such a marriage was not in accordance with the law. It is true that the only marriages expressly prohibited in Exo 34:16 and Deu 7:3-4, are marriages with Canaanitish women; but the reason assigned for this prohibition was equally applicable to marriages with daughters of the Philistines. In fact, the Philistines are reckoned among the Canaanites in Jos 13:3 upon the very same ground. But Samson was acting under a higher impulse, whereas his parents did not know that it was from Jehovah, i.e., that Jehovah had so planned it; “ for Samson was seeking an opportunity on account of the Philistines, ” i.e., an occasion to quarrel with them, because, as is afterwards added in the form of an explanatory circumstantial clause, the Philistines had dominion over Israel at that time. , . . , an opportunity (cf. , 2Ki 5:7).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(3) Of the uncircumcised Philistines.This on the lips of Israelites was a term of peculiar hatred (1Sa. 17:36). How repugnant such a marriage would be in the eyes of Manoah and his wife we may see from the story of Simeon, Levi, and the Shechemites (Gen. xxxiv).
She pleaseth me well.Literally, she is right in my eyes (Jdg. 14:7; 1Ki. 9:12).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. Daughters of thy brethren That is, women of the tribe of the Danites.
All my people All Israel, in distinction from the tribe of Dan.
A wife of the uncircumcised The law forbade marriages with Canaanitish women, (Exo 34:16; Deu 7:3,) and therefore the opposition of Samson’s parents to his marriage was well founded. The Philistines are not usually classified with the Canaanitish tribes, but in respect to Israel and the law they were aliens and idolaters. Compare Jos 13:3.
She pleaseth me well Literally, She is righteous in my eyes. Samson saw in her no evil, no wrong.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jdg 14:3 a
‘Then his father and his mother said to him, “Is there never a woman among the daughters of your kinsfolk, or among all my people, that you go to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines?” ’
His father and mother were upset about his intentions. They were very much aware that he was the chosen of Yahweh, and this intermarriage with a foreigner, even if she was not a Canaanite and therefore forbidden (Jdg 3:6; Exo 34:16; Deu 7:1-3), was displeasing to them. Indeed the Philistines were uncircumcised, which told against them. Most people in Canaan underwent circumcision at some time. Furthermore the Philistines had taken to worshipping Canaanite gods and were to all intents and purposes Canaanite. Could he not choose an Israelite woman for his wife? Was there not plenty of choice there?
Jdg 14:3 b
‘And Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she pleases me greatly.” ’
His father would have to conduct the negotiations and agree the dowry and wedding gifts. So Samson ignored their concerns and asked his father to proceed with the matter because of the great esteem he had for her. Here we must read between the lines. Either he knew that she was sympathetic to Yahwism, or he was patently breaking his vows. The fact that God continued to strengthen him even while on the way to his marriage suggests the latter.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jdg 14:3 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.
Ver. 3. 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? &c.
For she pleaseth me well.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
take a wife of, &c. An unlawful connection. Compare Exo 34:16. Deu 7:3, with Jos 23:12.
pleaseth me well. Hebrew is right in mine eyes.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
thy brethren: Gen 13:8, Gen 21:3, Gen 21:4, Gen 21:27
uncircumcised: Jdg 15:18, Gen 34:14, Exo 34:12-16, Deu 7:2, Deu 7:3, 1Sa 14:6, 1Sa 17:26, 1Sa 17:36, 1Sa 31:4, 2Sa 1:20
she pleaseth me well: Heb. she is right in mine eyes
Reciprocal: Exo 21:8 – please not Deu 21:11 – desire 1Ki 9:12 – they pleased him not
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jdg 14:3. To take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines With whom the Israelites were forbidden to marry. For although the Philistines were not Canaanites in their original, yet they were so in their concurrence with them in wickedness, and therefore were liable to the same judgments with them. Get her for me This action of Samsons, though against common rules, seems to be warranted by the direction of God, (mentioned in the following words,) which was known to Samson, but not to his parents. Pleaseth me Not so much for her beauty, as for the design mentioned in the next verse.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
14:3 Then his father and his mother said unto him, [Is there] {a} 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.
(a) Though his parents justly reprove him, yet it appears that this was the secret work of the Lord, Jud 14:4.