Bible Commentary

And she wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted: and it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she lay sore upon him: and she told the riddle to the children of her people. 17. she pressed him sore ] lit. reduced him to straits by her … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 14:17”

And Samson’s wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people, and hast not told [it] me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told [it] my father nor my mother, and shall I tell … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 14:16”

And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto Samson’s wife, Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father’s house with fire: have ye called us to take that we have? [is it] not [so]? 15. on the seventh day ] … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 14:15”

And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle. 14. The riddle is cast into poetical form; the verse consists of two members with three beats in each. The structure of the retort in … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 14:14”

But if ye cannot declare [it] me, then shall ye give me thirty sheets and thirty change of garments. And they said unto him, Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it. 13. The loss of the wager would leave the thirty companions practically naked; no wonder they express themselves strongly in Jdg 14:15! … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 14:13”

And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find [it] out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments: 12. a riddle ] This is the only specimen in the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 14:12”

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 … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 14:11”

So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do. 10. his father ] Again, an insertion. If the father was out of place in Jdg 14:5, he is more impossible at this stage. Originally the text ran and he went down and … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 14:10”

And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcass of the lion. 9. And he took it had taken ] The word, which … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 14:9”

And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion: and, behold, [there was] a swarm of bees and honey in the carcass of the lion. 8. he returned ] i.e. to Zorah; the woman stays in her father’s house, as was the rule in … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 14:8”