mh_parser/vol_split/7 - Judges/Chapter 14.xml

<div2 id="Jud.xv" n="xv" next="Jud.xvi" prev="Jud.xiv" progress="18.45%" title="Chapter XIV">
<h2 id="Jud.xv-p0.1">J U D G E S</h2>
<h3 id="Jud.xv-p0.2">CHAP. XIV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Jud.xv-p1">The idea which this chapter gives us of Samson is
not what one might have expected concerning one who, by the special
designation of heaven, was a Nazarite to God and a deliverer of
Israel; and yet really he was both. Here is, I. Samson's courtship
of a daughter of the Philistines, and his marriage to her,
<scripRef id="Jud.xv-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.14.1-Judg.14.5 Bible:Judg.14.7 Bible:Judg.14.8" parsed="|Judg|14|1|14|5;|Judg|14|7|0|0;|Judg|14|8|0|0" passage="Jdg 14:1-5,7,8">ver. 1-5, 7, 8</scripRef>. II.
His conquest of a lion, and the prize he found in the carcase of
it, <scripRef id="Jud.xv-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Judg.14.5-Judg.14.6 Bible:Judg.14.8 Bible:Judg.14.9" parsed="|Judg|14|5|14|6;|Judg|14|8|0|0;|Judg|14|9|0|0" passage="Jdg 14:5,6,8,9">ver. 5, 6, 8, 9</scripRef>.
III. Samson's riddle proposed to his companions (<scripRef id="Jud.xv-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Judg.14.10-Judg.14.14" parsed="|Judg|14|10|14|14" passage="Jdg 14:10-14">ver. 10-14</scripRef>) and unriddled by the
treachery of his wife, <scripRef id="Jud.xv-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Judg.14.15-Judg.14.18" parsed="|Judg|14|15|14|18" passage="Jdg 14:15-18">ver.
15-18</scripRef>. IV. The occasion this gave him to kill thirty of
the Philistines (<scripRef id="Jud.xv-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Judg.14.19" parsed="|Judg|14|19|0|0" passage="Jdg 14:19">ver. 19</scripRef>)
and to break off his new alliance, <scripRef id="Jud.xv-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Judg.14.20" parsed="|Judg|14|20|0|0" passage="Jdg 14:20">ver. 20</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Jud.xv-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.14" parsed="|Judg|14|0|0|0" passage="Jud 14" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Jud.xv-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.14.1-Judg.14.9" parsed="|Judg|14|1|14|9" passage="Jud 14:1-9" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Judg.14.1-Judg.14.9">
<h4 id="Jud.xv-p1.9">Samson Chooses a Philistine Wife; A Lion
Slain by Samson. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Jud.xv-p1.10">b. c.</span> 1141.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Jud.xv-p2">1 And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a
woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.   2 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.   3 Then his father and his
mother said unto him, <i>Is there</i> 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.   4
But his father and his mother knew not that it <i>was</i> of the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Jud.xv-p2.1">Lord</span>, that he sought an occasion
against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had
dominion over Israel.   5 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.   6 And
the Spirit of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jud.xv-p2.2">Lord</span> came mightily
upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and <i>he
had</i> nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his
mother what he had done.   7 And he went down, and talked with
the woman; and she pleased Samson well.   8 And after a time
he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of
the lion: and, behold, <i>there was</i> a swarm of bees and honey
in the carcase of the lion.   9 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 carcase of the lion.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xv-p3">Here, I. Samson, under the extraordinary
guidance of Providence, seeks an occasion of quarrelling with the
Philistines, by joining in affinity with them—a strange method,
but the truth is Samson was himself a riddle, a paradox of a man,
did that which was really great and good, by that which was
seemingly weak and evil, because he was designed not to be a
pattern to us (who must walk by rule, not by example), but a type
of him who, though he knew no sin, was made sin for us, and
appeared <i>in the likeness of sinful flesh,</i> that he might
<i>condemn</i> and <i>destroy sin in the flesh,</i> <scripRef id="Jud.xv-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Rom.8.3" parsed="|Rom|8|3|0|0" passage="Ro 8:3">Rom. viii. 3</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xv-p4">1. As the negotiation of Samson's marriage
was a common case, we may observe, (1.) That is was weakly and
foolishly done of him to set his affections upon a daughter of the
Philistines; the thing appeared very improper. Shall one that is
not only an Israelite, but a Nazarite, devoted to the Lord, covet
to become one with a worshipper of Dagon? Shall one marked for a
patriot of his country match among those that are its sworn
enemies? He saw this woman (<scripRef id="Jud.xv-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.14.1" parsed="|Judg|14|1|0|0" passage="Jdg 14:1"><i>v.</i>
1</scripRef>), and she <i>pleased him well,</i> <scripRef id="Jud.xv-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Judg.14.3" parsed="|Judg|14|3|0|0" passage="Jdg 14:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. It does not appear that he had
any reason to think her wise or virtuous, or in any way likely to
be a help-meet for him; but he saw something in her face that was
very agreeable to his fancy, and therefore nothing will serve but
she must be his wife. He that in the choice of a wife is guided
only by his eye, and governed by his fancy, must afterwards thank
himself if he find a Philistine in his arms. (2.) Yet it was wisely
and well done not to proceed so much as to make his addresses to
her till he had first made his parents acquainted with the matter.
He told them, and desired them to <i>get her for him to wife,</i>
<scripRef id="Jud.xv-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Judg.14.2" parsed="|Judg|14|2|0|0" passage="Jdg 14:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. Herein he is
an example to all children. Conformably to the law of the fifth
commandment, children ought not to marry, nor to move towards
marrying, without the advice and consent of their parents; those
that do (as bishop Hall here expresses it) <i>wilfully unchild
themselves, and exchange natural affections for violent.</i>
Parents have a property in their children as parts of themselves.
In marriage this property is transferred; for such is the law of
the relation that <i>a man shall leave his father and his mother
and cleave to his wife.</i> It is therefore not only unkind and
ungrateful, but very unjust, to alienate this property without
their concurrence; whoso thus <i>robbeth his father or mother,</i>
stealing himself from them, who is nearer and dearer to them than
their goods, <i>and</i> yet <i>saith, It is no transgression, the
same is the companion of a destroyer,</i> <scripRef id="Jud.xv-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:Prov.28.24" parsed="|Prov|28|24|0|0" passage="Pr 28:24">Prov. xxviii. 24</scripRef>. (3.) His parents did well
to dissuade him from yoking himself thus unequally with
unbelievers. Let those who profess religion, but are courting an
affinity with the profane and irreligious, matching into families
where they have reason to think the fear of God is not, nor the
worship of God, let them hear their reasoning, and apply it to
themselves: "<i>Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy
brethren,</i> or, if none of our tribe, <i>never a one among all
thy people,</i> never an Israelite, that pleases thee, or that thou
canst think worthy of thy affection, that thou shouldest marry a
Philistine?" In the old world the sons of God corrupted and ruined
themselves, their families, and that truly primitive church, by
marrying with the <i>daughters of men,</i> <scripRef id="Jud.xv-p4.5" osisRef="Bible:Gen.6.2" parsed="|Gen|6|2|0|0" passage="Ge 6:2">Gen. vi. 2</scripRef>. God had forbidden the people of
Israel to marry with the devoted nations, one of which the
Philistines were, <scripRef id="Jud.xv-p4.6" osisRef="Bible:Deut.7.3" parsed="|Deut|7|3|0|0" passage="De 7:3">Deut. vii.
3</scripRef>. (4.) If there had not been a special reason for it,
it certainly would have been improper in him to insist upon his
choice, and in them to agree to it at last. Yet their tender
compliance with his affections may be observed as an example to
parents not to be unreasonable in crossing their children's
choices, nor to deny their consent, especially to those that have
seasonably and dutifully asked it, without some very good cause. As
children must <i>obey their parents in the Lord,</i> so parents
must not <i>provoke their children to wrath, lest they be
discouraged.</i> This Nazarite, in his subjection to his parents,
asking their consent, and not proceeding till he had it, was not
only an example to all children, but a type of the holy child
Jesus, who <i>went down with his parents to Nazareth</i> (thence
called a <i>Nazarene</i>) and was subject to them, <scripRef id="Jud.xv-p4.7" osisRef="Bible:Luke.2.51" parsed="|Luke|2|51|0|0" passage="Lu 2:51">Luke ii. 51</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xv-p5">2. But this treaty of marriage is expressly
said to be <i>of the Lord,</i> <scripRef id="Jud.xv-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.14.4" parsed="|Judg|14|4|0|0" passage="Jdg 14:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>. Not only that God afterwards
overruled it to serve his designs against the Philistines, but that
he put it into Samson's heart to make this choice, that he <i>might
have occasion against the Philistine.</i> It was not a thing evil
in itself for him to marry a Philistine. It was forbidden because
of the danger of receiving hurt by idolaters; where there was not
only no danger of that kind, but an opportunity hoped for of doing
that hurt to them which would be good service to Israel, the law
might well be dispense with. It was said (<scripRef id="Jud.xv-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Judg.13.25" parsed="|Judg|13|25|0|0" passage="Jdg 13:25"><i>ch.</i> xiii. 25</scripRef>) that <i>the Spirit of
the Lord began to move him at times,</i> and we have reason to
think he himself perceived that Spirit to move him at this time,
when he made this choice, and that otherwise he would have yielded
to his parents' dissuasives, nor would they have consented at last
if he had not satisfied them it was <i>of the Lord.</i> This would
bring him into acquaintance and converse with the Philistines, by
which he might have such opportunities of galling them as otherwise
he could not have. It should seem, the way in which the Philistines
oppressed Israel was, not by great armies, but by the clandestine
incursions of their giants and small parties of their plunderers.
In the same way therefore Samson must deal with them; let him but
by this marriage get among them, and he would be a <i>thorn in
their sides.</i> Jesus Christ, having to deliver us from this
present evil world, and to cast out the prince of it, did himself
visit it, though full of pollution and enmity, and, by assuming a
body, did in some sense join in affinity with it, that he might
destroy our spiritual enemies, and his own arm might work the
salvation.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xv-p6">II. Samson, by a special providence, is
animated and encouraged to attack the Philistines. That being the
service for which he was designed, God, when he called him to it,
prepared him for it by two occurrences:—</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xv-p7">1. By enabling him, in one journey to
Timnath, to <i>kill a lion,</i> <scripRef id="Jud.xv-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.14.5-Judg.14.6" parsed="|Judg|14|5|14|6" passage="Jdg 14:5,6"><i>v.</i> 5, 6</scripRef>. Many decline doing the
service they might do because they <i>know not their own
strength.</i> God let Samson know what he could do in the strength
of the <i>Spirit of the Lord,</i> that he might never be afraid to
look the greatest difficulties in the face. David, who was to
complete the destruction of the Philistines, must try his hand
first upon <i>a lion and a bear,</i> that thence he might infer, as
we may suppose Samson did, that the uncircumcised Philistine should
be as one of them, <scripRef id="Jud.xv-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.17.36" parsed="|1Sam|17|36|0|0" passage="1Sa 17:36">1 Sam. xvii.
36</scripRef>. (1.) Samson's encounter with the lion was hazardous.
It was a young lion, one of the fiercest sort, that set upon him,
roaring for his prey, and setting his eye particularly upon him;
<i>he roared in meeting him,</i> so the word is. He was all alone
in the vineyards, whither he had rambled from his father and mother
(who kept the high road), probably to eat grapes. Children consider
not how they expose themselves to the roaring lion that seeks to
devour when, out of a foolish fondness for liberty, they wander
from under the eye and wing of their prudent pious parents. Nor do
young people consider what lions lurk in the vineyards, the
vineyards of red wines, as dangerous as snakes under the green
grass. Had Samson met with this lion in the way, he might have had
more reason to expect help both from God and man than here in the
solitary vineyards, out of his road. But there was a special
providence in it, and the more hazardous the encounter was, (2.)
The victory was so much the more illustrious. It was obtained
without any difficulty: he strangled the lion, and tore his throat
as easily as he would have strangled a kid, yet without any
instrument, not only no sword nor bow, but not so much as a staff
or knife; he had <i>nothing in his hand.</i> Christ engaged the
roaring lion, and conquered him in the beginning of his public work
(<scripRef id="Jud.xv-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Matt.4.1-Matt.4.11" parsed="|Matt|4|1|4|11" passage="Mt 4:1-11">Matt. iv. 1</scripRef>, &amp;c.),
and afterwards spoiled principalities and powers, triumphing over
them <i>in himself,</i> as some read it, not by any instrument. He
was <i>exalted in his own strength.</i> That which added much to
the glory of Samson's triumph over the lion was that when he had
done this great exploit he did not boast of it, did <i>not so much
as tell his father nor mother</i> that which many a one would soon
have published through the whole country. Modesty and humility make
up the brightest crown of great performances.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xv-p8">2. By providing him, the next journey, with
honey in the carcase of this lion, <scripRef id="Jud.xv-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.14.8-Judg.14.9" parsed="|Judg|14|8|14|9" passage="Jdg 14:8,9"><i>v.</i> 8, 9</scripRef>. When he came down the next
time to solemnize his nuptials, and his parents with him, he had
the curiosity to turn aside into the vineyard where he had killed
the lion, perhaps that with the sight of the place he might affect
himself with the mercy of that great deliverance, and might there
solemnly give thanks to God for it. It is good thus to <i>remind
ourselves</i> of God's former favours to us. There he found the
carcase of the lion; the birds or beasts of prey, it is likely, had
eaten the flesh, and in the skeleton a swarm of bees had knit, and
made a hive of it, and had not been idle, but had there laid up a
good stock of honey, which was one of the staple commodities of
Canaan; such plenty there was of it that the land is said to
<i>flow with milk and honey.</i> Samson, having a better title than
any man to the hive, seizes the honey with his hands. This supposes
an encounter with the bees; but he that dreaded not lion's paws had
no reason to fear <i>their</i> stings. As by his victory over the
lion he was emboldened to encounter the Philistine-giants, if there
should be occasion, notwithstanding their strength and fierceness,
so by dislodging the bees he was taught not to fear the multitude
of the Philistines; though they <i>compassed him about like bees,
yet in the name of the Lord he should destroy them,</i> <scripRef id="Jud.xv-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.118.12" parsed="|Ps|118|12|0|0" passage="Ps 118:12">Ps. cxviii. 12</scripRef>. Of the honey he here
found, (1.) He ate himself, asking no questions for conscience'
sake; for the dead bones of an unclean beast had not that
ceremonial pollution in them that the bones of a man had. John
Baptist, that Nazarite of the New Testament, lived upon wild honey.
(2.) He gave to his parents, and they did eat; he did not eat all
himself. <i>Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for
thee,</i> and no more, <scripRef id="Jud.xv-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Prov.25.16" parsed="|Prov|25|16|0|0" passage="Pr 25:16">Prov. xxv.
16</scripRef>. He let his parents share with him. Children should
be grateful to their parents with the fruits of their own industry,
and so <i>show piety at home,</i> <scripRef id="Jud.xv-p8.4" osisRef="Bible:1Tim.5.4" parsed="|1Tim|5|4|0|0" passage="1Ti 5:4">1
Tim. v. 4</scripRef>. Let those that by the grace of God have found
sweetness in religion themselves communicate their experience to
their friends and relations, and invite them to come and share with
them. He told not his parents whence he had it, lest they should
scruple eating it. Bishop Hall observes here that <i>those are less
wise and more scrupulous than Samson that decline the use of God's
gifts because they find them in ill vessels.</i> Honey is honey
still, though in a dead lion. Our Lord Jesus having conquered
Satan, that roaring lion, believers find honey in the carcase,
abundant strength and satisfaction, enough for themselves and for
all their friends, from that victory.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Jud.xv-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:Judg.14.10-Judg.14.20" parsed="|Judg|14|10|14|20" passage="Jud 14:10-20" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Judg.14.10-Judg.14.20">
<h4 id="Jud.xv-p8.6">Samson's Riddle; Slaughter of the
Philistines. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Jud.xv-p8.7">b. c.</span> 1141.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Jud.xv-p9">10 So his father went down unto the woman: and
Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do.  
11 And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty
companions to be with him.   12 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 <i>it</i> out,
then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments:
  13 But if ye cannot declare <i>it</i> 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.   14 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.   15 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? <i>is
it</i> not <i>so?</i>   16 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
<i>it</i> me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told
<i>it</i> my father nor my mother, and shall I tell <i>it</i> thee?
  17 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.   18 And the men of the city said unto
him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What <i>is</i>
sweeter than honey? and what <i>is</i> stronger than a lion? And he
said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not
found out my riddle.   19 And the Spirit of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jud.xv-p9.1">Lord</span> came upon him, and he went down to
Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and
gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And
his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father's house.  
20 But Samson's wife was <i>given</i> to his companion, whom he had
used as his friend.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xv-p10">We have here an account of Samson's wedding
feast and the occasion it gave him to fall foul upon the
Philistines.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xv-p11">I. Samson conformed to the custom of the
country in making a festival of his nuptial solemnities, which
continued seven days, <scripRef id="Jud.xv-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.14.10" parsed="|Judg|14|10|0|0" passage="Jdg 14:10"><i>v.</i>
10</scripRef>. Though he was a Nazarite, he did not affect, in a
thing of this nature, to be singular, but did <i>as the young men
used to do</i> upon such occasions. It is no part of religion to go
contrary to the innocent usages of the places where we live: nay,
it is a reproach to religion when those who profess it give just
occasion to others to call them covetous, sneaking, and morose. A
good man should strive to make himself, in the best sense, a good
companion.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xv-p12">II. His wife's relations paid him the
accustomed respect of the place upon that occasion, and brought him
thirty young men to keep him company during the solemnity, and to
attend him as his grooms-men (<scripRef id="Jud.xv-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.14.11" parsed="|Judg|14|11|0|0" passage="Jdg 14:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>): <i>When they saw him,</i>
what a comely man he was, and what an ingenuous graceful look he
had, they brought him these to do him honour, and to improve by his
conversation while he staid among them. Or, rather, when they saw
him, what a strong stout man he was, they brought these, seemingly
to be his companions, but really to be a guard upon him, or spies
to observe him. Jealous enough they were of him, but would have
been more so had they known of his victory over the lion, which
therefore he had industriously concealed. The favours of
Philistines have often some mischief or other designed in them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xv-p13">III. Samson, to entertain the company,
propounds a riddle to them, and lays a wager with them that they
cannot find it out in seven days, <scripRef id="Jud.xv-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.14.12-Judg.14.14" parsed="|Judg|14|12|14|14" passage="Jdg 14:12-14"><i>v.</i> 12-14</scripRef>. The usage, it seems, was
very ancient upon such occasions, when friends were together, to be
innocently merry, not to spend all the time in dull eating and
drinking, as bishop Patrick expresses it, or in other
gratifications of sense, as music, dancing, or shows, but to
propose questions, by which their learning and ingenuity might be
tried and improved. This becomes men, wise men, that value
themselves by their reason; but very unlike to it are the infamous
and worse than brutish entertainments of this degenerate age, which
send nothing round but the glass and the health, till reason is
drowned, and wisdom sunk. Now, 1. Samson's riddle was his own
invention, for it was his own achievement that gave occasion for
it: <i>Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came
forth sweetness.</i> Read my riddle, what is this? Beasts of prey
do not yield meat for man, yet <i>food came from the devourer;</i>
and those creatures that are strong when they are alive commonly
smell strong and are every way offensive when they are dead, as
horses, and yet <i>out of the strong,</i> or out of <i>the
bitter,</i> so the Syriac and Arabic read it, <i>came
sweetness.</i> If they had but so much sense as to consider what
eater is most strong, and what meat is most sweet, they would have
found out the riddle, and neither lions nor honey were such
strangers to their country that the thoughts of them needed to be
out of the way; and the solving of the riddle would have given him
occasion to tell them the entertaining story on which it was
founded. This riddle is applicable to many of the methods of divine
providence and grace. When God, by an over-ruling providence,
brings good out of evil to his church and people,—when that which
threatened their ruin turns to their advantage,—when their enemies
are made serviceable to them, and the wrath of men turns to God's
praise,—then comes <i>meat out of the eater</i> and <i>sweetness
out of the strong.</i> See <scripRef id="Jud.xv-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Phil.1.12" parsed="|Phil|1|12|0|0" passage="Php 1:12">Phil. i.
12</scripRef>. 2. His wager was more considerable to him than to
them, because he was one against thirty partners. It was not a
wager laid upon God's providence, or upon the chance of a die or a
card, but upon their ingenuity, and amounted to no more than an
honorary recompence of wit and a disgrace upon stupidity.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xv-p14">IV. His companions, when they could not
expound the riddle themselves, obliged his wife to get from him the
exposition of it, <scripRef id="Jud.xv-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.14.15" parsed="|Judg|14|15|0|0" passage="Jdg 14:15"><i>v.</i>
15</scripRef>. Whether they were really of a dull capacity, or
whether under a particular infatuation at this time, it was strange
that none of the thirty could in all this time stumble upon so
plain a thing as that, <i>What is sweeter than honey</i> and
<i>what stronger than a lion?</i> It should seem that in wit, as
well as manners, they were barbarous—barbarous indeed to threaten
the bride that, if she would not use means with the bridegroom to
let them into the meaning of it, they would <i>burn her and her
father's house with fire.</i> Could any thing be more brutish? It
was base enough to turn a jest into earnest, and those were
unworthy of conversation that would grow so outrageous rather than
confess their ignorance and lose so small a wager; nor would it
save their credit at all to tell the riddle when they were told it.
It was yet more villainous to engage Samson's wife to be a traitor
to her own husband, and to pretend a greater interest in her than
he had. Now that she was married she must <i>forget her own
people.</i> Yet most inhuman of all was it to threaten, if she
could not prevail, to burn her and all her relations with fire, and
all for fear of losing each of them the value of a shirt and a
coat: <i>Have you called us to take what we have?</i> Those must
never lay wagers that cannot lose more tamely and easily than
thus.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xv-p15">V. His wife, by unreasonable importunity,
obtains from him a key to his riddle. It was <i>on the seventh
day,</i> that is, the seventh day of the week (as Dr. Lightfoot
conjectures), but the fourth day of the feast, that they solicited
her to entice her husband (<scripRef id="Jud.xv-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.14.15" parsed="|Judg|14|15|0|0" passage="Jdg 14:15"><i>v.</i>
15</scripRef>), and she did it, 1. With great art and management
(<scripRef id="Jud.xv-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Judg.14.16" parsed="|Judg|14|16|0|0" passage="Jdg 14:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>), resolving
not to believe he loved her, unless he would gratify her in this
thing. She knew he could not bear to have his love questioned, and
therefore, if any thing would work upon him, that would: "<i>Thou
dost but hate me, and lovest me not,</i> if thou deniest me;"
whereas he had much more reason to say, "Thou dost but <i>hate
me,</i> and <i>lovest me not,</i> if thou insistest on it." And,
that she might not make this the test of his affection, he assures
her he had not told his own parents, notwithstanding the confidence
he reposed in them. If this prevail not, she will try the powerful
eloquence of tears: she <i>wept before him</i> the rest of <i>the
days of the feast,</i> choosing rather to mar the mirth, as the
bride's tears must needs do, than not gain her point, and oblige
her countrymen, <scripRef id="Jud.xv-p15.3" osisRef="Bible:Judg.14.17" parsed="|Judg|14|17|0|0" passage="Jdg 14:17"><i>v.</i>
17</scripRef>. 2. With great success. At last, being quite wearied
with her importunity, he told her what was the meaning of his
riddle, and though we may suppose she promised secresy, and that if
he would but let her know she would tell nobody, she immediately
told it to the <i>children of her people;</i> nor could he expect
better from a Philistine, especially when the interests of her
country were ever so little concerned. See <scripRef id="Jud.xv-p15.4" osisRef="Bible:Mic.7.5-Mic.7.6" parsed="|Mic|7|5|7|6" passage="Mic 7:5,6">Mic. vii. 5, 6</scripRef>. The riddle is at length
<i>unriddled</i> (<scripRef id="Jud.xv-p15.5" osisRef="Bible:Judg.14.18" parsed="|Judg|14|18|0|0" passage="Jdg 14:18"><i>v.</i>
18</scripRef>): <i>What is sweeter than honey,</i> or a better
meat? <scripRef id="Jud.xv-p15.6" osisRef="Bible:Prov.24.13" parsed="|Prov|24|13|0|0" passage="Pr 24:13">Prov. xxiv. 13</scripRef>.
<i>What is stronger than a lion,</i> or a greater devourer? Samson
generously owns they had won the wager, though he had good reason
to dispute it, because they had not declared the riddle, as the
bargain was (<scripRef id="Jud.xv-p15.7" osisRef="Bible:Judg.14.12" parsed="|Judg|14|12|0|0" passage="Jdg 14:12"><i>v.</i>
12</scripRef>), but it had been declared to them. But he only
thought fit to tell them of it: <i>If you had not ploughed with my
heifer,</i> made use of your interest with my wife, <i>you would
not have found out my riddle.</i> Satan, in his temptations, could
not do us the mischief he does if he did not plough with the heifer
of our own corrupt nature.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xv-p16">VI. Samson pays his wager to these
Philistines with the spoils of others of their countrymen,
<scripRef id="Jud.xv-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.14.19" parsed="|Judg|14|19|0|0" passage="Jdg 14:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>. He took this
occasion to quarrel with the Philistines, went down to Ashkelon,
one of their cities, where probably he knew there was some great
festival observed at this time, to which many flocked, out of whom
he picked out thirty, slew them, and took their clothes, and gave
them to those that had expounded the riddle; so that, in balancing
the account, it appeared that the Philistines were the losers, for
one of the lives they lost was worth all the suits of clothes they
won: the body is more than raiment. <i>The Spirit of the Lord came
upon him,</i> both to authorize and to enable him to do this.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jud.xv-p17">VII. This proves a good occasion of weaning
Samson from his new relations. He found how his companions had
abused him and how his wife had betrayed him, and therefore <i>his
anger was kindled,</i> <scripRef id="Jud.xv-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Judg.14.19" parsed="|Judg|14|19|0|0" passage="Jdg 14:19"><i>v.</i>
19</scripRef>. Better be angry with Philistines than in love with
them, because, when we join ourselves to them, we are most in
danger of being ensnared by them. And, meeting with this ill usage
among them, he <i>went up to his father's house.</i> It were well
for us if the unkindnesses we meet with from the world, and our
disappointments in it, had but this good effect upon us, to oblige
us by faith and prayer to return to our heavenly Father's house and
rest there. The inconveniences that occur in our way should make us
love home and long to be there. No sooner had he gone than his wife
was disposed of to another, <scripRef id="Jud.xv-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Judg.14.20" parsed="|Judg|14|20|0|0" passage="Jdg 14:20"><i>v.</i>
20</scripRef>. Instead of begging his pardon for the wrong she had
done him, when he justly signified his resentment of it only by
withdrawing in displeasure for a time, she immediately marries him
that was the chief of the guests, the friend of the bridegroom,
whom perhaps she loved too well, and was too willing to oblige,
when she got her husband to tell her the riddle. See how little
confidence is to be put in man, when those may prove our enemies
whom we have used as our friends.</p>
</div></div2>