14:1 Samson went down to Timnah Near Zorah, Samson’s hometown.

a woman in Timnah from the daughters of the Philistines The presence of Philistine women in Timnah most likely indicates the Philistines occupied the city.

Philistines

14:2 take her for me as a wife Motivated by lust, Samson desires a Philistine woman. Marriages in ancient Near Eastern culture were generally handled like business transactions (compare Gen 29:15–20). Judges 14:7 suggests that he had not formally met her. See v. 4 and note.

14:3 a wife among the daughters of your relatives Samson’s parents are unhappy with the idea of Samson marrying a non-Israelite woman since it could lead to idolatry (see Exod 34:16; Deut 7:1–6; 17:17). Philistines, as non-Israelites, were not part of God’s covenant with Abraham (Gen 12:1–3; 15:1–6), which required the sign of circumcision (Gen 17). Although many cultures in the ancient Near East practiced circumcision for reasons unconnected to a covenant with Yahweh (see Josh 5:2–5), the Philistines were an exception.

she pleases me The Hebrew idiom used here indicates something is pleasing, satisfactory, or acceptable (1 Sam 18:20, 26; 1 Kgs 9:12). It does not connote a particular reason for the satisfaction. Since Samson has apparently only seen the woman (Judg 14:2), this phrase probably indicates that he finds her physically attractive. See v. 2 and note.

14:4 the Philistines were ruling in Israel God will use Samson’s lust to initiate judgment on the Philistines for oppressing Israel. The fact that a foreign power is ruling over Israel again situates the narrative in the cycle of oppression seen elsewhere in the book (see 2:11; 3:7; 4:1; 6:1). See note on 2:11–15.

14:5 and his father and mother went down to Timnah So that they could negotiate the marriage transaction (see note on v. 2).

14:6 the Spirit of Yahweh rushed upon him This statement usually indicates Yahweh’s empowering of a judge to accomplish deliverance (see 3:10; 6:34). In Samson’s case, the Spirit comes when he performs exceptional feats of physical strength (compare vv. 19; 15:14).

But he did not tell his father and mother The reason for Samson’s secrecy is unstated and unknown (compare v. 12). Samson may have thought he had violated his lifelong Nazirite vow by touching a dead carcass (Num 6:6). However, this seems not to be the case. Numbers 6:6 may only relate to touching a human corpse (see Num 6:7). Also, if Samson violated the vow, it becomes difficult to understand why God empowers Samson shortly after (Judg 14:19).

Did Samson Violate His Nazirite Vow?

14:9 He scraped it out into his hands Since it is not a product of the vine (Num 6:3–4), honey is not listed as a food prohibited for Nazirites. Since Samson continues to receive Yahweh’s empowering until his hair is cut, none of his prior actions (including touching the lion’s carcass here) appear to be violations of his lifelong Nazirite vow (see Judg 16:17–19).

14:10 His father went down to the woman To complete the transaction and prepare the wedding celebration (see note on v. 2).

young men were accustomed to doing this Samson is responsible for the wedding feast, but it will take place in the bride’s home, something not customary in an Israelite ceremony. Conforming to non-Israelite customs would have further irritated his parents.

14:11 they took thirty companions These are not Samson’s friends; rather, the people at the wedding in Timnah bring these men once Samson arrives. They may be invited guests of the woman’s family.

14:12 Let me tell you a riddle Samson entertains the gathering with a challenging riddle. He has no reason to suspect anyone will solve it since he alone knows about the incident with the lion (see vv. 9, 16).

within the seven days of the feast By the end of the marriage feast.

thirty linen garments and thirty festal garments The prize is costly and desirable, though the cost would be distributed for the thirty men. Even the cost of one change of clothes each apparently represented a significant expense based on the men’s protest in v. 15. Most people in ancient Near Eastern cultures would have owned few garments.

14:14 From the strong came out sweet Samson here refers to the lion and the honey within it (vv. 8–9). The eater is the lion (a carnivore); the sweetness is the honey within the carcass.

14:15 When it was the fourth day The traditional Hebrew text (Masoretic Text) reads the “seventh day,” which makes no sense in the context of v. 17. Most English translations read “fourth day,” following the Septuagint.

you invited us to The high stakes of the riddle cause the 30 men to threaten Samson’s bride and her parents.

14:17 She wept before him the seven days The remaining duration of the seven-day feast.

on the seventh day he explained it to her Samson reveals the answer before the time is up for solving the riddle has come.

14:18 The men of the city The description here and in v. 17 clarifies that the 30 men are all Philistines from Timnah.

If you had not plowed with my heifer An idiom meaning “had you not intimidated my wife.”

14:19 the Spirit of Yahweh rushed on him Although Samson is acting out of rage, Yahweh empowers Samson with strength because the Philistines have been oppressing the Israelites (see v. 4). On the Spirit’s empowering of Samson, see v. 6 and note.

He killed thirty men Samson travels 20 miles to the Philistine city of Ashkelon (Josh 13:3) and murders 30 random Philistine men.

he took their belongings, and he gave festal garments Samson takes each man’s belongings and presents them to fulfill his obligation.

14:20 And Samson’s wife was given to his companion Samson, having gone home in a rage, does not actually consummate his marriage. Instead, his wife is given to one of the Philistine men present.

his best man The Hebrew term used here, re'ah, means “friend.” The woman’s father assumes Samson no longer wants her (see Judg 15:1–2).