Judges 15
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Commentaries
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SAMSON IS DENIED HIS WIFE. (Jdg 15:1-2) in the time of wheat harvest--that is, about the end of our April, or the beginning of our May. The shocks of grain were then gathered into heaps, and lying on the field or on the threshing-floors. It was the dry season, dry far beyond our experience, and the grain in a most combustible state. Samson visited his wife with a kid--It is usual for a visitor in the East to carry some present; in this case, it might be not only as a token of civility, but of reconciliation. he said--that is, to himself. It was his secret purpose. into the chamber--the female apartments or harem.
Open source ↗But it came to pass within a while after,.... Or "after days", a year after, the same phrase as in Jdg 14:8 in the time of wheat harvest; which began at Pentecost, as barley harvest did at the passover; this circumstance is mentioned for the sake of the following piece of history: that Samson visited his wife with a kid; by this time his passion of anger subsided, and he "remembered" his wife, as the Targum expresses it, and thought proper to return to her, and attempt a reconciliation with her; and for that purpose took a kid with him to eat a meal with her in her own apartment, which in those days was reckoned an elegant entertainment, and was a present to a king, Sa1 16:20. Isidore (s) derives the Latin word for a kid, "ab edendo", from eating, as if it was food by way of eminency, as it is both savoury and wholesome: and he said, I will go with my wife into the chamber; where she was, as women had their chambers and apartments by themselves; this he said within himself, or resolved in his own mind, and perhaps expressed it in her father's hearing, or however moved that way, which plainly indicated his design: but her father would not suffer him to go in; placed himself perhaps between him and the door, and parleyed with him, and declared he should not go into his daughter's chamber; Samson, through his superior strength, could easily have pushed him away, and broke open the door, but he did not choose to use such violent methods, and patiently heard what he had to say, and submitted. (s) Origin. l. 12. c. 1. p. 101.
Open source ↗Further Acts of Samson. - Jdg 15:1-8. His Revenge upon the Philistines. - Jdg 15:1. Some time after, Samson visited his wife in the time of the wheat harvest with a kid-a customary present at that time (Gen 38:17)-and wished to go into the chamber (the women's apartment) to her; but her father would not allow him, and said, "I thought thou hatedst her, and therefore gave her to thy friend (Jdg 14:20): behold her younger sister is fairer than she; let her be thine in her stead."
Open source ↗Here is, I. Samson's return to his wife, whom he had left in displeasure; not hearing perhaps that she was given to another, when time had a little cooled his resentments, he came back to her, visited her with a kid, Jdg 15:1. The value of the present was inconsiderable, but it was intended as a token of reconciliation, and perhaps was then so used, when those that had been at variance were brought together again; he sent this, that he might sup with her in her apartments, and she with him, on his provision, and so they might be friends again. It was generously done of Samson, though he was the party offended and the superior relation, to whom therefore she was bound in duty to sue for peace and to make the first motion of reconciliation. When differences happen between near relations, let hose be ever reckoned the wisest and the best that are most forward to forgive and forget injuries and most willing to stoop and yield for peace' sake. II. The repulse he met with. Her father forbade him to come near her; for truly he had married her to another, Jdg 15:2. He endeavours, 1. To justify himself in this wrong: I verily thought that thou hadst utterly hated her. A very ill opinion he had of Samson, measuring that Nazarite by the common temper of the Philistines; could he think worse of him than to suspect that, because he was justly angry with his wife, he utterly hated her, and, because he had seen cause to return to his father's house for a while, therefore he had abandoned her for ever? Yet this is all he had to say in excuse of this injury. Thus he made the worst of jealousies to patronize the worst of robberies. But it will never bear us out in doing ill to say, "We thought others designed ill." 2. He endeavours to pacify Samson by offering him his younger daughter, w…
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… חִטָּה (chiṭṭâh, H2406) — wheat, whether the grain or the plant קָצִיר (qâtsîyr, H7105) — severed, i.e. harvest (as reaped), the crop, the time, the reaper, or figuratively; also… שִׁמְשׁוֹן (Shimshôwn, H8123) — Shimshon, an Israelite פָּקַד (pâqad, H6485) — to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care… אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh, H802) — a woman גְּדִי (gᵉdîy, H1423) — a young goat (from browsing) עֵז (ʻêz, H5795) — a she-goat (as strong), but masculine in plural (which also is used elliptically for… אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) חֶדֶר (cheder, H2315) — an apartment (usually literal) אָב (ʼâb, H1) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
Open source ↗אָב (ʼâb, H1) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) שָׂנֵא (sânêʼ, H8130) — to hate (personally) נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) מֵרֵעַ (mêrêaʻ, H4828) — a friend קָטָן (qâṭân, H6996) — abbreviated, i.e. diminutive, literally (in quantity, size or number) or figuratively (in… אָחוֹת (ʼâchôwth, H269) — a sister (used very widely (like brother), literally and figuratively) טוֹב (ṭôwb, H2896) — good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the…
Open source ↗שִׁמְשׁוֹן (Shimshôwn, H8123) — Shimshon, an Israelite אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) פַּעַם (paʻam, H6471) — a stroke, literally or figuratively (in various applications, as follow) נָקָה (nâqâh, H5352) — to be (or make) clean (literally or figuratively); by implication (in an adverse sense)… פְּלִשְׁתִּי (Pᵉlishtîy, H6430) — a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application רַע (raʻ, H7451) — bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
Open source ↗שִׁמְשׁוֹן (Shimshôwn, H8123) — Shimshon, an Israelite יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses) לָכַד (lâkad, H3920) — to catch (in a net, trap or pit); generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by… שָׁלוֹשׁ (shâlôwsh, H7969) — three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice מֵאָה (mêʼâh, H3967) — a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction שׁוּעָל (shûwʻâl, H7776) — a jackal (as a burrower) לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) לַפִּיד (lappîyd, H3940) — a flambeau, lamp or flame פָּנָה (pânâh, H6437) — to turn; by implication, to face, i.e. appear, look, etc. זָנָב (zânâb, H2180) — the tail (literally or figuratively) שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… אֶחָד (ʼechâd, H259) — properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first תָּוֶךְ (tâvek, H8432) — a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim, H8147) — two; also (as ordinal) twofold
Open source ↗בָּעַר (bâʻar, H1197) — to kindle, i.e. consume (by fire or by eating); to be(-come) brutish לַפִּיד (lappîyd, H3940) — a flambeau, lamp or flame אֵשׁ (ʼêsh, H784) — fire (literally or figuratively) שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) קָמָה (qâmâh, H7054) — something that rises, i.e. a stalk of grain פְּלִשְׁתִּי (Pᵉlishtîy, H6430) — a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth גָּדִישׁ (gâdîysh, H1430) — a stack of sheaves; by analogy, a tomb כֶּרֶם (kerem, H3754) — a garden or vineyard זַיִת (zayith, H2132) — an olive (as yielding illuminating oil), the tree, the branch or the berry
Open source ↗פְּלִשְׁתִּי (Pᵉlishtîy, H6430) — a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application שִׁמְשׁוֹן (Shimshôwn, H8123) — Shimshon, an Israelite חָתָן (châthân, H2860) — a relative by marriage (especially through the bride); figuratively, a circumcised child… תִּמְנִי (Timnîy, H8554) — a Timnite or inhabitant of Timnah לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh, H802) — a woman נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) מֵרֵעַ (mêrêaʻ, H4828) — a friend עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… שָׂרַף (sâraph, H8313) — to be (causatively, set) on fire אָב (ʼâb, H1) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application אֵשׁ (ʼêsh, H784) — fire (literally or figuratively)
Open source ↗שִׁמְשׁוֹן (Shimshôwn, H8123) — Shimshon, an Israelite אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אִם (ʼim, H518) — used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if,… עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application זֹאת (zôʼth, H2063) — this (often used adverb) נָקַם (nâqam, H5358) — to grudge, i.e. avenge or punish אַחַר (ʼachar, H310) — properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various… חָדַל (châdal, H2308) — properly, to be flabby, i.e. (by implication) desist; (figuratively) be lacking or idle
Open source ↗נָכָה (nâkâh, H5221) — to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively) שׁוֹק (shôwq, H7785) — the (lower) leg (as a runner) עַל (ʻal, H5921) — above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect)… יָרֵךְ (yârêk, H3409) — the thigh (from its fleshy softness); by euphemistically the generative parts;… גָּדוֹל (gâdôwl, H1419) — great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent מַכָּה (makkâh, H4347) — a wound; figuratively, carnage, also pestilence יָרַד (yârad, H3381) — to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the… יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to… סָעִיף (çâʻîyph, H5585) — a fissure (of rocks); also a bough (as subdivided) סֶלַע (çelaʻ, H5553) — a craggy rock, literally or figuratively (a fortress) עֵיטָם (ʻÊyṭâm, H5862) — Etam, a place in Palestine
Open source ↗פְּלִשְׁתִּי (Pᵉlishtîy, H6430) — a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… חָנָה (chânâh, H2583) — properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening);… יְהוּדָה (Yᵉhûwdâh, H3063) — Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the… נָטַשׁ (nâṭash, H5203) — properly, to pound, i.e. smite; by implication (as if beating out, and thus expanding) to… לֶחִי (Lechîy, H3896) — Lechi, a place in Palestine
Open source ↗אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… יְהוּדָה (Yᵉhûwdâh, H3063) — Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the… אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… אָסַר (ʼâçar, H631) — to yoke or hitch; by analogy, to fasten in any sense, to join battle שִׁמְשׁוֹן (Shimshôwn, H8123) — Shimshon, an Israelite עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
Open source ↗שָׁלוֹשׁ (shâlôwsh, H7969) — three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice אֶלֶף (ʼeleph, H505) — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as… אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… יְהוּדָה (Yᵉhûwdâh, H3063) — Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the… יָרַד (yârad, H3381) — to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the… סָעִיף (çâʻîyph, H5585) — a fissure (of rocks); also a bough (as subdivided) סֶלַע (çelaʻ, H5553) — a craggy rock, literally or figuratively (a fortress) עֵיטָם (ʻÊyṭâm, H5862) — Etam, a place in Palestine אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) שִׁמְשׁוֹן (Shimshôwn, H8123) — Shimshon, an Israelite יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… פְּלִשְׁתִּי (Pᵉlishtîy, H6430) — a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth מָשַׁל (mâshal, H4910) — to rule עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) יָרַד (yârad, H3381) — to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the… אָסַר (ʼâçar, H631) — to yoke or hitch; by analogy, to fasten in any sense, to join battle נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), פְּלִשְׁתִּי (Pᵉlishtîy, H6430) — a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth שִׁמְשׁוֹן (Shimshôwn, H8123) — Shimshon, an Israelite שָׁבַע (shâbaʻ, H7650) — to seven oneself, i.e. swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times) פָּגַע (pâgaʻ, H6293) — to impinge, by accident or violence, or (figuratively) by importunity
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אָסַר (ʼâçar, H631) — to yoke or hitch; by analogy, to fasten in any sense, to join battle נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), מוּת (mûwth, H4191) — to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim, H8147) — two; also (as ordinal) twofold חָדָשׁ (châdâsh, H2319) — new עֲבֹת (ʻăbôth, H5688) — something intwined, i.e. a string, wreath or foliage עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… סֶלַע (çelaʻ, H5553) — a craggy rock, literally or figuratively (a fortress)
Open source ↗בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) לֶחִי (Lechîy, H3896) — Lechi, a place in Palestine פְּלִשְׁתִּי (Pᵉlishtîy, H6430) — a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth רוּעַ (rûwaʻ, H7321) — to mar (especially by breaking); figuratively, to split the ears (with sound), i.e. shout… קִרְאָה (qirʼâh, H7125) — an encountering, accidental, friendly or hostile (also adverbially, opposite) רוּחַ (rûwach, H7307) — wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively,… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God צָלַח (tsâlach, H6743) — to push forward, in various senses (literal or figurative, transitive or intransitive) עֲבֹת (ʻăbôth, H5688) — something intwined, i.e. a string, wreath or foliage זְרוֹעַ (zᵉrôwaʻ, H2220) — the arm (as stretched out), or (of animals) the foreleg; figuratively, force פִּשְׁתֶּה (pishteh, H6593) — linen (i.e. the thread, as carded) בָּעַר (bâʻar, H1197) — to kindle, i.e. consume (by fire or by eating); to be(-come) brutish אֵשׁ (ʼêsh, H784) — fire (literally or figuratively) אֵסוּר (ʼêçûwr, H612) — a bond (especially manacles of a prisoner)
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
“I will send you a young goat from my flock,” Judah answered. But she replied, “Only if you leave me something as a pledge until you send it.”
But he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I have served you and never disobeyed a commandment of yours. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
Finally Jacob said to Laban, “Grant me my wife, for my time is complete, and I want to sleep with her.”
The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and afterward as well—when the sons of God had relations with the daughters of men. And they bore them children who became the mighty men of old, men of renown.