Judges 1:15

1:15 She answered, “Please give me a special present. ¹  Since you have given me land in the Negev, now give me springs of water.” So Caleb gave her both the upper and lower springs. ² 

Judges 3:10

3:10 The Lord’s spirit empowered him ³  and he led Israel. When he went to do battle, the Lord handed over to him King Cushan-Rishathaim of Aram and he overpowered him. ⁴ 

Judges 11:21

11:21 The Lord God of Israel handed Sihon and his whole army over to Israel and they defeated them. Israel took ⁵  all the land of the Amorites who lived in that land.

Judges 14:9

14:9 He scooped it up with his hands and ate it as he walked along. When he returned ⁶  to his father and mother, he offered them some and they ate it. But he did not tell them he had scooped the honey out of the lion’s carcass. ⁷ 

Judges 14:19

14:19 The Lord’s spirit empowered him. He went down to Ashkelon and murdered thirty men. He took their clothes ⁸  and gave them ⁹  to the men who had solved the riddle. He was furious as he went back home. ¹⁰ 

¹ tn Elsewhere the Hebrew word בְרָכָה (vÿrakhah) is often translated “blessing,” but here it refers to a gift (as in Gen 33:11; 1 Sam 25:27; 30:26; and 2 Kgs 5:15).

² tn Some translations regard the expressions “springs of water” (גֻּלֹּת מָיִם, gullot mayim) and “springs” (גֻּלֹּת) as place names here (cf. NRSV).

³ tn Heb “was on him.”

⁴ tn Heb “his hand was strong against Cushan-Rishathaim.”

⁵ tn That is, took as its own possession.

⁷ tn Heb “went.” Samson apparently went home to his parents before going to Timnah for the marriage. Seeing and tasting the honey appears to encourage Manoah to go with his son to Timnah. Perhaps both Samson and his father viewed the honey as a good omen of future blessing. Possibly Samson considered it a symbol of sexual pleasure or an aphrodisiac. Note the use of honey imagery in Song 4:11 and 5:1.

⁸ sn Touching the carcass of a dead animal undoubtedly violated Samson’s Nazirite status. See Num 6:6.

⁹ tn Heb “equipment”; or “gear.”

¹⁰ tn Heb “changes [of clothes].”

¹¹ tn Heb “he went up to his father’s house.”