Judges 13:1--16:31
did <06213> [did. Heb. added to commit, etc.]
sight <05869> [in the sight.]
so <05414> [delivered.]
"This seems a partial captivity."
handed <03027> [into the.]
Zorah <06881> [Zorah.]
infertile <06135> [barren.]
messenger <04397> [the angel.]
conceive <02029> [but thou.]
drink wine <08354 03196> [drink not.]
eat ......... unclean <0398 02931> [eat not.]
[no rasor.]
begin <02490> [begin.]
husband ... man <0376> [A man.]
looked like <04758> [countenance was.]
awesome <03372> [terrible.]
ask <07592> [but I asked, etc.]
The Vulgate renders this cause very differently, the negative Not being omitted: {Quem c—m interrogƒssim quis esset, et unde venisset, et quo nomine vocaretur, noluit mihi dicere; sed hoc respondit, etc; "Whom when I asked who he was, and whence he came, and by what name he was called, would not tell me: but this he said," etc. The negative is also wanting in the Septuagint, as it is in the Complutensian Polyglott; [kai erouton auton pothen estin, kai to onoma auton, ouk apengeilen moi.] "And I asked him whence he was, and his name, but he did not tell me." This is also the reading of the Codex Alexandrinus; but the Septuagint in the London Polyglott, the Chaldee, Syriac, and Arabic, read the negative particle with the Hebrew text: I asked Not his name, etc.
name <08034> [his name.]
teach ...... raise <03384 06213> [teach us.]
answered <08085> [hearkened.]
husband ..... man ...... other <0376> [Behold.]
day <03117> [the other day.]
{Byyom,} rather, "in this day," or "to-day," for the word other is not in the original, and it is probably that the angel appeared in the morning and evening of the same day.
child <04941 05288> [How shall we order the child. Heb. what shall be the manner of the child?]
<04639> [how shall we do unto him. or, what shall he do? Heb. what shall be his work?]
drink <08354> [neither.]
commanded <06680> [all that I.]
awhile <06113> [let us.]
prepare <06213> [until.]
Manoah, not knowing the quality of his guest, wished to do this as act of hospitality.
[for thee. Heb. before thee.]
eat <0398> [I will not.]
As I am a spiritual being, I subsist not by earthly food; and cannot partake of your bounty.
If ........... if <0518> [and if, etc.]
Rather, "but if thou wilt offer," etc.
[unto thee.]
ask <07592> [Why askest.]
cannot comprehend <06383> [secret. or, wonderful.]
It was because his name was secret that Manoah wished to know it. But the angel does not say it was secret, but {hoo pailee,} "it is wonderful;" the very character given to the Messiah: "His name shall be called {pailai,} Wonderful," Isa 9:6.
took <03947> [took.]
did ... amazing <06381 06213> [did wondrously.]
He acted according to His Name: He, being wonderful, performed wonders; probably causing fire to arise out of the rock and consume the sacrifice, and then ascended in the flame.
flame ................ it <03851> [when the flame.]
fell <05307> [fell on.]
realized <03045> [knew.]
We .... die <04191> [We shall.]
seen <07200> [we have.]
wife <0802> [his wife.]
accepted ......... from ... He <03947> [he would not.]
shown <07200> [he have shewed.]
Samson <08123> [A.M. 2849. B.C. 1155. An. Ex. Is. 336. Samson.]
child <05288> [the child.]
spirit <07307> [the Spirit.]
Mahaneh Dan <01835 04264> [the camp of Dan. Heb. Mahaneh-dan, as ch. 18:12. between.]
Timnah <08553> [Timnath.]
[aw.]
get ..... wife <03947 0802> [get her.]
relatives <0251> [thy brethren.]
uncircumcised <06189> [uncircumcised.]
right <03474> [she pleaseth me well. Heb. she is right in mine eyes.]
Lord's <03068> [it was of the Lord.]
That is, God permitted it, that it might be a means of bringing about the deliverance of Israel. Such marriages were forbidden to the Israelites, to keep them separate from the idolatrous nations.
ruling <04910> [had dominion.]
attacking <07125> [against him. Heb. in meeting him.]
spirit <07307> [the Spirit.]
empowered ............... easily <08156> [rent him.]
Now it is not intimated that he did this by his own natural strength; but by the supernatural strength communicated by the Spirit of the Lord coming mightily upon him; which strength was not at his own command, but was, by the will of God, attached to his hair and nazarate.
tell <05046> [he told.]
marry ..... aside <03947 05493> [to take her.]
swarm <05712> [a swarm.]
It is probable, that the flesh had been entirely consumed off the bones, which had become dry; and the body having been throw into some private place, (for Samson turned aside to visit it,) a swarm of bees had formed their combs in the cavity of the dry ribs, or region of the thorax; nor was it a more improper place than a hollow rock.
hosted ... party ...... customary ..... do <06213 04960> [made there.]
thirty <07970> [thirty.]
riddle <02420> [a riddle.]
seven <07651> [the seven.]
linen robes <05466> [sheets. or, shirts.]
This will receive illustration from Mr. Jackson's description of the Moorish dress:--"It resembles that of the ancient patriarchs, as represented in paintings; (but the paintings are taken from Asiatic models:) that of the men consists of a red cap and turban, a ({kumja}) shirt, which hangs outside of the drawers, and comes below the knee; a ({caftan}) coat, which buttons close before, and down to the bottom with large open sleeves; over which, when they go out of doors, they throw carelessly, and sometimes elegantly, a {hayk,} or garment of white cotton, silk, or wool, five or six yards long, and five feet wide. The Arabs often dispense with the {caftan,} and even with the shirt, wearing nothing but the {hayk.}"
sets <02487> [change.]
eats <0398> [Out of the eater.]
could <03201> [they could.]
fourth day <03117 07637> [on the seventh day.]
The LXX. reads "on the fourth day;" with which the Syriac and Arabic agree. This, as Dr. Wall observes, is certainly right; for it appears from ver. 17, that she wept the remainder of the seven days; for which there could have been no time, if they did not threaten her till the seventh.
Trick <06601> [Entice.]
burn up <08313> [lest we burn.]
make ... poor <03423> [take that we have. Heb. possess us, or, impoverish us.]
hate <08130> [Thou dost.]
told .............. told ............ tell <05046> [I have not.]
[the seven, or, the rest of the seven days. she lay.]
told ............ told <05046> [and she told.]
spirit <07307> [the Spirit.]
clothes <02488> [spoil. or, apparel.]
best man <04828> [given to.]
<07462> [his friend.]
young <01423> [a kid.]
have sex ............... enter <0935> [I will go.]
said .... thought <0559> [I verily.]
gave <05414> [I gave.]
[take her. Heb. let her be thine.]
time .... justified <06471 05352> [Now shall, etc. or, Now shall I be blameless from the]
Philistines, though, etc.
captured three <07969 03920> [caught three.]
Dr. Kennicott and others contend, that for {shÂÆ’lim,} "foxes," we should read {shâ€Æ’lim,} "handfuls," or sheaves of corn. But, 1. The word {lachad,} rendered caught, never signifies simply to get or take but always to catch, seize, or take by assault or stratagem. 2. Though the proposed alteration is sanctioned by seven MSS., yet all the versions are on the other side. 3. Admitting this alteration, it will be difficult to prove that the word {shâ€Æ’l} means either a sheaf or a handful of corn in the ear, and straw. It occurs but thrice in Scriptures (1 Ki 20:10. Isa 40:12. Eze 13:9): where it evidently means as much as can be contained in the hollow of the hand; but when handfuls of grain in the shock, or sheaves are intended, very different words are used. See Ru 2.15, 16, etc. 4. It is not hinted that Samson collected them alone, or in one day; he might have employed many hands and several days in the work. 5. The word {shÂÆ’l} properly denotes the jackal, which travellers describe as an animal in size between the wolf and fox, gregarious, as many as 200 having been seen together, and the most numerous of any in eastern countries; so that Samson might have caught many of them together in nets.
torches ............... torch <03940> [firebrands. or, torches.]
set <07971> [he let them go.]
burned <08313> [and burnt.]
<0518> [Though.]
Lehi <03896> [Lehi.]
went down <03381> [went. Heb. went down. the rock Etam.]
Probably near the town Etam, mentioned in 1 Ch 4:32.
Philistines <06430> [Philistines.]
take ... prisoner <0631 05414> [to bind thee.]
kill <06293> [fall.]
Philistines <06430> [the Philistines.]
spirit <07307> [the Spirit.]
ropes <05688> [the cords.]
melted away <04549> [loosed. Heb. were melted.]
solid jawbone <03895 02961> [new jaw-bone. Heb. moist. slew.]
thousand <0505> [a thousand.]
Some would render the words {aileph ish,} "a chief;" but it is {alluph,} and not {aileph,} which signifies a chief; besides which, the Hebrew idiom would, even in that case, require it to be {ish alluph,} "a man, a chief," and not {alluph ish,} "a chief, a man." Add to which, that every version renders it "a thousand men."
jawbone ............. jawbone <03895> [with the jaw-bone.]
There is here a fine paronomasia upon the word {chamor,} "an ass," which also signifies "a heap;" {bilchee hachamor, chamor chamorathayim,} "With the jaw-bone of an ass, a heap upon two heaps."
<02565> [heaps upon heaps. Heb. an heap, two heaps.]
Ramath <07437> [Ramath-lehi. that is, the lifting up of the jaw-bone, or, the casting away of the jaw-bone.]
very <03966> [he was sore.]
given <05414> [Thou hast given.]
die <04191> [shall.]
fall <05307> [and fall.]
Philistines <06189> [the uncircumcised.]
Lehi <03895> [the jaw. or, Lehi.]
This reading is certainly preferable: it was in the place called Lehi where a spring was supernaturally opened.
flowed out <03318> [there came.]
strength <07307> [his spirit.]
En Hakkore <05875> [En-hakkore.]
Samson gave this expressive name to the miraculously springing water, to be as a memorial of the goodness of God to him. En-hakkore, the well of him that cried, which kept him in remembrance both of his own distress which caused him to cry, and the favour of Jehovah to him in answer to his cry. Many a spring of comfort God opens to his people, which may fitly be called by the name En-hakkore: and this instance of Samson's relief should encourage us to trust in God, for when he pleases he can open rivers in high places.
Samson at first gave the name of Ramath-lehi (the lifting up of the jaw-bone) which denoted him great and triumphant: but now he gives it another name, En-hakkore, which denotes him wanting and dependent. .# Ge 16:13, 22:14 28:19 30:30 Ex 17:15 Ps 34:6 120:1
"He seems to have judged South-west Israel during twenty years of their servitude of the Philistines."
Gaza <05804> [Gaza.]
Gaza, a city of great antiquity, was situated between Raphia and Askelon, twenty-two miles north of the former, and sixteen south of of the latter, according to the Antonine Itinerary; three miles from the sea, according to Arrian, and thirty-four from Ashdod or Azotus, according to Diodorus Siculus. It was a place of great strength and importance; and successively belonged to the Philistines, Hebrews, Chaldeans, and Persians; which latter defended it for two months against Alexander the great, who finally took and destroyed it. It was afterwards rebuilt, and alternately possessed by the Egyptians, Syrians, and Jews. The present town, which the Arabs call Razza, is situated on an eminence, and is rendered picturesque by the number of fine minarets which rise majestically above the buildings, with beautiful date trees interspersed. It contains upwards of 2,000 inhabitants.
her <0802> [an harlot. Heb. a woman an harlot. and went]
surrounded <05437> [compassed.]
[quite. Heb. silent. kill him.]
grabbed <0270> [took.]
bar ..... put <01280 07760> [bar and all. Heb. with the bar.]
love <0157> [he loved.]
Valley <05158> [in the valley. or, by the brook.]
rulers <05633> [the lords.]
Trick <06601> [Entice.]
humiliate <06031> [afflict. or, humble. we will.]
tie ... up <0631> [If they bind.]
fresh bowstrings <03892 03499> [green withs. or, new cords. Heb. moist. another. Heb. one.]
tied ... up <0631> [bound him.]
put close <07306> [toucheth. Heb. smelleth.]
tell ....... subdued <05046 0631> [now tell me.]
tie <0631> [If they bind me.]
used <04399> [that never, etc. Heb. wherewith work hath not been done.]
fabric <04545> [with the web.]
It is evident that this verse ends abruptly, and does not contain a full sense. Houbigant has particularly noticed this, and corrected the text from the Septuagint: which adds after these words, [kai enkrouses to passalo eis ton toichou, kai esomai hos eis ton anthropon asthenes kai egeneto en to koimasthai auton kai elabe Dalida tas hepta seiras tes kephales autou, kai hyphanen en to diasmati, k.t.l.] "and shall fasten them with the pin in the wall, I shall become weak like other men: and so it was, that when he slept, Dalida took the seven locks of his head, and wove them with the web," etc. This is absolutely necessary to complete the sense; else Delilah would appear to do something she was not ordered to do, and to omit what she was commanded. Dr. Kennicott very judiciously observes, that the omission, for such it appears to be, begins and ends with the same word; and that the same word occurring in different places, is a very common cause of omission in Hebrew manuscripts.
<05265> [went away.]
said .... How .... say <0349 0559> [How canst.]
secret <03820> [when thine.]
nagged <06693> [she pressed.]
<07114> [vexed. Heb. shortened.]
secret <03820> [all his heart.]
cut <05927> [There hath.]
Come up ................. went up ..... bringing <05927> [Come up.]
Come up ................. went up ..... bringing ... silver <03701 05927> [brought money.]
sleep <03462> [she made.]
do <03318> [I will go.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
gouged out <05365> [and put out. Heb. and bored out.]
bound .... bronze <0631 05178> [bound him.]
grinder <02912> [grind.]
hair <08181> [the hair.]
had ... shaved off <0834 01548> [after he was shaven. or, as when he was shaven.]
Dagon <01712> [Dagon.]
celebrate <08057> [to rejoice.]
praised <01984> [praised.]
killed ... many <02491 07235> [which slew many of us. Heb. and who multiplied our slain.]
celebrating <03820> [their hearts.]
<06440> [them. Heb. before them. sport.]
roof <01406> [and there.]
"Samson, therefore," says Dr. Shaw, "must have been in a court or area below; and consequently the temple will be of the same kind with the ancient, [temene,] or sacred enclosures, which were only surrounded either in part, or on all sides, with some plain or cloistered buildings. Several palaces, {doutwanas,} (as the courts of justice are called in those countries) are built in this fashion. On their public festivals and rejoicings, the roofs of these cloisters are crowded with spectators. I have often seen numbers of people diverted in this manner on the roof of the dey's palace at Algiers; which, like many others, has an advanced cloister, over against the gate of the palace, like a long pent-house, supported by one or two contiguous pillars in front, or centre."
roof <01406> [the roof.]
called <07121> [called.]
remember ... Strengthen <02142 02388> [remember me.]
swift <0259> [that I may.]
leaned <05564> [on which it was borne up. or, he leaned on them.]
die ...................... killed ....... death ..... killed <04191> [me. Heb. my soul. die.]
temple <01004> [and the house.]
die ...................... killed ....... death ..... killed <04191> [So the dead.]
brothers <0251> [his brethren.]
Zorah <06881> [between Zorah.]
led <08199> [And he judged.]
