1.

And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.

Timnath: Genesis 38:12, Genesis 38:13, Joshua 15:10, Joshua 19:43, aw, Genesis 6:2, Genesis 34:1, Genesis 34:2, 2 Samuel 11:2, Job 31:1, Psalms 119:37, 1 John 2:16
Reciprocal: Genesis 49:17 - shall be 2 Chronicles 28:18 - Timnah Ezekiel 25:15 - to destroy

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.

get her: Genesis 21:21, Genesis 24:2, Genesis 24:3, Genesis 34:4, Genesis 38:6, 2 Kings 14:9
Reciprocal: Genesis 38:2 - saw Deuteronomy 21:11 - desire Joshua 19:43 - Thimnathah Ecclesiastes 2:10 - whatsoever Jeremiah 29:6 - take wives

3.

Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there 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.

thy brethren: Genesis 13:8, Genesis 21:3, Genesis 21:4, Genesis 21:27
uncircumcised: Judges 15:18, Genesis 34:14, Exodus 34:12-16, Deuteronomy 7:2, Deuteronomy 7:3, 1 Samuel 14:6, 1 Samuel 17:26, 1 Samuel 17:36, 1 Samuel 31:4, 2 Samuel 1:20
she pleaseth me well: Heb. she is right in mine eyes
Reciprocal: Exodus 21:8 - please not Deuteronomy 21:11 - desire 1 Kings 9:12 - they pleased him not

4.

But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.

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. Joshua 11:20, 1 Kings 12:15, 2 Kings 6:33, 2 Chronicles 10:15, 2 Chronicles 22:7, 2 Chronicles 25:20, Psalms 115:3
had dominion: Judges 13:1, Judges 15:11, Deuteronomy 28:48
Reciprocal: Genesis 43:18 - seek occasion against us Deuteronomy 28:43 - General Judges 3:3 - five lords Judges 15:7 - Though Daniel 6:4 - sought

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.

against him: Heb. in meeting him, Judges 14:5
Reciprocal: Joshua 15:10 - Timnah 1 Samuel 17:35 - smote him 2 Samuel 23:20 - slew a lion 1 Chronicles 11:22 - slew a Psalms 91:13 - tread Jeremiah 2:15 - young lions Hebrews 11:33 - stopped 1 Peter 5:8 - as

6.

And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.

the Spirit: Judges 3:10, Judges 11:29, Judges 13:25, 1 Samuel 11:6
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. Judges 15:8, Judges 15:15, Judges 16:30, 1 Samuel 17:34-37, 1 Samuel 17:46, Zechariah 4:6, 1 John 3:8
he told: Isaiah 42:2, Matthew 11:29
Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 33:22 - General Judges 14:19 - the Spirit Judges 15:14 - the Spirit 1 Samuel 10:16 - matter 1 Samuel 14:1 - he told not 1 Samuel 16:13 - the Spirit 1 Samuel 17:35 - smote him 2 Samuel 23:20 - slew a lion 1 Chronicles 11:22 - slew a Psalms 91:13 - tread Hebrews 11:33 - stopped

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, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion.

to take her: Genesis 29:21, Matthew 1:20
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.
Reciprocal: Genesis 24:55 - a few days Psalms 81:16 - honey Proverbs 25:16 - Hast

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.

1 Samuel 14:25-30, Proverbs 25:15
Reciprocal: Psalms 81:16 - honey Proverbs 25:16 - Hast

10.

So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do.

made there: Genesis 29:22, Esther 1:7-22, Ecclesiastes 10:19, Matthew 22:2-4, John 2:9, Revelation 19:9
Reciprocal: Genesis 21:8 - feast Genesis 29:27 - week Esther 2:18 - made a great Mark 2:19 - Can Luke 5:34 - the children John 3:29 - the friend

11.

And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.

saw him: 1 Samuel 10:23, 1 Samuel 16:6
thirty: Matthew 9:15, John 3:29
Reciprocal: Job 41:6 - General Song of Solomon 8:13 - the companions Mark 2:19 - Can Luke 5:34 - the children

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 it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments:

a riddle: 1 Kings 10:1, Psalms 49:4, Proverbs 1:6, Ezekiel 17:2, Ezekiel 20:49, Matthew 13:13, Matthew 13:34, Luke 14:7, John 16:29, 1 Corinthians 13:12, *marg.
the seven: Genesis 29:27, Genesis 29:28, 2 Chronicles 7:8
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." Matthew 27:28, Mark 14:51, Mark 14:52
change: Genesis 45:22, 2 Kings 5:5, 2 Kings 5:22, Matthew 6:19, James 5:2
Reciprocal: Genesis 21:8 - feast Matthew 13:24 - put

13.

But if ye cannot declare it 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.

Reciprocal: Matthew 13:24 - put

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.

Out of the eater: Genesis 3:15, Deuteronomy 8:15, Deuteronomy 8:16, 1 Kings 17:6, 2 Chronicles 20:2, 2 Chronicles 20:25, Isaiah 53:10-12, Romans 5:3-5, Romans 8:37, 2 Corinthians 4:17, 2 Corinthians 12:9, 2 Corinthians 12:10, Philippians 1:12-20, Hebrews 2:14, Hebrews 2:15, Hebrews 12:10, Hebrews 12:11, James 1:2-4, 1 Peter 2:24
they could: Proverbs 24:7, Matthew 13:11, Acts 8:31

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? is it not so?

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 Judges 14:17, 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.
Entice: Judges 16:5, Genesis 3:1-6, Proverbs 1:11, Proverbs 5:3, Proverbs 6:26, Micah 7:5
lest we burn: Judges 12:1, Judges 15:6
take that we have: Heb. possess us, or, impoverish us
Reciprocal: Judges 15:3 - though Esther 4:14 - but thou Ecclesiastes 10:13 - beginning 1 Corinthians 2:4 - not

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 it me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told it my father nor my mother, and shall I tell it thee?

Thou dost: Judges 16:15
I have not: Genesis 2:24
Reciprocal: Judges 15:2 - I verily

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.

the seven: or, the rest of the seven days
she lay: Judges 16:6, Judges 16:13, Judges 16:16, Genesis 3:6, Job 2:9, Proverbs 7:21, Luke 11:8, Luke 18:4, Luke 18:5
and she told: Proverbs 2:16, Proverbs 2:17
Reciprocal: Judges 14:15 - on the seventh day

18.

And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle.

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 1:23 - stronger Psalms 81:16 - honey Proverbs 30:30 - General Ezekiel 1:10 - the face of a lion

19.

And the Spirit of the LORD 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.

the Spirit: Judges 14:6, Judges 3:10, Judges 13:25, Judges 15:14, 1 Samuel 11:6
spoil: or, apparel
Reciprocal: Genesis 45:22 - each Deuteronomy 33:22 - General Judges 6:34 - the Spirit Judges 15:7 - Though Judges 16:30 - So the dead 1 Samuel 18:27 - slew 2 Samuel 1:20 - Tell 2 Samuel 2:21 - armour 2 Chronicles 14:14 - exceeding

20.

But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.

given to: Judges 15:2
his friend: Psalms 55:12, Psalms 55:13, Jeremiah 9:5, Micah 7:5, Matthew 26:49, Matthew 26:50, John 3:29, John 13:18
Reciprocal: Genesis 38:20 - his friend 1 Samuel 18:19 - Adriel 2 Samuel 13:3 - a friend