This chapter treats of Samson's courtship, and marriage of a Philistine woman, Jud 14:1 of his meeting with a young lion as he went courting, and of his slaying it, and afterwards finding honey in it, Jud 14:6, of a riddle which be framed out of this incident, and put to his companions at his marriage to solve, giving them seven days to do it in, with a promise of a reward,Jud 14:10 and of their solving it by means of his wife, who got the secret from him, Jud 14:15, which led him to slay thirty Philistines, to make good his promise of thirty sheets and changes of raiment, and to leave his newly married wife, who was given to his companion, Jud 14:19.
Ver. 1. And Samson went down to Timnath,.... A city which by lot fell to the tribe of Judah, but was afterwards given to the tribe of Dan, and now in the hands of the Philistines,Jos 15:57. Judah is said to go up to it, because the place where he lived lay below it, Ge 38:13, but Samson is said to go down to it, because he lived above it.
The Jews differ about the reconciliation of these two places; some say there were two of this name, the one is a descent, and the other is an ascent; others say there was but one, so situated, that they that came to it on one side ascended, and they that came to it on the other side descended.
Bochart approves of the former. According to Bunting , this was twelve miles from Eshtaol, where Samson lived:and saw a woman in Timnath, of the daughters of the Philistines; who at this time dwelt there; he saw no doubt many other women besides her, but he took special notice of her, and entertained a particular affection for her; or, in other words, on sight of her fell in love with her.
T. Bab. Sotah, fol. 10. 1. IIierozoic. par. 1. l. 3. c. 4. col. 763, 764. Travels, &c. p.