Judges 14:3

“Then his father and his mother said unto him, etc.] What he might expect, and doubtless did expect: 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? none in their own family, nor in the tribe of Dan, nor among the whole nation of Israel, but must go among the uncircumcised Philistines; for though they were not of the seven nations of the Canaanites, with whom marriage was forbidden, yet they not only dwelt where they did, and where the Israelites should, but were idolaters and impure persons, and therefore affinity should not be contracted with them, as being of a dangerous consequence, which…”

“Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren--that is, "of thine own tribe"--a Danite woman. Samson said . . . Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well--literally, "she is right in mine eyes"; not by her beautiful countenance or handsome figure, but right or fit for his purpose. And this throws light on the historian's remark in reference to the resistance of his parents: they "knew not that it was of the Lord, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines"--rather, "from the Philistines"--originating on their side. The Lord, by a course of retributive proceedings, was about to destroy the Philistine power, and the means which He meant to employ was not the forces of a…”

“The uncircumcised Philistines - Compare 1 Samuel 14:6; 1Sa 17:26; 1 Samuel 31:4, for a similar use of the term as one of reproach. Also Acts 11:3. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Philistines - With whom the Israelites were forbidden to marry. For although the Philistines were not Canaanites in their original, yet they were so in their concurrence with them in wickedness, and therefore were liable to the same judgments with them. Get her - This action of Samson's, though against common rules, seems to be warranted, by the direction of God, (mentioned in the following words) which was known to Samson, but not to his parents. Pleaseth me - Not so much for her beauty, as for the design mentioned in the next verse. Judges 14:5”

“thy brethren: Gen 13:8, Gen 21:3, Gen 21:4, Gen 21:27 uncircumcised: Jdg 15:18; Gen 34:14; Exo 34:12-16; Deu 7:2, Deu 7:3; Sa1 14:6, Sa1 17:26, Sa1 17:36, Sa1 31:4; Sa2 1:20 she pleaseth me well: Heb. she is right in mine eyes Judges 14:4”

“His parents expressed their astonishment at the choice, and asked him whether there was not a woman among the daughters of his brethren (i.e., the members of his own tribe), or among all his people, that he should want to fetch one from the Philistines, the uncircumcised. But Samson repeated his request, because the daughter of the Philistines pleased him. The aversion of his parents to the marriage was well founded, as such a marriage was not in accordance with the law. It is true that the only marriages expressly prohibited in Exo 34:16 and Deu 7:3-4, are marriages with Canaanitish women; but the reason assigned for this prohibition was equally applicable to marriages with daughters of the…”