Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Judges 14:18
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
And the men of the city said unto him, on the seventh day, before the sun went down, etc.] And so soon, enough to free them from the obligation they otherwise would have been under, to have given him the sheets and changes of raiment agreed unto: what is sweeter than honey? nothing, at least that was known, sugar not being invented. Julian the emperor f293, in commendation of figs, shows, from various authors, that nothing is sweeter than they, excepting honey: and what is stronger than a lion? no creature is, it is the strongest among beasts, (<203030>Proverbs 30:30). Homer f294 gives the epithet of strong to a lion: and he said unto them, if ye had not ploughed with my heifer; meaning his wife, whom he compares to an heifer, young, wanton, and unaccustomed to the yoke f295; and by “ploughing” with her, he alludes to such creatures being employed therein, making use of her to get the secret out of him, and then plying her closely to obtain it from her; and this diligent application and search of theirs, by this means to inform themselves, was like ploughing up ground; they got a discovery of that which before lay hid, and without which they could never have had the knowledge of, as he adds: ye had not found out my riddle; the explanation of it. Ben Gersome and Abarbinel interpret ploughing of committing adultery with her; in which sense the phrase is used by Greek and Latin writers f296; but the first sense is best, for it is not said, “ploughed my heifer”, but with her.
How to use this source
This excerpt is attributed to its named commentary. It is included as a historical study resource and should be evaluated in light of Scripture and other relevant evidence.
