ionToday’s study lesson comes from Judges 14:1-11. It brings up the question, “Who was Samson’s wife?” Growing up, I always assumed (as many still do) that Samson’s wife was Delilah. But that’s not true. So, who was Samson’s wife?
In Scripture from the Book of Judges, it only states that Samson’s wife was “a Philistine woman.” So I stand corrected.
Let’s walk through the chain of events leading up to Samson’s destruction. The destruction began because he took a wife from among Israel’s mortal enemies. The main term in this text is “destruction.” Samson’s destruction began when he married a woman from a rival tribe, against the wishes of his own tribe. This is where our Bible study begins.
Who Was Samson’s Wife? He Marries a Philistine Woman
Then Samson went down to Timnah and saw a woman in Timnah, one of the daughters of the Philistines.
So he came back and told his father and mother, “I saw a woman in Timnah, one of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore, get her for me as a wife.”
Then his father and his mother said to him, “Is there no woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our people, that you go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?”
But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she looks good to me.”
However, his father and mother did not know that it was of the Lord, for He was seeking an occasion against the Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel.
Then Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother, and came as far as the vineyards of Timnah; and behold, a young lion came roaring toward him.
The Spirit of the Lord came upon him mightily, so that he tore him as one tears a young goat though he had nothing in his hand; but he did not tell his father or mother what he had done.
So he went down and talked to the woman; and she looked good to Samson.
When he returned later to take her, he turned aside to look at the carcass of the lion; and behold, a swarm of bees and honey were in the body of the lion.
So he scraped the honey into his hands and went on, eating as he went. When he came to his father and mother, he gave some to them and they ate it; but he did not tell them that he had scraped the honey out of the body of the lion.
Then his father went down to the woman; and Samson made a feast there, for the young men customarily did this.
When they saw him, they brought thirty companions to be with him. – Judges 14:1-11 NASB
Was Samson Wrong to Take a Philistine as His Wife?
Taking a wife from the pagans was forbidden according to Exodus 34:15-17 for several reasons, one being that the son might fall victim to the false gods of the tribe and his daughters might play the harlot. This was significant because those false gods would have had a negative influence on the Israelites’ faith, and the daughters might marry into an idolatrous family and practice their idolatrous ways. Israelites were meant to stay separate from false gods and idolatry. That was what ultimately happened to Samson.
“Keep Your Enemies Close”
During a conversation with the Don’s son, he made this quote from the movie: “The Godfather.”. But, this does not hold up in the cases read from the Bible as nothing good ever came from marrying into the pagan nations.
In marrying the Philistine woman, Samson went against his parents’ wishes as well as God’s law – and he would later pay dearly for it.
The Father of Samson consented, but why?
There may be an explanation, but I was unable to find one. Essentially, the verse states, “His father went down to the woman; and Samson made a feast there.” It is possible that the feast was a sign of consent from Samson’s father. It was a common practice in that time period for fathers to approve of such arrangements. However, without any other evidence, it is impossible to say definitively.
Consequences Always
What about our actions?
Can you think of anything you have done in the past that has affected the present, or even your grandchildren’s future?
All of us have experienced it at some point in our lives. Every action we take has a consequence. This consequence can be good or bad. For instance, a simple act of kindness, like giving money to the homeless, can have a ripple effect that lasts for generations. However, some people believe that there are also bad consequences that come from every action. For example, if someone chooses to take drugs, they may become addicted and ruin their life.
Before making any major life decisions, let’s consider how it will affect our lives and the lives of our children. Do we believe that this is what God wants? We want to make sure that our decisions are in line with our faith and values. These decisions should bring us closer to God and help us lead a fulfilling life.
Also, we should consider how our decisions will affect our children, as our choices will shape their future. Maybe prayer can provide the answer.
Love in Christ
– Bob
Take a moment to read John 3:16 to learn more about the life-changing love of Jesus Christ.