How does Judges 14:7 connect with the command in Deuteronomy 7:3-4? Texts in View • Deuteronomy 7:3-4: “Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, for they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and He will swiftly destroy you.” • Judges 14:7: “Then Samson went to speak with the woman, for she pleased Samson.” The Command in Deuteronomy 7:3-4 • Issued to Israel just before they entered Canaan. • Absolute prohibition of marriage with the pagan nations occupying the land. • Purpose: preserve covenant fidelity; prevent idolatry; secure Israel’s holiness. • Warning: disobedience would provoke divine anger and bring swift judgment. Samson’s Choice in Judges 14:7 • Samson, a Nazarite consecrated from birth (Judges 13:5), travels to Timnah in Philistia. • He “speaks with” a Philistine woman and is captivated purely by what “pleased” him. • No mention of seeking the LORD’s guidance or considering covenant obligations. • His personal desire eclipses God’s revealed command. Key Connections • Direct Violation – The Philistines are among the very peoples Deuteronomy labels as off-limits (cf. Deuteronomy 7:1). – Samson’s pursuit undercuts the separation God demanded. • Spiritual Danger Foretold – Deuteronomy warns mixed marriages will draw hearts to foreign gods. – Judges records the Philistines dominating Israel spiritually and militarily; Samson’s entanglement foreshadows that danger. • Pattern of Israel’s Compromise – The time of the judges is marked by “everyone doing what is right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). – Samson embodies this mindset: “she pleased Samson,” not “she pleased the LORD.” • Consequences Realized – Samson’s marriage sparks a chain of conflict, betrayal, and death (Judges 14–15). – The turmoil illustrates Deuteronomy’s warning that covenant-breaking choices invite God’s disciplinary hand. Theological Observations • God’s word stands unbroken; human preference cannot nullify divine command. • Even a divinely chosen deliverer (Judges 13:5) remains accountable to the law. • The narrative exposes how easily personal attraction can mute spiritual conviction. Takeaway for Believers • Relationships should be weighed by God’s revealed will, not merely by emotional appeal (2 Corinthians 6:14-17). • Ignoring clear Scripture sets in motion painful repercussions, even when God graciously weaves His purposes through human failure (Romans 8:28). • Holiness in companionship safeguards wholehearted devotion to Christ and shields against subtle idolatry. |
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