What is the meaning of Judges 14:20? And – This simple conjunction ties verse 20 to the whirlwind that has just happened: Samson killed thirty Philistines, “went down to Ashkelon and struck them down” (Judges 14:19), then “burning with anger, he went up to his father’s house.” – The link reminds us that God’s purposes keep moving forward even when human emotions flare. As Romans 8:28 affirms, He works “all things together for good” even through Samson’s anger. his wife – The bride was the unnamed Philistine woman from Timnah introduced in Judges 14:1–2. – Scripture treats marriage as a covenant (Genesis 2:24; Malachi 2:14). From God’s perspective she was Samson’s legitimate wife, despite her pagan background. – Her Philistine identity highlights the tension of an unequal yoke (Exodus 34:15–16; 2 Corinthians 6:14). The union that began in compromise now unravels in painful consequences. was given – Her father transferred her to another man while Samson was absent, thinking the marriage had collapsed. Judges 15:2 recaps the father’s reasoning: “I really thought you thoroughly hated her; so I gave her to your companion.” – This action violated the permanence God intends for marriage (Matthew 19:6). It also echoed Saul’s later stunt of giving Michal to another husband when David was on the run (1 Samuel 25:44). – In Scripture, “being given” can carry tragic weight—compare Bathsheba taken by David (2 Samuel 11) or Israel “given” into enemy hands for disobedience (Judges 2:14). Here it foreshadows judgment on the Philistines. to one of the men – The recipient was one of the thirty companions supplied by the Philistines for Samson’s wedding feast (Judges 14:11). – These men posed as friends yet manipulated Samson during the riddle episode (Judges 14:15). Proverbs 19:6 notes that “many curry favor with a ruler, and everyone is the friend of a man who gives gifts,” hinting at their shallow motives. – Their readiness to receive Samson’s wife underscores the moral looseness of Philistine society and contrasts with the loyalty God desires among His people (Ruth 1:16–17). who had accompanied him – The betrayal stings because the man had been part of Samson’s inner circle during the celebration. Psalm 41:9 laments a similar wound: “Even my close friend, whom I trusted, who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” – Treachery from within often becomes a catalyst for divine deliverance. Joseph’s brothers sold him (Genesis 37:28), but God used it to save many lives (Genesis 50:20). Likewise, this personal injustice propels Samson toward the exploits of Judges 15, where the Spirit empowers him to strike the Philistines with decisive blows (Judges 15:4–5, 14–15). summary Judges 14:20 records a shocking transfer: while Samson cools off elsewhere, his bride is handed to a so-called companion. The verse exposes Philistine faithlessness, highlights the cost of Samson’s earlier compromise, and sets the stage for God to use Samson’s righteous anger against Israel’s oppressors. What looks like marital betrayal becomes another thread in the tapestry of God’s sovereign plan to deliver His people. |
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