Chapter 14

1And Samson went down to Timnath; and he saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.   אוַיֵּ֥רֶד שִׁמְשׁ֖וֹן תִּמְנָ֑תָה וַיַּ֥רְא אִשָּׁ֛ה בְּתִמְנָ֖תָה מִבְּנ֥וֹת פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים:
2And he came up, and told his father and mother, and said, "I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines; so now take her to me for a wife."   בוַיַּ֗עַל וַיַּגֵּד֙ לְאָבִ֣יו וּלְאִמּ֔וֹ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אִשָּׁ֛ה רָאִ֥יתִי בְתִמְנָ֖תָה מִבְּנ֣וֹת פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וְעַתָּ֕ה קְחוּ־אוֹתָ֥הּ לִּ֖י לְאִשָּֽׁה:
3And his father and mother said to him, "Is there no woman among the daughters of your brothers and among all my people, that you go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?" But Samson said to his father, "Take her for me, because she is pleasing in my eyes."   גוַיֹּ֨אמֶר ל֜וֹ אָבִ֣יו וְאִמּ֗וֹ הַאֵין֩ בִּבְנ֨וֹת אַחֶ֚יךָ וּבְכָל־עַמִּי֙ אִשָּׁ֔ה כִּֽי־אַתָּ֚ה הוֹלֵךְ֙ לָקַ֣חַת אִשָּׁ֔ה מִפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים הָעֲרֵלִ֑ים וַיֹּ֨אמֶר שִׁמְשׁ֚וֹן אֶל־אָבִיו֙ אוֹתָ֣הּ קַֽח־לִ֔י כִּֽי־הִ֖יא יָשְׁרָ֥ה בְעֵינָֽי:
4Now his father and mother did not know that it was from the Lord, that he sought a pretense against the Philistines; now at that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel.   דוְאָבִ֨יו וְאִמּ֜וֹ לֹ֣א יָדְע֗וּ כִּ֚י מֵיְהֹוָה֙ הִ֔יא כִּי־תֹאֲנָ֥ה הֽוּא־מְבַקֵּ֖שׁ מִפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וּבָעֵ֣ת הַהִ֔יא פְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים משְׁלִ֥ים בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
that he sought a pretense: I.e., a pretense to antagonize them.   כי תואנה הוא מבקש: עלילה להתגרות בם:
5And Samson and his father and mother went down to Timnath, and they came to the vineyards of Timnath, and behold, a young lion roared towards him.   הוַיֵּ֧רֶד שִׁמְשׁ֛וֹן וְאָבִ֥יו וְאִמּ֖וֹ תִּמְנָ֑תָה וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ עַד־כַּרְמֵ֣י תִמְנָ֔תָה וְהִנֵּה֙ כְּפִ֣יר אֲרָי֔וֹת שֹׁאֵ֖ג לִקְרָאתֽוֹ:
6And there rested on him a spirit of the Lord, and he rent it as one would rent a kid, although he had nothing in his hand, but he did not tell his father and mother what he had done.   ווַתִּצְלַ֨ח עָלָ֜יו ר֣וּחַ יְהֹוָ֗ה וַֽיְשַׁסְּעֵ֙הוּ֙ כְּשַׁסַּ֣ע הַגְּדִ֔י וּמְא֖וּמָה אֵ֣ין בְּיָד֑וֹ וְלֹ֚א הִגִּיד֙ לְאָבִ֣יו וּלְאִמּ֔וֹ אֵ֖ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָֹֽה:
7And he went down, and he talked concerning the woman, and she was pleasing in Samson's eyes.   זוַיֵּ֖רֶד וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר לָאִשָּׁ֑ה וַתִּישַׁ֖ר בְּעֵינֵ֥י שִׁמְשֽׁוֹן:
and he talked to the woman (lit.): I.e., concerning the woman, he spoke to her relatives. So renders Targum Jonathan .   וידבר לאשה: על האשה, דבר לקרוביה, כן תרגם יונתן:
8And he returned after a few days to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion, and behold, a swarm of bees was in the body of the lion, with honey.   חוַיָּ֚שָׁב מִיָּמִים֙ לְקַחְתָּ֔הּ וַיָּ֣סַר לִרְא֔וֹת אֵ֖ת מַפֶּ֣לֶת הָאַרְיֵ֑ה וְהִנֵּ֨ה עֲדַ֧ת דְּבוֹרִ֛ים בִּגְוִיַּ֥ת הָאַרְיֵ֖ה וּדְבָֽשׁ:
עֲדַת דְּבוֹרִים: (Targum Jonathan renders) דְּדַבַּרְיָתָא קִינָא, a swarm of bees.   עדת דבורים: (תרגום:) קינא דדברייתא, כניסת דבורים:
9And he separated it into his hands, and he went on, eating as he went, and he went to his father and mother and gave them, and they ate; but he did not tell them that he had separated the honey from the body of the lion.   טוַיִּרְדֵּ֣הוּ אֶל־כַּפָּ֗יו וַיֵּ֚לֶךְ הָלוֹךְ֙ וְאָכֹ֔ל וַיֵּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶל־אָבִ֣יו וְאֶל־אִמּ֔וֹ וַיִּתֵּ֥ן לָהֶ֖ם וַיֹּאכֵ֑לוּ וְלֹֽא־הִגִּ֣יד לָהֶ֔ם כִּ֛י מִגְּוִיַּ֥ת הָאַרְיֵ֖ה רָדָ֥ה הַדְּבָֽשׁ:
וַיִּרְדֵּהוּ: This is an expression of separating anything which is clinging, as by bread clinging to an oven, its removal is called רְדִיָּה (Sab. 117b) “One who separates (הָרוֹדֶה) bread from an oven,” (ibid. 95a) “One who separates (הָרוֹדֶה) from his hive,” since the honey is contained in honeycombs clinging to the walls of the vessel on all sides from wall to wall according to the circumference of the vessel. Likewise Targum Jonathan renders וַיִּרְדֵּהוּ as וְנַסְחֵיהּ (and he separated).   וירדהו: לשון הבדלת דיבוק של כל דבר הנדבק, וכן לענין פת הנדבקת בתנור, נקראת הבדלתו רדייה, (שבת קיז ב): הרודה פת מן התנור, (בבא מציעא סד א): הרודה את כוורתו, על שם שהדבש עשוי על ידי חלות שעושה מדובק בדופני הכלי בכל צדדין מדופן אל דופן, כמדת עוגל הכלי, וכן תרגם יונתן: וירדהו, ונסחיה:
10Now his father went down concerning the woman, and Samson made there a feast, because the young men were accustomed to do so.   יוַיֵּ֥רֶד אָבִ֖יהוּ אֶל־הָאִשָּׁ֑ה וַיַּ֨עַשׂ שָׁ֚ם שִׁמְשׁוֹן֙ מִשְׁתֶּ֔ה כִּ֛י כֵּ֥ן יַעֲשֹ֖וּ הַבַּחוּרִֽים:
Now his father went down to the woman (lit.): I.e., concerning the woman [after Targum Jonathan].   וירד אביהו אל האשה: (תרגום:) על עסקי איתתא:
11And it was, when they saw him, that they took thirty companions and they were with him.   יאוַיְהִ֖י כִּרְאוֹתָ֣ם אוֹת֑וֹ וַיִּקְחוּ֙ שְׁלשִׁ֣ים מֵֽרֵעִ֔ים וַיִּהְי֖וּ אִתּֽוֹ:
מֵרֵעִים: companions.   מרעים: חברים לשושבינות:
12Now Samson said to them, "Let me ask you a riddle, if you can tell it to me (within) the seven days of feasting and you will guess it, then I will give you thirty linen sheets and thirty suits of clothing.   יבוַיֹּ֚אמֶר לָהֶם֙ שִׁמְשׁ֔וֹן אָחֽוּדָה־נָּ֥א לָכֶ֖ם חִידָ֑ה אִם־הַגֵּ֣ד תַּגִּידוּ֩ אוֹתָ֨הּ לִ֜י שִׁבְעַ֨ת יְמֵ֚י הַמִּשְׁתֶּה֙ וּמְצָאתֶ֔ם וְנָתַתִּ֚י לָכֶם֙ שְׁלשִׁ֣ים סְדִינִ֔ים וּשְׁלשִׁ֖ים חֲלִפֹ֥ת בְּגָדִֽים:
13But if you cannot tell it to me, then you shall give me thirty linen sheets and thirty suits of clothing," and they said to him, "Ask your riddle that we may hear it."   יגוְאִם־לֹ֣א תוּכְלוּ֘ לְהַגִּ֣יד לִי֒ וּנְתַתֶּ֨ם אַתֶּ֥ם לִי֙ שְׁלשִׁ֣ים סְדִינִ֔ים וּשְׁלשִׁ֖ים חֲלִיפ֣וֹת בְּגָדִ֑ים וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ ל֔וֹ ח֥וּדָה חִידָתְךָ֖ וְנִשְׁמָעֶֽנָּה:
14And he said to them, "From the eater came out food, and out of the strong came out sweetness," but they could not tell the riddle for three days.   ידוַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֗ם מֵהָֽאֹכֵל֙ יָצָ֣א מַאֲכָ֔ל וּמֵעַ֖ז יָצָ֣א מָת֑וֹק וְלֹ֥א יָכְל֛וּ לְהַגִּ֥יד הַחִידָ֖ה שְׁל֥שֶׁת יָמִֽים:
15And it was, on the seventh day, they said to Samson's wife, "Persuade your husband, so that he will tell us the riddle, lest we burn you and your father's house with fire, have you called us here to impoverish us?"   טווַיְהִ֣י | בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗י וַיֹּאמְר֚וּ לְאֵֽשֶׁת־שִׁמְשׁוֹן֙ פַּתִּ֣י אֶת־אִישֵׁ֗ךְ וְיַגֶּד־לָ֙נוּ֙ אֶת־הַ֣חִידָ֔ה פֶּן־נִשְׂרֹ֥ף אוֹתָ֛ךְ וְאֶת־בֵּ֥ית אָבִ֖יךְ בָּאֵ֑שׁ הַלְיָרְשֵׁ֕נוּ קְרָאתֶ֥ם לָ֖נוּ הֲלֹֽא:
And it was, on the seventh day: Of the week, not the seventh (day) of the feasting but rather the fourth day of feasting.   ויהי ביום השביעי: לימות השבת, ולא שביעי למשתה, והוא רביעי לימי המשתה:
have you called us here to impoverish us: Targum Jonathan renders: Have you called us here (הֲלֹא = הֲלוֹם) to impoverish us?   הלירשנו קראתם לנו הלא: תרגם יונתן: הלמסכנותנא קריתון יתנא הלכא:
16And Samson's wife wept upon him, and said, "You only hate me and do not love me; the riddle you have asked my people, but to me you have not told it." And he said to her, "Behold, to my father and mother I have not told it, and to you I shall tell it?"   טזוַתֵּבְךְּ֩ אֵ֨שֶׁת שִׁמְשׁ֜וֹן עָלָ֗יו וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ רַק־שְׂנֵאתַ֙נִי֙ וְלֹ֣א אֲהַבְתָּ֔נִי הַֽחִידָ֥ה חַ֙דְתָּ֙ לִבְנֵ֣י עַמִּ֔י וְלִ֖י לֹ֣א הִגַּ֑דְתָּה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָ֗הּ הִנֵּ֨ה לְאָבִ֧י וּלְאִמִּ֛י לֹ֥א הִגַּ֖דְתִּי וְלָ֥ךְ אַגִּֽיד:
17And she wept upon him the seven days that their feast lasted; and it was, on the seventh day, that he told her, because she had tormented him, and she told the riddle to her people.   יזוַתֵּ֚בְךְּ עָלָיו֙ שִׁבְעַ֣ת הַיָּמִ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־הָיָ֥ה לָהֶ֖ם הַמִּשְׁתֶּ֑ה וַיְהִ֣י | בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗י וַיַּגֶּד־לָהּ֙ כִּ֣י הֱצִיקַ֔תְהוּ וַתַּגֵּ֥ד הַחִידָ֖ה לִבְנֵ֥י עַמָּֽהּ:
the seven days: I.e., the remainder of the seven days, from the fourth and onward.   שבעת הימים: הנותרים משבעת הימים, מרביעי ואילך:
18And the men of the city said to him on the seventh day, before the sun set, "What is sweeter than honey and what is stronger than a lion?" And he said to them, "Had you not plowed with my heifer, you would not have found out my riddle."   יחוַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ לוֹ֩ אַנְשֵׁ֨י הָעִ֜יר בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗י בְּטֶ֙רֶם֙ יָבֹ֣א הַחַ֔רְסָה מַה־מָּת֣וֹק מִדְּבַ֔שׁ וּמֶ֥ה עַ֖ז מֵאֲרִ֑י וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֔ם לוּלֵא֙ חֲרַשְׁתֶּ֣ם בְּעֶגְלָתִ֔י לֹ֥א מְצָאתֶ֖ם חִידָתִֽי:
before the sun set: Before sunset, since they still had time until evening.   בטרם יבא החרסה: לפני שקיעת החמה, שעדיין היה להם שהות עד הערב:
plowed with my heifer: This is allegorical (as Targum Jonathan renders): “Had you not interrogated my wife.”   חרשתם בעגלתי: משל הוא (תרגום:) אילולפון בדקתון באתתי:
19And there rested upon him a spirit of the Lord, and he went down to Ashkelon, and killed of them thirty men, and he took their clothing and gave the suits to those who had told the riddle; but his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father's house.   יטוַתִּצְלַ֨ח עָלָ֜יו ר֣וּחַ יְהֹוָ֗ה וַיֵּ֨רֶד אַשְׁקְל֜וֹן וַיַּ֥ךְ מֵהֶ֣ם | שְׁלשִׁ֣ים אִ֗ישׁ וַיִּקַּח֙ אֶת־חֲלִ֣יצוֹתָ֔ם וַיִּתֵּן֙ הַחֲלִיפ֔וֹת לְמַגִּידֵ֖י הַחִידָ֑ה וַיִּ֣חַר אַפּ֔וֹ וַיַּ֖עַל בֵּ֥ית אָבִֽיהוּ:
a spirit of the Lord: A spirit of might emanating from God (Targum Jonathan).   רוח ה': (תרגום:) רוח גבורה מן קדם ה':
clothing: I. e., the clothing that he removed (שֶחָלַץ has similar construction) from them.   חליצותם: מלבושים שחלץ מעליהן:
20And Samson's wife was (given) to his companion, who had accompanied him.   כוַתְּהִ֖י אֵ֣שֶׁת שִׁמְשׁ֑וֹן לְמֵ֣רֵעֵ֔הוּ אֲשֶׁ֥ר רֵעָ֖ה לֽוֹ:
לְמֵרֵעֵהוּ אֲשֶׁר רֵעָה לוֹ: She was given to one of his companions.   למרעהו: לאחד משושביניו נתנה: