Samson’s First Marriage

14 Samson went down to the city of Timnah where he saw ·a Philistine woman [^Lone of the daughters of the Philistines]. ² When he returned home, he said to his father and mother, “I saw ·a Philistine woman [^Lone of the daughers of the Philistines] in Timnah. I want you to get her for me so I can marry her.”

³ His father and mother answered, “·Surely there is [^LIs there not…?] a woman from ·Israel [^Lthe daughters of your brothers/relatives] you can marry. Do you have to marry a woman from the uncircumcised Philistines [Deut. 7:1–3]?”

But Samson said, “Get that woman for me! She is ·the one I want [^Lright in my eyes]!” ⁴ (Samson’s parents did not know that ·the Lord wanted this to happen [this was from the Lord] because he was looking for a ·way [opportunity] to challenge the Philistines, who were ruling over Israel at this time.) ⁵ Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah, as far as the vineyard near there. ·Suddenly [^TAnd behold], a young lion came roaring toward Samson!

⁷ Then he went down to the city and talked to the Philistine woman, and ·he liked her [^Lshe was right in Samson’s eyes].

⁸ Several days later Samson went back to ·marry [get; take] her. On his way he went over to look at the body of the dead lion and ·found [^Tbehold, there was] a swarm of bees and honey in it.