John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. And he came up, and told his father and his mother , etc.] Of his passion of love, being desirous of having their approbation and consent, in which he acted a dutiful part, and what became him; and may be an example to children to advise with their parents, and have their opinion and consent before they engage in such an enterprise, even before courtship: and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines ; whom he had a good liking of, and a strong affection for; he is very open and ingenuous in his account, does not go about to hide anything from his parents, or colour things over, or conceal her descent, but frankly tells them she was a Philistine woman, which he knew would at once furnish out an objection against her: now therefore get her for me to wife : for it seems it was the custom then, when a young man had found a woman he liked, that it was left to his parents to entreat with the woman and her friends about the marriage of her to him.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-4 - As far as Samson's marriage was a common case, it was weak and foolis of him to set his affections upon a daughter of the Philistines. Shal one, not only an Israelite, but a Nazarite, devoted to the Lord, cove to become one with a worshipper of Dagon? It does not appear that he had any reason to think her wise or virtuous, or any way likely to be help meet for him; but he saw something in her agreeable to his fancy He that, in the choice of a wife, is only guided by his eye, an governed by his fancy, must afterwards thank himself if he find Philistine in his arms. Yet it was well done not to proceed till Samso had made his parents acquainted with the matter. Children ought not to marry, nor to move towards it, without the advice and consent of their parents. Samson's parents did well to dissuade him from yoking himsel unequally with unbelievers. It seems that it pleased God to leav Samson to follow his own inclinations, intending to bring out good from his conduct; and his parents consented, because he was bent upon it However, his example is not recorded for us to do likewise.
Original Hebrew ויעל5927 ויגד5046 לאביו1 ולאמו517 ויאמר559 אשׁה802 ראיתי7200 בתמנתה8553 מבנות1323 פלשׁתים6430 ועתה6258 קחו3947 אותה853 לי לאשׁה׃802
