John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. And Samson said concerning them , etc.] His wife’s father, and other relations, and the citizens of Timnath; this, which is what follows, he said either within himself respecting them, or he said it to them openly and publicly before them all: now shall I be more blameless than the Philistines, though I do them a displeasure ; signifying, that if he did them an ill thing, or what might be reckoned an injury to their persons or properties, and which would be disagreeable and displeasing to them, they could not justly blame him for it, since they had given him such a provocation as to dispose of his wife to another man; though Samson did not mean to act, nor did he act in the following instances as a private person taking private revenge, but as a public person, and judge of Israel; and took occasion, from the private injuries done him, to avenge the public ones of the children of Israel upon the Philistines; and they might thank themselves for giving the opportunity, which they could not justly condemn him for taking.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-8 - When there are differences between relations, let those be reckoned the wisest and best, who are most forward to forgive or forget, and mos willing to stoop and yield for the sake of peace. In the means whic Samson employed, we must look at the power of God supplying them, an making them successful, to mortify the pride and punish the wickednes of the Philistines. The Philistines threatened Samson's wife that the would burn her and her father's house. She, to save herself and oblig her countrymen, betrayed her husband; and the very thing that sh feared, and by sin sought to avoid, came upon her! She, and he father's house, were burnt with fire, and by her countrymen, whom sh thought to oblige by the wrong she did to her husband. The mischief we seek to escape by any unlawful practices, we often pull down upon ou own heads.
Original Hebrew ויאמר559 להם שׁמשׁון8123 נקיתי5352 הפעם6471 מפלשׁתים6430 כי3588 עשׂה6213 אני589 עמם5973 רעה׃7451
