John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 1. Then went Samson to Gaza , etc.] One of the five principalities of the Philistines, which was ten miles from Ashkelon, as Sandys says; who also describes it as standing upon an hill environed with valleys, and these again well nigh enclosed with hills, most of them planted with all sorts of delicate fruits; and, according to Bunting f322 , forty two miles from Ramathlehi, the place where we last hear of him, (see Gill on “Amos 1:6”) (see Gill on “ Zephaniah 2:4”) what he went hither for is not easy to say; it showed great boldness and courage, after he had made such a slaughter of the Philistines, to venture himself in one of their strongest cities, where he must expect to be exposed to danger; though it is highly probable this was a long time after his last encounter with them: and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her ; the Targum renders it an innkeeper, one that kept a victualling house; so Kimchi, Ben Gersom, and Ben Melech interpret it; into whose house he went for entertainment and lodging, and very probably in the dusk of the evening; and the woman that kept this house might herself be an harlot, or, however, Samson saw one in her house, with whom he was captivated, and went in unto her, or had criminal conversation with her; it seems as if he did not turn in thither with any such wicked design, but on sight of the person was ensnared to commit lewdness with her; and, as Lyra says, there were many hostesses in some places, and so here, who too easily prostituted themselves to their guests.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-3 - Hitherto Samson's character has appeared glorious, though uncommon. I this chapter we find him behaving in so wicked a manner, that man question whether or not he were a godly man. But the apostle ha determined this, Heb 11:32. By adverting to the doctrines and example of Scripture, the artifices of Satan, the deceitfulness of the huma heart, and the methods in which the Lord frequently deals with his people, we may learn useful lessons from this history, at which some needlessly stumble, while others cavil and object. The peculiar time in which Samson lived may account for many things, which, if done in ou time, and without the special appointment of Heaven, would be highl criminal. And there might have been in him many exercises of piety which, if recorded, would have reflected a different light upon his character. Observe Samson's danger. Oh that all who indulge their sensual appetites in drunkenness, or any fleshly lusts, would se themselves thus surrounded, way-laid, and marked for ruin by their spiritual enemies! The faster they sleep, the more secure they feel the greater their danger. We hope it was with a pious resolution not to return to his sin, that he rose under a fear of the danger he was in Can I be safe under this guilt? It was bad that he lay down withou such checks; but it would have been worse, if he had laid still unde them.
Original Hebrew וילך1980 שׁמשׁון8123 עזתה5804 וירא7200 שׁם8033 אשׁה802 זונה2181 ויבא935 אליה׃413
