Hakim-hakim 1:7

1:7 Adoni-Bezek said, “Seventy kings, with thumbs and big toes cut off, used to lick up ¹  food scraps ²  under my table. God has repaid me for what I did to them.” ³  They brought him to Jerusalem, ⁴  where he died.

Hakim-hakim 14:6

14:6 The Lord’s spirit empowered ⁵  him and he tore the lion ⁶  in two with his bare hands ⁷  as easily as one would tear a young goat. But he did not tell his father or mother what he had done.

Hakim-hakim 14:9

14:9 He scooped it up with his hands and ate it as he walked along. When he returned ⁸  to his father and mother, he offered them some and they ate it. But he did not tell them he had scooped the honey out of the lion’s carcass. ⁹ 

Hakim-hakim 14:16

14:16 So Samson’s bride cried on his shoulder ¹⁰  and said, “You must ¹¹  hate me; you do not love me! You told the young men ¹²  a riddle, but you have not told me the solution.” He said to her, “Look, I have not even told my father or mother. Do you really expect me to tell you?” ¹³ 

[1:7]  ¹ tn Elsewhere this verb usually carries the sense of “to gather; to pick up; to glean,” but “lick up” seems best here in light of the peculiar circumstances described by Adoni-Bezek.

[1:7]  ² tn The words “food scraps” are not in the Hebrew text, but are implied.

[1:7]  ³ tn Heb “Just as I did, so God has repaid me.” Note that the phrase “to them” has been supplied in the translation to clarify what is meant.

[1:7]  ⁴ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[14:6]  ⁵ tn Heb “rushed on.”

[14:6]  ⁶ tn Heb “him” or “it”; the referent (the lion) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[14:6]  ⁷ tn Heb “and there was nothing in his hand.”

[14:9]  ⁸ tn Heb “went.” Samson apparently went home to his parents before going to Timnah for the marriage. Seeing and tasting the honey appears to encourage Manoah to go with his son to Timnah. Perhaps both Samson and his father viewed the honey as a good omen of future blessing. Possibly Samson considered it a symbol of sexual pleasure or an aphrodisiac. Note the use of honey imagery in Song 4:11 and 5:1.

[14:9]  ⁹ sn Touching the carcass of a dead animal undoubtedly violated Samson’s Nazirite status. See Num 6:6.

[14:16]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “on him.”

[14:16]  ¹¹ tn Heb “only”; or “simply.”

[14:16]  ¹² tn Heb “the sons of my people.”

[14:16]  ¹³ tn Heb “Should I tell you?”