Samson and Women
One of the interesting stories of the Bible is Samson’s fascination with women. Apparently Samson’s parents had tried to get Samson to marry an Israelite woman but the Bible indicates that he did not find Israelite women to his fancy. Biblically it would appear that Samson was following in the same path of women that his more famous kinsman Solomon would follow for he also appeared to be fond of women from different nations but not one woman named was from Israel except for perhaps the Shunamite of the Song of Solomon, and there is only one wife that is specifically named and that was Naamah the Ammonitess (I Kings 14:31)/
Samson’s fascination with Philistine women was in direct violation to God’s specific commands not to marry foreign women (Deuteronomy 7:1-11). God constantly stated, and
In the context of Samson’s desire for Philistine women and in the context of God’s commandments not to marry Philistine women we find an interesting text. It would appear from the surface reading that Judges 14:4 was contradicting God’s commands. This text says the following:
“But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the Lord, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines; for at that time the Philistines had dominion over
Now we know from the New Testament that there is no shadow of turning and no variableness in the things of God (James 1:17). So we know that God had not changed His laws, nor had He decided that it was ok for Samson to marry a heathen wife. But God knew the character of Samson and that Samson was going to press forward to do this evil in spite of God’s commands and that God would take advantage of this behavior and start the deliverance of
We all know how Samson suffered by the entreaties of his wife and how she betrayed him to her kinsmen. We read of the unnecessary deaths to the wife, her father, and then the many Philistines as a result of Samson’s sinful behaviors and then the sinful behaviors of the Philistines. And then on top of all of that it would appear that Samson does not learn from this but enters into relationships with at least two other women, the last being the “Consumer” Delilah and we know how that story ends up. Oh that Samson could have learned from reading the Word of God that was available to him and to take God at His word that He knows best. But praise God it is now our turn and we have even more information from God about the dangers of marrying outside of our relationship with God and His people (Leviticus 18:22-30; I Kings 11:1-13; Nehemiah 13:23-31; II Corinthians 6:14-18). We can learn from Samson and avoid many, many problems and stay true to the God of our fathers.
Some additional studies on the subject of God’s will regarding marriage outside of the faith:
Solomon’s Marriages - http://www.the1844way.com/solomonecumemove.html
The story of Genesis 6:1-5 and the marriages between the Sons of God and the Daughters of men - http://www.the1844way.com/nephilim.html