Samson Claims Blamelessness before Harming Philistines

At wheat harvest Samson brings a young goat to visit the woman at her father’s house.

Samson had left angrily after the riddle wager, and his wife was given to a companion (14:19-20). This return makes the father's role explicit and opens the crop-burning sequence (15:4-5). The wife's earlier exposure to a fire threat (14:15) and her later death (15:6) make it especially important not to turn her into a prop in a revenge story.

A broken marriage arrangement becomes the grievance Samson uses to justify further harm.

Understanding the Big Idea

At wheat harvest Samson comes with a young goat to visit his wife, but her father bars him. The father says he thought Samson hated her, so he had given her to a companion; he offers the younger sister instead. Neither woman speaks here. Samson then declares that he will be blameless when he harms the Philistines. The innocence claim is his own speech, not a verdict from the Lord or the narrator.

To report Samson’s attempted visit to his wife, her father’s explanation that he gave her to a companion, and Samson’s own claim that he is blameless in the harm he plans.

Samson’s claim that he will be blameless is not the gospel’s declaration of righteousness. Christ died for sins and was raised (1 Corinthians 15:3-4); this narrative gives no license to harm others under a self-issued verdict of innocence.

1. Why does Samson visit, and what does he bring?
2. What does the father say he believed and did?
3. Whose choice is not reported in the proposed substitution?
4. Who says Samson will be blameless?
5. How does this claim prepare the next act?