Rashi on TanakhJudges 14

Rashi

Read Judges 14 in the Bible

Judges 14:4

As He sought a pretext. An accusation with which to provoke a confrontation against them.

Judges 14:7

And discussed [lit. spoke with] the woman. He spoke of the woman1Not “with” the woman. with her relatives. This is Targum Yonasan's rendition.

Judges 14:8

A colony of bees. A beehive—a swarm of bees.

Judges 14:9

He dislodged it. This connotes the separation of an attached object. Similarly, with regard to a loaf attached to an oven, separation is described as "dislodging"—2Shabbos, 117:b. "If one dislodges a loaf from the oven,"3Shabbos, 95:a. "If one dislodges his hive,"4The honeycomb from the hive. as the honey is produced in wax combs attached to the walls of the hive in every area, extending from wall to wall along its circumference. Similarly, Targum Yonasan translates "He removed it."

Judges 14:10

His father descended to discuss the woman. With regard to the woman.

Judges 14:11

Friends. Companions who formed the retinue of wedding attendants.

Judges 14:15

It was on the seventh day of the week, but not the seventh of the feast. It was, rather, the fourth of the feast days.
Was it to impoverish us that you invited us here. Targum Yonasan renders: Was it to make us poor5לְיָרְשֵׁנוּ is not interpreted as “to inherit us,” but as “to make us poor.” that you called us here?6הֲלֹא is not interpreted as “Did you not? but as “here.”

Judges 14:17

The seven days. What remained of the seven days, after the fourth day.

Judges 14:18

Before sunset. Before the sun descended, as they still had time until nightfall.
Plowed with my calf. This is allegorical—if you had not questioned my wife.7This is Targum Yonasan’s translation.8Who is cherished as a young calf is cherished. (Sanhedrin, 21:a.)

Judges 14:19

The Divine spirit. A spirit of power, Divinely inspired.9This is Targum Yonasan’s translation.
Their garments. The garments which he had stripped from them.

Judges 14:20

To a Friend. To one of the wedding attendants.

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