And his father went down to the woman: And renders the Hebrew waw conjunction. New International Version‘s “Now” is also a good way to start this new unit. This clause is somewhat problematic since it is difficult to know where Samson’s father was before he went to see Samson’s fiancée. Most scholars think he was at home and from there he traveled to Timnah to make arrangements for the wedding. This would place 14.10 directly after verse 14.3, following Samson’s request. However, in verse 14.5 Samson and his parents went to Timnah, so some scholars believe that the original text had “Samson” in place of his father. The parents are not mentioned in the following incident, so this explanation seems reasonable. However, there is no textual reason for this change. For went down, see verse 14.1. To the woman may be rendered “to the woman’s house” (Good News Translation) or “to the bride and her family.” For this clause Contemporary English Version has “While Samson’s father went to make the final arrangements with the bride and her family.” This fits the context, but probably says more than necessary.

And Samson made a feast there: This short clause contains many repeated sounds in Hebrew: sh occurs four times and m, three times. The sh sound was prominent before in verse 14.6. Made a feast follows the Hebrew closely. The Hebrew noun for feast is closely related to the verb for “drink,” so this party probably involved lots of drinking. Contemporary English Version says Samson “threw a big party,” which probably describes what happened. Archaeologists have found many beer jugs at Philistine sites, attesting to this common occurrence. Good News Translation says “gave a banquet,” but the word “banquet” is too formal here. Translators should use a word for a big celebration involving lots of drinking. Though the text does not say Samson was drinking alcohol, the text has already implied that he was not taking his Nazirite vow very seriously (see verse 13.4). There refers to the Philistine town of Timnah. The Septuagint and the Syriac add that the party lasted “for seven days,” but most versions omit this addition. This information comes in the Hebrew text at verse 14.12.

For so the young men used to do: Here the narrator gives a comment about the customs of the time. In most parts of the world today, bridegrooms still throw or attend big parties before their weddings. This background explanation resembles the one in verse 14.4. Good News Translation renders it as a separate sentence, which is a good model to follow. The Hebrew particle ki rendered for introduces this explanation but in many translations it may be omitted (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version). The adverb so points back to the party hosted by Samson. The Hebrew word translated young men (bachur) means “chosen men” or “picked men” and usually refers to “warriors,” that is, men who are eligible to fight (see also verse 20.15-16). However, in this context most versions have the same rendering as Revised Standard Version. New International Version says “bridegrooms,” and Contemporary English Version has “grooms.” However, normally in English “bridegroom” refers only to the man getting married, so some other term should be used here. Young men is acceptable. By using the verb phrase used to do, Revised Standard Version tries to communicate the idea that having a groom’s party was the custom of that time. Good News Translation provides a helpful model: “This was a custom among the young men.” We may also say “as young men used to do before a wedding.”

Translation models for this verse are:

• Now Samson’s father went to where the young woman lived, while Samson arranged a big celebration there. This was the custom among the young men of that time.

• So Samson’s father went to see the young woman, while Samson gave a big party, as young men usually did before a wedding.

Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .