Most fruitful [and] learned co[m]mentaries of Doctor Peter Martyr Vermil Florentine, professor of divinity,…Most fruitfull [and] learned co[m]mentaries of Doctor Peter Martir Vermil Florentine, professor of deuinitie,…

And his wrath was kindled, namely against his wife. But why did Samson require secretness of her, which he himself could not keep? He ought to have kept silence, and not have revealed unto her the secrete, if he would have had his secretes kept close. Farther, as touching the murder of the Philistines, if we think of Samson, as of some private man, he can by no means be excused. For it is lawful for no private man to spoil and kill others, to pay his own debts withal. But because (as the history teacheth) he was ⟨p. 222⟩stirred up to do this by the impulsion of the holy ghost, therefore ought he not to be accused. For it is written: And when the spirit of the Lord came upon him, he went down to Ascalon. &c. Therefore we will not reprove Samson, but yet we will not draw his act into an example. But this let us imitate, to suffer our selves to be the instruments of the spirit of God, & let us with a valiant and bold mind follow him being our guide. For although Samson should fight at one time against .xxx. men, yet because he was driven by the spirit of God, he was nothing afeard. He took away the spoils. Celiphoth, that is, their uppermost & changeable garments, which he had taken away from them which he had slain. But there is mention made that he paid only Celiphoth: neither is there any thing spoken of the linen sheets, which yet ought by the bargain to be paid. The Hebrews think that here is used the figure Synecdoche, that by part is understand the whole. David Kimhi saith, he would not pay the whole, because they came to the knowledge of the riddle by evil arts, but yet that they should not altogether complain of his faith, he gave them part.

And hys wrath was kyndled, namelye against his wyfe. But why did Samson require secretnes of her, which he himself could not keepe? He ought to haue kept scilence, and not haue reuealed vnto her the secrete, if he woulde haue had hys secretes kept close. Farther, as touching the murther of the Philistians, yf we thynke of Samson, as of some priuate man, hee can by no meanes be excused. For it is lawfull for no priuate manne to spoyle and kyll others, to paye hys owne debtes wythall. But bycause (as the hystorye teacheth) he was ⟨p. 222⟩stirred vp to doo this by the impulsion of the holy ghost, therfore ought he not to be accused. For it is written: And when the spirite of the Lord came vpon hym, he went downe to Ascalon. &c. Therefore we wil not reproue Samson, but yet we wil not draw his act into an example. But this let vs imitate, to suffer our selues to be the instrumentes of the spirite of God, & let vs with a valiaunt and bold minde follow him being our guide. For although Samson should fyght at one time against .xxx. men, yet bicause he was driuen by the spirite of God, hee was nothing afearde. He tooke away the spoyles. Celiphoth, that is, their vppermost & chaungeable garmentes, which he had taken away from them which he had slaine. But ther is mencion made that he payd onely Celiphoth: neither is there any thing spoken of the linnen sheetes, which yet ought by the bargain to be payde. The Hebrues thinke that here is vsed the figure Synechdoche, that by part is vnderstād the whole. Dauid Kimhi saith, he would not pay the whole, bicause they came to the knowledge of the riddle by euil artes, but yet that they should not altogether complaine of his faith, he gaue them part.