Judges 15:1

In the narrative of Judges, the text recounts how *“But after a while, in the time of wheat harvest, Samson visited his wife with a young goat, and said, ‘I will go in to my wife in her room.’ But her father did not let him enter.”* (v.1) This statement sets the scene in Israel’s agrarian culture “in the time of wheat harvest,” indicating a season of agriculture and plenty. It is likely that the location was in Timnah or its vicinity, a town in the tribal area of Dan or Judah, near the western foothills that bordered the territory of the Philistines. During the period when Samson lived (around the mid to late 11th century BC), the Philistines held significant power in the region. Samson sought to reconcile with his wife, hoping to resume their marriage relationship by presenting a young goat, which was a common form of gift or tribute in that era.

As we see in *“…Samson visited his wife…But her father did not let him enter.”* (v.1), Samson’s intention to restore the marriage bond is foiled by his wife’s father. The father’s refusal points to the strained circumstances that arose from the events in the preceding chapter. Samson’s father-in-law likely feared repercussions because of the discord that began in Judges 14. This tension highlights the precarious situation that God’s chosen leader faced as he contended with interpersonal conflicts in addition to his divine mission against the Philistine oppressors.

The refusal also underscores themes of rejection and betrayal—common trials of God’s chosen deliverers in Scripture. Jesus, the ultimate deliverer, likewise experienced times of rejection (John 1:11, NASB-95). Samson’s experience foreshadows the reality that even those who stand apart for a divine calling can find themselves alienated by the very people they seek to help. Israel, caught between allegiance to God and subjugation to other nations, reflected this relational brokenness on a larger scale.

Samson’s father-in-law prevents Samson from reconciling with his estranged wife.