שופטים, פרק י״ד, פסוק ט״ז

The tension between Samson and his Philistine bride finally reaches a breaking point. This growing friction is part of a deliberate plan orchestrated by God, designed to spark a bitter conflict between Samson and the Philistines [מלבי״ם]. Facing severe threats from her own people, the bride resorts to emotional manipulation. Although she shares a romantic connection with Samson, she lacks deep loyalty to him and chooses instead to pressure him with relentless tears [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

She aggressively accuses Samson of harboring hatred for her, claiming he never truly loved her. To prove her point, she argues that he deliberately excluded her from his confidence from the very start, noting that he posed his riddle to her people even before their marriage was finalized [מלבי״ם]. Her primary grievance is that he refuses to explain the solution and the deeper meaning behind the puzzle he challenged her people to solve [מצודת דוד, אברבנאל, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Samson defends himself, assuring her that his silence does not stem from malice or a lack of affection. He points out that he has kept the secret even from his own father and mother, making it unreasonable to expect him to share it with her. His motivation for keeping the answer hidden is entirely practical. He understands that the moment a secret is spoken aloud, clever individuals might overhear and easily piece the puzzle together. The only way to truly protect a secret is to remain completely silent, which is exactly why he withheld the truth from his parents and must do the same with her [חומת אנך].