And Samson said concerning them, Now shall I be more blameless than the Philistines, though I do them a displeasure.

And Samson said unto them, This time shall I be blameless in regard of the Philistines, when I do them a mischief.

And Samson answered him: From this day I shall be blameless in what I do against the Philistines: for I will do you evils.

And Samson saith of them, 'I am more innocent this time than the Philistines, though I am doing with them evil.'

Then Samson said to them, This time I will give payment in full to the Philistines, for I am going to do them great evil.

And Samson said unto them: 'This time shall I be quits with the Philistines, when I do them a mischief.'

And Samson answered him: "From this day, there shall be no guilt for me against the Philistines. For I will do harm to you all."

See the margin. Before, when the Philistines injured him he was in covenant with the Timnathites through his marriage and by the rites of hospitality, for which reason he went off to Ashkelon to take his revenge Judges 14:19. But now the Philistines themselves had broken this bond, and so he was free to take his revenge on the spot.

And Samson said concerning them, Now shall I be more (b) blameless than the Philistines, though I do them a displeasure.
(b) For through his father-in-law's actions, he was moved again to take vengeance on the Philistines.

And Samson said concerning them,.... His wife's father, and other relations, and the citizens of Timnath; this, which is what follows, he said either within himself respecting them, or he said it to them openly and publicly before them all:
now shall I be more blameless than the Philistines, though I do them a displeasure; signifying, that if he did them an ill thing, or what might be reckoned an injury to their persons or properties, and which would be disagreeable and displeasing to them, they could not justly blame him for it, since they had given him such a provocation as to dispose of his wife to another man; though Samson did not mean to act, nor did he act in the following instances as a private person taking private revenge, but as a public person, and judge of Israel; and took occasion, from the private injuries done him, to avenge the public ones of the children of Israel upon the Philistines; and they might thank themselves for giving the opportunity, which they could not justly condemn him for taking.

HE BURNS THE PHILISTINES' CORN. (Judges 15:3-8)
Samson said . . ., Now shall I be more blameless than the Philistines--This nefarious conduct provoked the hero's just indignation, and he resolved to take signal vengeance.

Enraged at this answer, Samson said to them (i.e., to her father and those around him), "Now am I blameless before the Philistines, if I do evil to them." נקּה with מן, to be innocent away from a person, i.e., before him (see Numbers 32:22). Samson regarded the treatment which he had received from his father-in-law as but one effect of the disposition of the Philistines generally towards the Israelites, and therefore resolved to avenge the wrong which he had received from one member of the Philistines upon the whole nation, or at all events upon the whole of the city of Timnath.

Now shall I, &c. - Because they have first provoked me by an irreparable injury: but although this may look like an act of private revenge; yet it is plain Samson acted as a judge (for so he was) and as an avenger of the publick injuries of his people.