What is "Kefir Arayos"?
Radak: This is a compound noun, like Gedi Izim. Gur, Kefir, Aryeh, Lavi and Layish are names for lions in increasing order of maturity; as long as a lion matures, it gets stronger (Sanhedrin 95a).
Shimon was with his parents. Why does it say that the lion came to greet only him?
Radak: Perhaps he was in front of his parents 1 , and this is why they did not see it; it says that he did not tell his parents what he did (verse 6).
Aderes Eliyahu: When they reached the vineyard, Shimshon veered and took a detour, for (Shabbos 13a) 'a Nazir should stay far from a vineyard.' Malbim - this is only when there are grapes there. Now was the season when grapes first ripen 2 . A lion attacks a person only if he is alone (Shabbos 151b).
He should have let his parents go in front, to honor them! Perhaps he knew that wild animals are sometimes on the path, and he went in front of them to protect them. (PF)
Surely, Malbim merely adopted the Torah's expression (Bamidbar 13:20). The same applies as long as ripe grapes are on the vine. (PF)
