(Mishnah): Shimshon went after his eyes, therefore, Pelishtim gouged out his eyes;

Avshalom was beautiful in (became haughty about) his hair, therefore he was hung by his hair;

Because he had Bi'ah with 10 concubines of his father, 10 spears were cast into him - "va'Yasobu Asarah Ne'arim Nos'ei Klei Yo'av."

Because he deceived three hearts, i.e. his father's, Beis Din's, and Yisrael's, three staves were cast into his heart - "va'Yikach Sheloshah Shevatim b'Chapo va'Yiska'em b'Lev Avshalom."

(Gemara - Beraisa - Rebbi): Because [Shimshon's] initial ruin was in Azah, therefore his punishment was in Azah.

Question: "Va'Yered Shimshon Timnasah" (he first married a Nochris in Timnah)!

Answer (R. Shmuel bar Nachman): That was in the way of Nisu'in. (In Azah, it was Zenus.)

Contradiction: It says "Shimshon descended to Timnah", and it says "your (Tamar's) father-in-law (Yehudah) is ascending to Timnah"!

Answer #1 (Rav): There are two places called Timnah, one regarding Yehudah (on a hill), and one regarding Shimshon (in a valley).

Answer #2 (R. Simon): There is one Timnah. Why is ascent and descent written regarding it? Of Yehudah, since [Tamar] intended l'Shem Shamayim, ascent is written. Of Shimshon, since he did not intend l'Shem Shamayim, descent is written.

Answer #3 (R. Aibo bar Nagri): [Timnah is on a slope,] like Beis Ma'ayan. One descends to it from Platasah, and ascends to it from Tiverya.

"It says "va'Yavo'u Ad Karmei Simnasah" - Rav Shmuel bar Rav Yitzchak said, this teaches that his father and mother were showing him vineyards seeded with Kil'ayim, and telling him 'my son - just like their vineyards are seeded with Kil'ayim, so their daughters are seeded with Kil'ayim (Mamzerim, for their mothers were Mezanah under their husbands).

"V'Aviv v'Imo Lo Yad'u Ki me'Hashem Hu Ki So'anah Hu Mevakesh mi'Pelishtim."

Question: R. Elazar said, in seven places it says [that one must distance from marrying a Nochris, e.g.] "Lo Sischaten Bam" (Hagahah in YEFE MAR'EH). R. Avin says, this is to forbid the seven nations. And here it says so [that Hash-m wanted him to marry a Pelishti woman]?!

Answer (R. Yitzchak): "Im la'Letzim Hu Yalitz" (Hash-m led him in the path that he desired).

It says "va'Tachel Ru'ach Hash-m Lefa'amo b'Machaneh Dan Bein Tzor'ah u'Vein Eshta'ol" - two Amora'im argued about this. One said that at a time that Ru'ach ha'Kodesh rested on him, his steps were [giant,] like from Tzor'ah to Eshta'ol; (PNEI MOSHE)

The other said that at a time that Ru'ach ha'Kodesh rested on him (he shook from fear, and) his hairs (which were very long, for he never cut them) banged like a bell clapper, and the sound went (was heard) like the distance from Tzor'ah to Eshta'ol (YEFE MAR'EH).

"Va'Yvarchehu Hash-m" - Rav Huna said in the name of R. Yosi, his [Ever of] Tashmish was like of a normal man, but his semen was [great] like a flowing river (SHA'AREI TORAS ERETZ YISRAEL.)

It says "v'Inakmah Nakam Achas mi'Shesei Einai mi'Pelishtim" - R. Acha said, he said to Hash-m, Master of the world! Give to me the reward of one eye in this world (to regain my strength and take revenge on the Pelishtim), and the reward of one eye remains for me in the future (the world to come).

Question: It says (Shoftim 15:20) "va'Yishpot Es Yisrael bi'Ymei [Felishtim Esrim Shanah]", and it says (Shoftim 16:31) "v'Hu Shafat Es Yisrael Esrim Shanah"! (We do not find regarding any other Shofet that it repeats the amount of time that he judged! (MEICHAL HA'MAYIM)

Answer (R. Acha): This teaches that the Pelishtim feared him 20 years after his death, like they feared him 20 years in his lifetime.

(Mishnah): Avshalom was beautiful in (became haughty about) his hair.

(R. Chanina): It was like a big carob tree. (The verse repeats "Alah" to teach this.)

Suggestion: Perhaps it was like a ball! (That is not so beautiful.)

Rejection (R. Bivi citing R. Yochanan): It was separate locks (each was curled by itself. We explained this like MEICHAL HA'MAYIM.)

R. Chanina: When I ascended to here (Eretz Yisrael), I took my son's belt and my father-in-law's belt to surround the trunk of a carob tree of Eretz Yisrael, and they did not reach (all the way around).

I cut one [branch] of the carob tree, and enough honey flowed from it to fill my hands.

(R. Yonason): Remnant figs (they are the last to be picked; they do not ripen properly) that we ate in our youth, are better than Pankrisin (choice fruits) that we ate in our old age.

Explanation: In his days, the world changed (fruits lost their taste).

(R. Chiya bar Ba): Initially, a Se'ah of [wheat of] Arbalis produced a Se'ah of fine flour, a Se'ah of [regular] flour, a Se'ah of coarse flour, a Se'ah of bran (that exudes when the wheat is crushed), and a Se'ah of bran (that exudes at the end of grinding).

Nowadays, we do not get even one [Se'ah of flour] from one [Se'ah of wheat].

Suggestion: It says "uch'Avshalom Lo Hayah Ish Yafeh l'Chol Yisrael Lehalel Me'od" - perhaps in every way [he was the nicest in Yisrael]!

Rejection: "Mi'Kaf Raglo Ad Kadkado Lo Hayah Vo Mum" (only in this way).

Suggestion: It says "v'Lo Hayah Ven u'Shmo Sha'ul Bachur v'Tov v'Ein Ish mi'Vnei Yisrael Tov Mimenu" - perhaps in every way [he was the nicest in Yisrael]!

Rejection: "Mi'Shichmo va'Ma'alah Gavoha mi'Kol ha'Am" (only in this way).

Implied question: However, about Avner it says "ha'Lo Sed'u Ki Sar v'Gadol Nafal ha'Yom ha'Zeh b'Yisrael" ("b'Yisrael" implies that it refers to righteousness. If so,) why was Avner killed?

Remark: R. Yehoshua ben Levi and Reish Lakish and Rabanan argued about this.

Answer #1 (R. Yehoshua ben Levi): It is because he considered the blood of youths 'jesting' - "Yakumu Na ha'Ne'arim vi'Sachaku Lefaneinu."

Answer #2 (Reish Lakish): It is because he put his own name before David - "va'Yishlach Avner Mal'achim El David Tachtav Leimor l'Mi Aretz" - a letter from Avner to David (Tachtav hints to this. He should have written 'to David, from Avner - HA'MASHBI'ACH.)

Answer #3 (Rabanan): It is because he did not allow Sha'ul to be appeased from David - "v'Avi Gam Re'eh Es Kenaf Me'ilcha b'Yadi." [Avner] told [Sha'ul] what do you want from his praises of himself? [Do not believe that he had an opportunity to kill you, and merely cut the corner from your garment. It] got caught on a thorn [and the corner was cut off!

When they came to Ma'agal [and David took the spear and flask by Sha'ul's head, when he and his men were sleeping] "ha'Lo Sa'aneh Avner" - regarding the corner [of Sha'ul's garment], you said that it got caught on a thorn. The spear and flask - are they missing due to a thorn?!

Answer #4: Some say, it is because he could have protested against [killing] Nov, the city of Kohanim, and he did not protest.

(Mishnah): Because he deceived three hearts, i.e. his father's, Beis Din's, and Yisrael's...

He deceived his father's heart - "va'Yhi mi'Ketz Arba'im Shanah" - David's entire reign was 40 years, and it says so?! (Avshalom's rebellion was not in the last year of David's life!)

Rather, it is 40 years from when Yisrael requested a king.

"Ki Neder Nadar Avdecha" - [David] asked him, what do you want now? [Avshalom] said, write a text that two men go with me.

David said, tell me whom you want, and I will write [that they should go]. [Avshalom] said, write Stam (without names), and whom I want, I will take. He wrote Stam.

[Avshalom] went and gathered two men at a time, until he gathered 200 men. This is why it says "v'Es Avshalom Halchu Masayim Ish mi'Yerushalayim Keru'im v'Holchim l'Sumam" - they were summonsed from David, and going unaware of Avshalom's [ruse. Each thought, I am one of the two that David commanded, and the rest chose to follow Avshalom - YEFE MAR'EH.] "V'Lo Yad'u Kol Davar" of Achitofel's counsel.

(R. Huna citing R. Acha): All of them were heads of Sanhedrins.

Once [the men with Avshalom] saw that the matter is coming to the opposite [of David's intent], they said 'Master of all the worlds! May we fall into the hands of David, and David not fall into our hands;

If we fall into the hands of David, he will have mercy on us. If, Heaven forbid, David falls into our hands, we (i.e. the 198 who chose to follow Avshalom - PF, based on YEFE MAR'EH above) will not have mercy on him.

This is what David said Padah v'Shlomo Nafshi mi'Kerav Li Ki v'Rabim Hayu Imadi" (many were with me, i.e. hoping that I would win - PNEI MOSHE).

He deceived Beis Din - "va'Yomer Avshalom Mi Yesimeni Shofet ba'Aretz... va'Ya'as Avshalom ka'Davar ha'Zeh." (YEFE MAR'EH - the judges thought that Avshalom wanted to judge properly. They did not realize that he merely sought to gain supporters.)