The father insisted that he thought Samson would have nothing to do with the woman after she had betrayed him, so he had given her to another man. The father might reasonably have concluded that inasmuch as Samson had left in anger and had not returned, he had deserted her.

Because the father had taken the dowry, he now offered to give Samson a younger daughter. He understood well the strength of Samson, and with anxiety and fear he sought to free himself from a difficult situation. He was afraid of what Samson would do in return for the injustice done him.