English: It is written “And Shimshon went down to Timnah,” and it is written “Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah.” R’ Elazar said: Shimshon, who was degraded through her, has “going down” written of him; Yehudah, who was elevated through her, has “going up” written of him.
On the daf / in context: Sotah 10a contrasts Yehudah’s ascent to Timnah (from which Peretz and Zerach — royal and prophetic lines — would come) with Shimshon’s descent.
Type of Learning
R’ Yishmael #2 — Gezerah shavah / contrast on the verbs of ascent and descent to the same place-name.
What Is Learned
The Torah’s choice of “going up” for Yehudah signals that Timnah became a place of elevation for him, unlike Shimshon’s degradation there.