SAMSON'S RIDDLE
Judges 13:25--14:1-19
25 And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the
camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol. 14:1 And Samson went down
to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the
Philistines. 2 And he came up, and told his father and his
mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters
of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife. 3 Then
his father and his mother said unto him, [Is there] never a woman
among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that
thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And
Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me
well. 4 But his father and his mother knew not that it [was] of
the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for
at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel. 5 Then
went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and
came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared
against him. 6 And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him,
and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and [he had] nothing
in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had
done. 7 And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she
pleased Samson well. 8 And after a time he returned to take her,
and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold,
[there was] a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion.
9 And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came
to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but
he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of
the lion. 10 So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson
made there a feast; for so used the young men to do. 11 And it
came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty
companions to be with him. 12 And Samson said unto them, I will
now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me
within the seven days of the feast, and find [it] out, then I will
give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments: 13 But if
ye cannot declare [it] me, then shall ye give me thirty sheets and
thirty change of garments. And they said unto him, Put forth thy
riddle, that we may hear it. 14 And he said unto them, Out of the
eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness.
And they could not in three days expound the riddle. 15 And it
came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto Samson's
wife, Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle,
lest we burn thee and thy father's house with fire: have ye called
us to take that we have? [is it] not [so]? 16 And Samson's wife
wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me
not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people,
and hast not told [it] me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have
not told [it] my father nor my mother, and shall I tell [it] thee?
17 And she wept before him the seven days, while their feast
lasted: and it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told her,
because she lay sore upon him: and she told the riddle to the
children of her people. 18 And the men of the city said unto him
on the seventh day before the sun went down, What [is] sweeter
than honey? and what [is] stronger than a lion? And he said unto
them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my
riddle. 19 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went
down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their
spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the
riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father's
house.
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