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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