14
1 Samson
went down to
Timnah, and saw
a woman in
Timnah of the
daughters of the
Philistines.
2 He
came up, and
told his father
and his mother, saying, “I
have seen a
woman in Timnah
of the daughters
of the Philistines.
Now therefore get
her for me
as my wife.”
3 Then
his father and
his mother said to
him, “Isn’t there
a woman among
your brothers’ daughters,
or among all
my people, that
you go to
take a wife of
the uncircumcised
Philistines?”
Samson said to
his father, “Get
her for me,
for she pleases
me well.”
4 But
his father and
his mother didn’t know
that it was
of the LORD;
for he sought
an occasion
against the
Philistines. Now
at that time
the Philistines
ruled over Israel.
5 Then
Samson went down
to Timnah with
his father and
his mother, and
came to the
vineyards of
Timnah; and behold,
a young lion
roared at him.
6 The
LORD’s Spirit came
mightily on him,
and he tore
him as he
would have torn a
young goat with
his bare hands,
but he didn’t tell
his father or
his mother what he
had done.
7 He
went down and
talked with
the woman, and she
pleased Samson
well.
8 After
a while he
returned to take
her, and he
went over to see
the carcass of
the lion; and
behold, there was
a swarm of
bees in the
body of the lion,
and honey.
9 He
took it into
his hands, and
went on, eating as
he went. He
came to his father
and mother and
gave to them,
and they ate, but
he didn’t tell
them that he
had taken the
honey out of
the lion’s body.
10 His father
went down to
the woman; and
Samson made a
feast there, for
the young men used
to do so.
11 When
they saw him,
they brought
thirty companions
to be with
him.
12 Samson said
to them, “Let
me tell you
a riddle now. If
you can tell
me the answer within
the seven days
of the feast,
and find it
out, then I
will give you
thirty linen
garments and
thirty changes
of clothing;
13 but if
you can’t tell
me the answer,
then you shall
give me thirty
linen garments and
thirty changes
of clothing.”
They said to
him, “Tell us
your riddle, that
we may hear
it.”
14 He
said to them,
“Out of the eater
came out food.
Out of the
strong came out
sweetness.”
They couldn’t in
three days declare
the riddle.
15 On
the seventh day,
they said to
Samson’s wife, “Entice
your husband, that
he may declare
to us the
riddle, lest we
burn you and
your father’s house
with fire. Have
you called us
to impoverish us?
Isn’t that so?”
16 Samson’s
wife wept before
him, and said, “You
just hate me,
and don’t love me.
You’ve told a
riddle to the
children of my
people, and haven’t
told it to
me.”
He said to her,
“Behold, I haven’t
told my father
or my mother, so
why should I tell
you?”
17 She
wept before him
the seven days,
while their feast
lasted; and on
the seventh day,
he told her,
because she
pressed him severely;
and she told
the riddle to
the children of
her people.
18 The
men of the
city said to
him on the
seventh day before
the sun went down,
“What is sweeter
than honey? What
is stronger than
a lion?”
He said to
them,
“If you hadn’t
plowed with my
heifer,
you wouldn’t have
found out my
riddle.”
19 The
LORD’s Spirit came
mightily on him,
and he went
down to Ashkelon
and struck thirty
men of them.
He took
their plunder, then
gave the changes
of clothing to
those who declared
the riddle. His
anger burned, and
he went up
to his father’s
house.
20 But
Samson’s wife was given
to his companion,
who had been
his friend.