Judges 14

Samson Sees a Woman in Timnah

1Samson went down to Timnah, and at Timnah he saw a woman from the daughters of the Philistines. 2He went up and told his father and mother, saying, “I have seen a woman in Timnah from the daughters of the Philistines. Now therefore get her for me as wife.” 3His father and mother said to him, “Is there no woman among the daughters of your relatives or among all my people, that you must go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?” Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she is right in my eyes.” 4His father and mother did not know that this was from the LORD, for he was seeking an occasion against the Philistines. At that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel.

Samson Kills a Lion

5Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah. When they came to the vineyards of Timnah, look, a young lion came roaring toward him. 6The Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, and he tore the lion apart as one tears apart a young goat, though he had nothing in his hand. But he did not tell his father or mother what he had done. 7He went down and spoke with the woman, and she was right in Samson’s eyes. 8After some days he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion. Look, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey. 9He scraped some into his hands and went on, eating as he went. He came to his father and mother and gave some to them, and they ate. But he did not tell them that he had scraped the honey from the body of the lion.

Samson’s Riddle

10His father went down to the woman, and Samson held a feast there, for so the young men used to do. 11When they saw him, they brought thirty companions to be with him. 12Samson said to them, “Let me tell you a riddle. If you can surely explain it to me within the seven days of the feast and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing. 13But if you cannot explain it to me, then you shall give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing.” They said to him, “Tell your riddle, and let us hear it.” 14He said to them:

“Out of the eater came something to eat,
and out of the strong came something sweet.”

For three days they could not explain the riddle.

The Philistines Pressure Samson’s Wife

15On the seventh day they said to Samson’s wife, “Entice your husband to explain the riddle to us, lest we burn you and your father’s house with fire. Have you invited us here to impoverish us?” 16Samson’s wife wept before him and said, “You only hate me; you do not love me. You have told a riddle to the children of my people but have not explained it to me.” He said to her, “Look, I have not explained it to my father or mother; should I explain it to you?” 17She wept before him the seven days while their feast lasted. On the seventh day he explained it to her because she pressed him hard. Then she explained the riddle to the children of her people. 18The men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down:

“What is sweeter than honey?
And what is stronger than a lion?”

He said to them:

“If you had not plowed with my heifer,
you would not have found out my riddle.”

Samson Strikes Thirty Men

19Then the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon and struck thirty men of the city, took their plunder, and gave the changes of clothing to those who had explained the riddle. His anger burned, and he went up to his father’s house. 20And Samson’s wife was given to his companion, who had been his best man.