Judges 14

Samson Wants A Wife from the Opps

1 Samson went down to Timnah and saw a fine Philistine woman.

2 He came back home and told his parents, “Listen, I saw this bad Philistine chick in Timnah, I need you all to get her for me as my wife.”

3 His parents said, “Is there not any woman from our people you can marry, Why you must go get a wife from the Philistines, the enemies?” But Samson said, “Get her for me. That is the one I want.”

4 (What they did not know was, God was setting this up to get at the Philistines. At that time, Israel was still under their control.)

Samson Kills A Lion Like It Is Nothing

5 Samson was walking down to Timnah with his parents when a young lion jumped out on him.

6 But the Spirit of the Lord came on him heavy, and he straight murked the lion with his bare hands like it was nothing. But he did not tell his parents what happened.

Samson Sees the Woman Again

7 Then he went and talked to the woman, and he liked everything about her.

Samson Finds Honey in the Lion

8 Later, when he came back to marry her, he went off the path to look at the dead lion. There was a swarm of bees and honey in its body.

9 He scooped the honey with his hands and ate as he walked. When he got back to his parents, he gave them some, but he did not tell them it came from the lion’s body.

Samson Throws A Party

10 Samson’s dad went down to see the woman. Samson threw a party like dudes did in those days.

11 When the Philistines saw him, they brought 30 men to roll with him.

Samson’s Riddle

12 Samson told them, “Let me hit you all with a riddle. If you all can figure it out in 7 days, I will hook you all up with 30 linen outfits and 30 fresh sets of clothes.”

13 “But if you all cannot solve it, you all must give me that same stuff.” They said, “Bet. Let us hear it.”

14 He said, “Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet.” For 3 days they could not figure it out.

The Philistines Press Samson’s Wife

15 On the 4th day they told Samson’s wife, “Look, get him to tell you the answer or we are going to burn you and your daddy’s house down. Did y’all bring us here to rob us?”

16 So Samson’s wife was all on him crying, “You do not love me, you hate me. You told them a riddle but will not tell me the answer.”

17 She kept pressing him for 7 days straight. On the 7th day he finally told her, because she would not let up. Then she went and told the Philistines the answer.

The Riddle Gets Solved

18 Before sunset on the 7th day, the men of the city said, “What is sweeter than honey, What is stronger than a lion?” Samson said, “You all would not have known if you all had not messed with my woman.”

Samson Pays Up His Own Way

19 The Spirit of the Lord came on him strong. He went down to Ashkelon, killed 30 Philistines, took their clothes, and paid his debt with their stuff. Then he left hot and went back to his father’s house.

20 Meanwhile, Samson’s wife got given to one of his groomsmen, his so-called best man.