Judges 14
14Now Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines.H8123H3381H8553H7200H802H8553H1323H64302So he went up and told his father and mother, saying, "I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore, get her for me as a wife."H5927H5046H1H517H559H7200H802H8553H1323H6430H3947H8023Then his father and mother said to him, "Is there no woman among the daughters of your brethren, or among all my people, that you must go and get a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?" And Samson said to his father, "Get her for me, for she pleases me well."H1H517H559H369H802H1323H251H5971H1980H3947H802H6189H6430H8123H559H1H3947H3474H58694But his father and mother did not know that it was of the LORD—that He was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines. For at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.H1H517H3045H3068H1245H8385H6430H6256H6430H4910H34785So Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother, and came to the vineyards of Timnah. Now to his surprise, a young lion came roaring against him.H3381H8123H3381H1H517H8553H935H3754H8553H3715H738H7580H71256And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he tore the lion apart as one would have torn apart a young goat, though he had nothing in his hand. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.H7307H3068H6743H8156H8156H1423H3972H3027H5046H1H517H62137Then he went down and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.H3381H1696H802H3474H8123H3474H58698After some time, when he returned to get her, he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion. And behold, a swarm of bees and honey were in the carcass of the lion.H3117H7725H3947H5493H7200H4658H738H5712H1682H1706H1472H7389He took some of it in his hands and went along, eating. When he came to his father and mother, he gave some to them, and they also ate. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey out of the carcass of the lion.H7287H3709H3212H398H1980H1H517H5414H398H5046H7287H1706H1472H73810So his father went down to the woman. And Samson gave a feast there, for young men used to do so.H1H3381H802H8123H6213H4960H970H621311And it happened, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.H7200H3947H7970H482812Then Samson said to them, "Let me pose a riddle to you. If you can correctly solve and explain it to me within the seven days of the feast, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing.H8123H559H2330H2420H5046H5046H7651H3117H4960H4672H5414H7970H5466H7970H2487H89913"But if you cannot explain it to me, then you shall give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing." And they said to him, "Pose your riddle, that we may hear it."H3201H5046H5414H7970H5466H7970H2487H899H559H2330H2420H808514So he said to them: "Out of the eater came something to eat, And out of the strong came something sweet." Now for three days they could not explain the riddle.H559H398H3318H3978H5794H3318H4966H3201H7969H3117H5046H242015But it came to pass on the seventh day that they said to Samson's wife, "Entice your husband, that he may explain the riddle to us, or else we will burn you and your father's house with fire. Have you invited us in order to take what is ours? Is that not so?"H7637H3117H559H8123H802H6601H376H5046H2420H8313H1H1004H784H7121H342316Then Samson's wife wept on him, and said, "You only hate me! You do not love me! You have posed a riddle to the sons of my people, but you have not explained it to me." And he said to her, "Look, I have not explained it to my father or my mother; so should I explain it to you?"H8123H802H1058H559H8130H157H2330H2420H1121H5971H5046H559H5046H1H517H504617Now she had wept on him the seven days while their feast lasted. And it happened on the seventh day that he told her, because she pressed him so much. Then she explained the riddle to the sons of her people.H1058H7651H3117H4960H1961H7637H3117H5046H6693H5046H2420H1121H597118So the 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?" And he said to them: "If you had not plowed with my heifer, You would not have solved my riddle!"H582H5892H559H7637H3117H2775H935H4966H1706H5794H738H559H3884H2790H5697H4672H242019Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon him mightily, and he went down to Ashkelon and killed thirty of their men, took their apparel, and gave the changes of clothing to those who had explained the riddle. So his anger was aroused, and he went back up to his father's house.H7307H3068H6743H3381H831H5221H7970H376H3947H2488H5414H2487H5046H2420H639H2734H5927H1H100420And Samson's wife was given to his companion, who had been his best man.H8123H802H4828H7462
Columbus, OH
