14Samson went down to Timnah. There in Timnah a woman caught his eye, a Philistine girl.H8123H3381H8553H7200H802H8553H1323H64302He came back and told his father and mother, "I saw a woman in Timnah, a Philistine girl; get her for me as my wife."H5927H5046H1H517H559H7200H802H8553H1323H6430H3947H8023His parents said to him, "Isn't there a woman among the girls in the neighborhood of our people? Do you have to go get a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?" But Samson said to his father, "Get her for me. She's the one I want—she's the right one."H1H517H559H369H802H1323H251H5971H1980H3947H802H6189H6430H8123H559H1H3947H3474H58694(His father and mother had no idea that GOD was behind this, that he was arranging an opportunity against the Philistines. At the time the Philistines lorded it over Israel.)H1H517H3045H3068H1245H8385H6430H6256H6430H4910H34785Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother. When he got to the vineyards of Timnah, a young lion came at him, roaring.H3381H8123H3381H1H517H8553H935H3754H8553H3715H738H7580H71256The Spirit of GOD came on him powerfully and he ripped it open barehanded, like tearing a young goat. But he didn't tell his parents what he had done.H7307H3068H6743H8156H8156H1423H3972H3027H5046H1H517H62137Then he went on down and spoke to the woman. In Samson's eyes, she was the one.H3381H1696H802H3474H8123H3474H58698Some days later when he came back to get her, he made a little detour to look at what was left of the lion. And there a wonder: a swarm of bees in the lion's carcass—and honey!H3117H7725H3947H5493H7200H4658H738H5712H1682H1706H1472H7389He scooped it up in his hands and kept going, eating as he went. He rejoined his father and mother and gave some to them and they ate. But he didn't tell them that he had scooped out the honey from the lion's carcass.H7287H3709H3212H398H1980H1H517H5414H398H5046H7287H1706H1472H73810His father went on down to make arrangements with the woman, while Samson prepared a feast there. That's what the young men did in those days.H1H3381H802H8123H6213H4960H970H621311Because the people were wary of him, they arranged for thirty friends to mingle with him.H7200H3947H7970H482812Samson said to them: "Let me put a riddle to you. If you can figure it out during the seven days of the feast, I'll give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of fine clothing.H8123H559H2330H2420H5046H5046H7651H3117H4960H4672H5414H7970H5466H7970H2487H89913But if you can't figure it out then you'll give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of fine clothing." They said, "Put your riddle. Let's hear it."H3201H5046H5414H7970H5466H7970H2487H899H559H2330H2420H808514So he said, From the eater came something to eat, From the strong came something sweet. They couldn't figure it out. After three days they were still stumped.H559H398H3318H3978H5794H3318H4966H3201H7969H3117H5046H242015On the fourth day they said to Samson's bride, "Worm the answer out of your husband or we'll burn you and your father's household. Have you invited us here to bankrupt us?"H7637H3117H559H8123H802H6601H376H5046H2420H8313H1H1004H784H7121H342316So Samson's bride turned on the tears, saying to him, "You hate me. You don't love me. You've told a riddle to my people but you won't even tell me the answer." He said, "I haven't told my own parents—why would I tell you?"H8123H802H1058H559H8130H157H2330H2420H1121H5971H5046H559H5046H1H517H504617But she turned on the tears all the seven days of the feast. On the seventh day, worn out by her nagging, he told her. Then she went and told it to her people.H1058H7651H3117H4960H1961H7637H3117H5046H6693H5046H2420H1121H597118The men of the town came to him on the seventh day, just before sunset and said, What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion? And Samson said, If you hadn't plowed with my heifer, You wouldn't have found out my riddle.H582H5892H559H7637H3117H2775H935H4966H1706H5794H738H559H3884H2790H5697H4672H242019Then the Spirit of GOD came powerfully on him. He went down to Ashkelon and killed thirty of their men, stripped them, and gave their clothing to those who had solved the riddle. Stalking out, smoking with anger, he went home to his father's house.H7307H3068H6743H3381H831H5221H7970H376H3947H2488H5414H2487H5046H2420H639H2734H5927H1H100420Samson's bride became the wife of the best man at his wedding.H8123H802H4828H7462