Samson Wants a Philistine Wife
Study note
Samson saw a Philistine woman in Timnah and demanded his parents arrange the marriage. His parents objected because God had forbidden marrying foreign idol worshippers. But the narrator reveals that God was working behind the scenes, using Samson's desire to create a conflict with the Philistines, who were ruling over Israel at the time.
1 One day Samson traveled down to the town of Timnah, where he noticed a young Philistine woman. And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.
2 He went home and told his parents, "There is a Philistine woman down in Timnah that I want to marry. Please arrange it for me." And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.
3 His parents were not happy about this. They said, "Is there truly no woman among our own people that you could marry? Do you truly have to marry someone from the Philistines, who do not even know God?" But Samson insisted, telling his father, "She is the one I want. Get her for me." Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.
4 What his parents did not realize was that the Lord was behind all of this. God was setting up an opportunity to move against the Philistines, who were ruling over Israel at that time. But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.
Samson Kills a Lion
Study note
On the way to Timnah, the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon Samson and he tore a young lion apart with his bare hands. He told no one about this. Later, when he passed the same spot, he found bees had made honey in the lion's carcass. He ate some and gave some to his parents without telling them where it came from. Touching a dead body would have violated his Nazirite vow, showing the beginning of Samson's pattern of disregarding his sacred commitment.
5 So Samson headed to Timnah with his mother and father. As they passed by the vineyards near the town, a young lion suddenly charged at him with a loud roar. Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him.
6 The Spirit of the Lord rushed over Samson with great power. He grabbed the lion and ripped it apart with his bare hands, as easily as someone might tear apart a baby goat. But he kept quiet about it and did not say a word to his parents. And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.
7 Samson continued on to Timnah, talked with the young woman, and decided she was the one he wanted. And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.
8 A while later, Samson went back to marry her. Along the way, he stopped to check on the dead lion. To his surprise, a group of bees had built a hive inside the lion's body and filled it with honey. And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion.
9 He reached in, scooped out handfuls of honey, and ate it while he walked. When he caught up with his parents, he shared some with them and they ate it too. But he never mentioned that the honey had come from inside a dead lion. And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion.
Samson's Riddle at the Wedding Feast
Study note
At the seven-day wedding feast, Samson posed a riddle to thirty Philistine companions: 'Out of the eater came something to eat; out of the strong came something sweet.' Unable to solve it, the Philistines threatened to burn Samson's bride and her family. She pressured Samson with tears until he told her the answer, which she passed to the men. Furious, Samson went to Ashkelon, killed thirty Philistines, took their clothes to pay the bet, and returned home in anger. His wife was then given to his best man.
10 Samson's father went to meet the woman. Then Samson threw a big party there. That was what young men did in those days. So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do.
11 When the Philistines met Samson, they picked thirty young men to be his companions during the party. And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.
12 Samson said to them, "I have a riddle for you. If you can figure out the answer during the seven days of this party, I will give you thirty sets of linen clothes and thirty fancy outfits." And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments:
13 "But if you cannot solve it, then you owe me thirty sets of linen clothes and thirty fancy outfits." They were excited and said, "Go ahead! Tell us your riddle." But if ye cannot declare it me, then shall ye give me thirty sheets and thirty change of garments. And they said unto him, Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it.
14 Samson gave them this riddle: "Food came out of something that eats. Something sweet came out of something strong." Three whole days went by and nobody could crack it. And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle.
15 On the seventh day, the men went to Samson's wife and threatened her. They said, "Get your husband to tell you the answer to this riddle, or we will burn down your father's house with you inside it. Did you invite us here just to steal from us?" And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto Samson's wife, Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father's house with fire: have ye called us to take that we have? is it not so?
16 So Samson's wife went to him, sobbing. She said, "You must hate me! You do not love me at all! You gave my people a riddle and have not even told me the answer!" He responded, "I have not even shared it with my own mother and father. Why would I tell you?" And Samson's wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people, and hast not told it me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told it my father nor my mother, and shall I tell it thee?
17 She kept crying and begging him throughout the rest of the celebration. Finally, on the seventh day, he broke down and told her because she would not stop pressuring him. Then she immediately went and told her people the answer. And she wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted: and it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she lay sore upon him: and she told the riddle to the children of her people.
18 Right before the sun went down on the seventh day, the men of the town came to Samson and said, "What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?" Samson shot back, "You would never have figured that out if you had not used my wife to cheat!" And the men of the city said unto 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 unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle.
19 The Spirit of the Lord rushed over Samson with power. He marched down to Ashkelon, killed thirty Philistine men, took their clothes, and handed the outfits over to the men who had solved his riddle. He was furious as he stormed back to his father's house. And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father's house.
20 Meanwhile, Samson's wife was given away to the man who had served as his best friend at the wedding. But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.