Judges 14

Samson’s Marriage

1One day SamsonH8123 went downH3381 to TimnahH8553, where he sawH7200H802 a young PhilistineH6430 womanH1323H8553. 2So he returnedH5927 and toldH5046 his fatherH1 and motherH517, “I have seenH7200 a daughterH1323 of the PhilistinesH6430 in TimnahH8553. NowH6258 getH3947 herH853 for me as a wifeH802.”

3But his fatherH1 and motherH517 repliedH559, “Can’t youH369 find a young womanH1323 among your relativesH251 or among anyH3605 of our peopleH5971? Must youH859 goH1980 to the uncircumcisedH6189 PhilistinesH6430 to getH3947 a wifeH802?”

But SamsonH8123H413 toldH559 his fatherH1, “GetH3947 herH853 for me, forH3588 sheH1931 is pleasingH3474 to my eyesH5869.” 4(Now his fatherH1 and motherH517 did notH3808 knowH3045H3588 thisH1931 was fromH3588 the LORDH3068, whoH1931 was seekingH1245 an occasion to moveH8385 against the PhilistinesH6430; for at thatH1931 timeH6256 the PhilistinesH6430 were rulingH4910 over IsraelH3478.)

5Then SamsonH8123 went downH3381 to TimnahH8553 with his fatherH1 and motherH517 and cameH935 toH5704 the vineyardsH3754 of TimnahH8553. SuddenlyH2009 a young lionH3715H738 came roaringH7580 at himH7122, 6and the SpiritH7307 of the LORDH3068 came powerfullyH6743 upon himH5921, and he tore the lion apartH8156 with his bareH3972H369 handsH3027 as one would tearH8156 a young goatH1423. But he did notH3808 tellH5046 his fatherH1 or motherH517 whatH834 he had doneH6213. 7Then Samson continued on his way downH3381 and spokeH1696 to the womanH802, becauseH8123 she was pleasingH3474 to his eyesH5869.

Samson’s Riddle

8When Samson returnedH7725 laterH3117 to take herH3947, he leftH5493 the road to seeH7200 the lion’sH738 carcassH4658, and inH1472H738 it wasH2009 a swarmH5712 of beesH1682, along with their honeyH1706. 9So he scoopedH7287 some honey intoH413 his handsH3709 and ate itH398 as he went alongH1980. And when he returnedH1980 toH413 his fatherH1H413 and motherH517, he gaveH5414 some to them and they ate itH398. But he did notH3808 tellH5046 them thatH3588 he had takenH7287 the honeyH1706 from the lion’sH738 carcassH1472.

10Then his fatherH1 wentH3381 toH413 visit the womanH802, and SamsonH8123 preparedH6213 a feastH4960 thereH8033, asH3588H3651 was customaryH6213 for the bridegroomH970. 11And whenH1961 the Philistines saw himH7200,1 they selectedH3947 thirtyH7970 men to accompany himH4828H1961H854.

12“Let me tellH2330H4994 you a riddleH2420,” SamsonH8123 saidH559 to them. “IfH518 you can solveH5046 itH853 for me within the sevenH7651 daysH3117 of the feastH4960, I will giveH5414 you thirtyH7970 linen garmentsH5466 and thirtyH7970 setsH2487 of clothesH899. 13But ifH518 you cannotH3808H3201 solve itH5046, youH859 must giveH5414 me thirtyH7970 linen garmentsH5466 and thirtyH7970 setsH2487 of clothesH899.”

“Tell usH2330 your riddleH2420,” they repliedH559. “Let us hear itH8085.”

14So he saidH559 to them:

For threeH7969 daysH3117 they were unableH3808H3201 to explainH5046 the riddleH2420. 15SoH1961 on the fourthH76372 dayH3117 they saidH559 to Samson’sH8123 wifeH802, “EnticeH6601 your husbandH376 to explainH5046 the riddleH2420 to us, orH6435 we will burnH8313 youH853 and your father’sH1 householdH1004 to deathH784. Did you invite usH7121 hereH3808 to rob usH3423?”

16Then Samson’sH8123 wifeH802 came to himH5921, weepingH1058, and saidH559H7535, “You hate meH8130! You do not reallyH3808 love meH157! You have posedH2330 to my peopleH1121H5971 a riddleH2420, but have notH3808 explained it to meH5046.”

“LookH2009,” he saidH559, “I have notH3808 even explainedH5046 it to my fatherH1 or motherH517, so why should I explain itH5046 to you?”

17She weptH1058H5921 the whole sevenH7651 daysH3117 of the feastH4960, and finallyH1961 on the seventhH7637 dayH3117, becauseH3588 she had pressed him so muchH6693, he toldH5046 her the answer. And in turn she explainedH5046 the riddleH2420 to her peopleH1121H5971.

18BeforeH2962 sunsetH935H2775 on the seventhH7637 dayH3117, the menH582 of the cityH5892 saidH559 to Samson:

So he saidH559 to them:

19Then the SpiritH7307 of the LORDH3068 came mightilyH6743 upon himH5921, and he went downH3381 to AshkelonH831, killedH5221 thirtyH7970 of their menH376, tookH3947 their apparelH2488, and gaveH5414 their clothesH2487 to those who had solvedH5046 the riddleH2420. And burningH2734 with angerH639, Samson returnedH5927 to his father’sH1 houseH1004, 20and hisH8123H4828 wifeH802 was givenH1961 to one of the men whoH834 had accompaniedH7462 him.