Judges 14:10-20
10 Then his father went down to the woman; and Samson held a feast there, for the young men customarily did this.
11 When they saw him, they brought thirty companions to be with him.
12 Then Samson said to them, “Let me now propose a riddle for you; if you actually tell me the answer within the seven days of the feast, and solve it, then I will give you thirty linen wraps and thirty outfits of clothes.
13 But if you are unable to tell me, then you shall give me thirty linen wraps and thirty outfits of clothes.” And they said to him, “Propose your riddle, so that we may hear it.”
14 So he said to them, “Out of the eater came something to eat, And out of the strong came something sweet.” But they could not tell the answer to the riddle in three days.
15 Then it came about on the fourth day that they said to Samson’s wife, “Entice your husband, so that he will tell us the riddle, or we will burn you and your father’s house with fire. Have you invited us to impoverish us? Is this not so?”
16 So Samson’s wife wept in front of him and said, “You only hate me, and you do not love me; you have proposed a riddle to the sons of my people, and have not told it to me.” And he said to her, “Behold, I have not told it to my father or mother; so should I tell you?”
17 However she wept before him for seven days while their feast lasted. And on the seventh day he told her because she pressed him so hard. She then told the riddle to the sons of her people.
18 So 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 found out my riddle.”
19 Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon and killed thirty men of them and took what they were wearing and gave the outfits of clothes to those who told the riddle. And his anger burned, and he went up to his father’s house.
20 But Samson’s wife was given to his companion who had been his friend.
Riddle at the Wedding
Samson’s riddle
Have you ever been betrayed by family members or friends? The Bible teaches, “Take no account of man, whose breath of life is in his nostrils; for why should he be esteemed?” (Isa. 2:22). When you are faced with disappointment, it’s the time to seek refuge in the hands of the Father. In today’s passage, Samson experiences such a situation. (1) Samson goes down to Timnah with his father and hosted a seven-day feast there. (2) The Philistines provided him with thirty young men, likely to keep an eye on him. (3) Samson told a riddle to the feast’s attendees (this was an ancient Greek custom; the Philistines were of Greek origin). If they solve the riddle, he will give them thirty linen wraps and thirty changes of clothing. If they can’t solve it, they must give Samson the same. (4) The riddle is, “Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet.” Usually, riddles have logical solutions, but Samson’s riddle is known only to him.
Samson’s wife
(5) The Philistines were unable to solve the riddle no matter how hard they tried. So, they threatened Samson’s wife and coerced her into obtaining the secret of the riddle. She pleaded and wept before Samson, and finally found out the secret on the seventh day. (6) The Philistines revealed the answer to the riddle, and Samson responded. Both the answer and response are in the form of a two-line poem. “My heifer” refers to Samson’s wife. (7) Samson went down to another Philistine city, Ashkelon, and killed thirty of its inhabitants, and took their possessions to give to those who solved the riddle. Ashkelon was about 35 km (about 22 miles) away from Timnah, so there likely wasn’t any communication between the two places. (8) Samson then returned to his father’s house, and his wife was given to another man. However, Samson didn’t intend to dissolve this marriage. Being betrayed by someone you trusted is something Jesus, our Lord, has already endured. He understands and heals us from all of our pains. Now, let us confess our faith in Jesus.
Today's prayer
Father God of Jesus Christ, help me walk daily trusting only in the Lord Jesus. Please renew my strength. I pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.