“1 And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the
daughters of the Philistines. 2 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 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 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. 5 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 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 And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she
pleased Samson well. 8 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 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.”
“10 So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a
feast; for so used the young men to do. 11 And it came to pass, when
they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him. 12 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 But Samson’s wife was [given] to his companion, whom
he had used as his friend.” (Judges 14:1-20 AV)
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