Samson and the Philistines - Judges 14

Judges 14:1 And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a  woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.  

Judges 14:2 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.  

Judges 14:3 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. 

Judges 14:4 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.  

Judges 14:5 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. 

Judges 14:6 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. 

Judges 14:7 And he went down, and talked with the  woman; and she pleased Samson well.  

Judges 14:8 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. 

Judges 14:9 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.  

Judges 14:10 So his father went down unto the woman: and  Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to  do. 

Judges 14:11 And it came to pass, when they saw him, that  they brought thirty companions to be with him.  

Judges 14:12 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: 

Judges 14:13 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. 

Judges 14:14 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. 

Judges 14:15 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? 

Judges 14:16 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? 

Judges 14:17 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. 

Judges 14:18 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.   

Judges 14:19 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. 

Judges 14:20 But Samson’s  wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as  his friend.  KJV

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