Judg 14 | ABEn | STEP | And Samson went down unto Timnath, and he saw a woman in Timnath from the daughters of the Philistines.

‏ Judges 14

CHAPTER 14 Samson Takes a Wife from the Philistines

1 And Samson went down unto Timnath, and he saw a woman in Timnath from the daughters of the Philistines. 2 And he ascended, and reported to his father and to his mother. And he said, [²a woman ¹I have seen] in Timnath from the daughters of the Philistines. And now take her to me for wife! 3 And [²said ³to him ¹his father], and his mother, Is it that there is not [²of ³the ⁴daughters ⁵of your brethren ⁶and ⁷among ⁸all ⁹my people ¹a woman], that you should go to take a wife from the [²Philistines ¹uncircumcised]? And Samson said to his father, Take this one for me! for she pleases in my eyes. 4 And his father and his mother did not know that [²from ³the lord ¹it is], that [³recompense ¹he ²required] of the Philistines. And in that time the Philistines dominated the sons of Israel. 5 And Samson went down, and his father and his mother unto Timnath. And he came to the vineyards of Timnath. And behold, a cub of a lion was roaring in meeting him. 6 And [³straightened ⁴upon ⁵him ¹spirit ²of the lord], and he tore it apart as a kid of the goats, and nothing was in his hand. And he did not report to his father and to his mother what he did. 7 And they went down and spoke to the woman, and she was pleasing before Samson. 8 And he returned after some days to take her, and he turned aside to behold the carcass of the lion. And behold, a swarm as of an apiary of bees was in the mouth of the lion, and honey. 9 And he took of it into his mouth, and went forth going and eating. And he went to his father and to his mother, and he gave to them, and they ate, and he did not announce to them that [⁴from ⁵the ⁶manner ⁷of the ⁸lion ¹he took ²the ³honey]. 10 And [²went down ¹his father] to the woman, and [²prepared ³there ¹Samson] a banquet for seven days; for thus [³did ¹the ²young men]. 11 And it came to pass in their fearing him, that they posted in front to him thirty companions, and they were with him.

Samson's Riddle

12 And [²said ³to them ¹Samson], I will propound indeed to you a riddle, and if by reporting you should report it to me in the seven days of the banquet, and you should find the solution, I will give to you thirty pieces of fine linen, and thirty robes of clothes. 13 And if you should not be able to report the solution to me, then you shall give to me yourselves thirty pieces of fine linen, and thirty robes of clothes. And they said to him, Propound your riddle, and we shall hear it! 14 And he said to them, From the one eating came forth food, and from the strong came forth sweetness. And they were not able to explain the riddle for three days. 15 And it came to pass in the [²day ¹seventh], and they spoke to the wife of Samson, saying, Deceive indeed your husband! and let him explain to you the riddle, lest at any time we should burn you and the house of your father by fire; or [³to make us poor ¹did you call ²us]? 16 And [⁴wept ¹the ²wife ³of Samson] to him, and said to him, You detest me, and do not love me, because the riddle which you propounded to the sons of my people, you did not explain even it to me. And [²said ³to her ¹Samson], Behold, to my father and to my mother I did not report it, and should I report to you? 17 And she wept upon him for the seven days in which [³was ⁴to them ¹the ²banquet]. And it came to pass on the [²day ¹seventh] he explained to her, for she troubled him. And she reported to the sons of her people. 18 And [⁵said ⁶to him ¹the ²men ³of the ⁴city] on the [²day ¹seventh] before [³going down ¹the ²sun], What is sweeter than honey, and what is stronger than a lion? And [²said ³to them ¹Samson], Unless you plowed by my heifer, you would not have found my riddle. 19 And [³straightened ⁴upon ⁵him ¹spirit ²of the lord], and he went down unto Ashkelon, and smote from there thirty men, and took their robes, and gave them to the ones explaining the riddle. And [²was enraged ³in anger ¹Samson], and he ascended into the house of his father. 20 And [⁴lived with ¹the ²wife ³of Samson] his groomsman who was his companion.