History · Chapter 14 of 21

Judges 14

Samson demands a Philistine woman of Timnah as his wife, against his parents' wishes, though God is secretly working through it. On the way he kills a lion barehanded, and later finds honey in its carcass. At his wedding feast he sets a riddle for thirty Philistine companions. Threatened, his bride wheedles the answer from him and betrays it. Enraged, Samson kills thirty men of Ashkelon to pay the wager, and his wife is given to another.

What happens in Judges 14

Samson sees a Philistine woman in Timnah and insists his parents secure the marriage, ignoring their objection to a wife among the uncircumcised; the narrator notes God was seeking an occasion against the Philistines through it. On the way a lion attacks, and by the Spirit Samson tears it apart barehanded. Later he finds bees and honey in the carcass, sharing it with his parents without saying where it came from. At the seven-day wedding feast, thirty Philistine companions are assigned to him, and Samson wagers thirty garments on a riddle about the eater and sweetness.

Unable to solve it, they threaten to burn his bride's family, so she weeps until he tells her, then betrays the answer. On the last day they solve it, and Samson knows they plowed with his heifer. The Spirit comes on him; he kills thirty men in Ashkelon for their garments and goes home in anger, while his wife is given to another.

Judges 14 in context

Samson's story turns on his attraction to Philistine women and the violence that follows. This chapter shows both his God-given strength and his impulsive, appetite-driven character. The narrator's key comment is that God was working through Samson's flawed desires to confront the Philistines.

Riddles and wagers at week-long feasts were customary; touching a carcass, and taking honey from one, breaks Samson's Nazarite separation, hinting at the compromises that will undo him.

Main themes of Judges 14

Judges 14 (KJV)

1And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines. 2And 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. 3Then 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. 4But 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. 5Then 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. 6And 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. 7And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well. 8And 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. 9And 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. 10So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do. 11And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him. 12And 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: 13But 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. 14And 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. 15And 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? 16And 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? 17And 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. 18And 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. 19And 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. 20But Samson’s wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.

Verses to carry from Judges 14

“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 14:4

“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 14:6

“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 14:14

Reflection

Samson could overpower a lion but not his own cravings, and that gap eventually destroyed him. It is possible to be gifted, even used by God, while quietly surrendering your consecration in small, hidden ways.

What secret compromise have you decided does not matter? The line Samson crossed for honey was the first step toward Delilah's lap.

A prayer from Judges 14