Study Desk

Then Samson said to them, "Let me now ^(C1)propose a riddle for you; if you actually tell me ^(F1)the answer within the seven days of the feast, and solve it, then I will give you thirty linen wraps and thirty ^(C2)outfits of clothes.

"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."

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.

Then it came about on the ^(F1)fourth day that they said to Samson's wife, "^(C1)Entice your husband, so that he will tell us the riddle, ^(C2)or we will burn you and your father's house with fire. Have you invited us to impoverish us? Is this not so?"

So Samson's wife wept in front of him and said, "^(C1)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?"

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.

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."

Then ^(C1)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.