And Samson went down
to Timnath
, and saw
a woman
in Timnath
of the daughters
of the Philistines
.
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
.
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
.
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
.
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.
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
.
And he went down, and talked
with the woman
; and she pleased
Samson
well
.
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
.
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
.
So his father went down
unto the woman
: and Samson
made
there a feast
; for so used the young men
to do
.
And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought
thirty
companions
to be with him.
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
:
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.
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
.
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 ?
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?
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
.
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
.
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
.
But Samson's wife
was given to his companion
, whom he had used as his friend
.