Judges 14:11-20

When the Philistines saw him, they arranged for thirty Philistine men to accompany him as groomsmen. Samson challenged them with a riddle, “Hey, I have a riddle for you. If you can solve my riddle within the seven days of our feast, then I will give each of you a linen garment and a set of fine clothing. But if you cannot solve it, then you must give me thirty linen garments and thirty sets of fine clothing.” “Ask away,” they said to him. “Let’s hear your riddle.” He said to them: “From the eater came something to eat, From the strong came something sweet.” After three days, they were still stumped and could not figure it out. On the fourth day, they said to Samson’s bride, “Have you invited us here to bankrupt us? Do whatever it takes to persuade your husband to tell you the answer to his riddle, or we will burn down your father’s house with you and your family inside!” So Samson’s bride went to him and turned on the tears and sobbed, “Honey, you don’t really love me! You hate me! You’ve challenged my countrymen with a riddle, but you haven’t told me its meaning!” “Listen,” he said to her. “I haven’t even told my parents. So why should I tell you?” She continued to cry on his shoulder for the remaining days of their feast, and on the seventh day, because she had so persistently nagged him, he finally gave in and divulged the secret. Then she went and explained the riddle to her countrymen. On the seventh day before the sun had set, the townsmen answered him: “What could be sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?” And Samson angrily replied, “If you hadn’t used my cow for your plow you wouldn’t know my riddle now!” Then suddenly, the Spirit of YAHWEH rushed upon Samson, infusing him with power! He went down to Ashkelon and killed thirty of their men. He stripped them of their linen tunics and their robes and gave them in payment to those who had explained the riddle. Then, in a blazing fury, he returned to his father’s house. Meanwhile, unknown to Samson, his bride married his best man.