rd

Judges 14

2 Samsón desireth to have a wife of the Philistims. 6 He killeth a lyon. 12 He propoundeth a riddle. 19 He kylleth thirtie. 20 His wife forsaketh him and taketh another.
1.Now Samsón went downe to Timnáth, and sawe a woman in Timnáth of the daughters of the Philistíms,
2.And he came up and tolde his father and his mother, and said, I have sene a woman in Timnáth of the daughters of the Philistíms: now therefore ^give me her to wife.
3.Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there anever a wife among the daughters of thy brethren, and among all my people, that thou must go to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistíms? And Samsón said unto his father, Give me her, for she pleaseth me wel.
4.But his father and his mother knewe not that it came of the Lord, that he shulde seke an occasion against the bPhilistíms: for at that time the Philistíms reigned over Israél.
5.¶ Then went Samsón and his father and his mother downe to Timnáth, and came to the vineyardes at Timnáth: and beholde, a yong lyon roared upon him.
6.And the Spirit of the Lord ccame upon him, and he tare him, as one shulde have rent a kid, and had nothing in his hand, nether tolde he his father nor his mother what he had done.
7.And he went downe, and talked with the woman which was beautiful in the eyes of Samsón.
8.¶ And within a fewe dayes, when he returned ^to receive her, he went aside to se the carkeis of the lyon: and beholde, there was a swarme of bees, and hony in the body of the lyon.
9.And he toke thereof in his hands, and went eating, and came to his father and to his mother, and gave unto them, and they did eat: but he tolde not them, that he had taken the hony out of the bodie of the lyon.
10.So his father went downe unto the woman, and Samsón made there a dfeast: for so used the yong men to do.
11.And when ethey sawe him, they broght thirtie companions to be with him.
12.Then Samsón said unto them, I wil now put forthe a ridle unto you: and if you can declare it me within seven dayes of the feast, and finde it out, I wil give you thirtie shetes, and thirtie fchange of garments.
13.But if you cannot declare it me, then shal ye give me thirtie shetes and thirtie change of garments. And they answered him, Put forthe thy ridle, that we may heare it.
14.And he said unto them, Out of the eater came meat, and out of the strong came swetenes: and they colde not in thre dayes expounde the ridle.
15.And when the seventh day was gcome, they said unto Samsóns wife, Entise thyne housband, that he may declare us the ridle, lest we burne thee and thy fathers house with fire. Have ye called us, ^to possesse us? is it not so?
16.And Samsóns wife wept before him, and said, Surely thou hatest me and lovest me not: for thou hast put forthe a ridle unto the hchildren of my people, and hast not tolde it me. And he said unto her, Beholde, I have not toldest my father, nor my mother, and shal I tel it thee?
17.Then Samsóns wife wept before him iseven dayes, while their feast lasted: and when the seventh day came, he tolde her, because she was importunate upon him: so she tolde the ridle to the children of her people.
18.And the men of the citie said unto him the seventh day before the sonne went downe, What is sweter, then honie? and what is The foxes. Judges 1 stronger then a lyon? Then said he unto them, kIf ye had not plowed with my heiffer, ye had not founde out my ridle.
19.And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he went downe lto Ashkelón, and slewe thirtie men of them and spoiled them, and gave change of garments unto them, which expounded the ridle: & his wrath was kindled, & he went up to his fathers house.
20.Then Samsóns wife was given to his companion, whome he had used as his friend.

Notes

2-^.
Ebr., take he for me to wife.
3-a.
Though his parents did justly reprove him, yet it appears that this was the secret work of the Lord, verse 4.
4-b.
To fight against them for the deliverance of Israel.
6-c.
Whereby he had strength and boldness.
8-^.
Or, to take her to his wife.
10-d.
Meaning, when he was married.
11-e.
That is, her parents or friends.
12-f.
To wear at feasts or solemn days.
15-^.
Or, to impoverish us.
15-g.
Or, drew near: for it was the fourth day.
16-h.
Unto them which are of my nation.
17-i.
Or, to the seventh day, beginning at the fourth. 3
18-k.
If you had not used the help of my wife.
19-l.
Which was one of the five chief cities of the Philistims.