Explanation: Judges 14 contains the narrative of Samson and his wife. Samson fell in love with a Philistine woman from the city of Timnath. Against his Parent's objections, he insisted that they arrange a marriage for him with the woman (1-3).
     But this thing was from the LORD because he sought an occasion against the Philistines who had dominion over Israel (4).
      On his way to Timnath to visit the woman he loved, Samson was attacked by a young lion. But the Spirit of the LORD came upon him and he tore it apart. He did not tell his father and mother about the incident; and he spent time with his bride to be (5-7).
     Later, he went again to Timnath to take his wife; and he found that a swarm of bees had made honey in the carcass of the lion. So he took some of the honey and gave it to his father and mother. But he did not tell them were the honey came from (8-9).
     In Timnath, Samson made a seven day wedding feast. Thirty companions (friends of the bride) also came. So Samson proposed to give them thirty sheets and thirty changes of garments if they could solve a riddle; if not, they were to give him thirty sheets and thirty changes of garments. They agreed. The riddle was this: "Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness." For the first three days of the feast, the Philistines could not expound the riddle (10-14).
     On the seventh day of the feast, they threatened Samson's wife and her father's house with death if she did not entice him to reveal the riddle. She did so and the men told Samson that the strong was a lion and the sweetness was honey. Samson realized that his wife had told them the truth. And the Spirit of the LORD came upon Samson; and he went to Ashkelon and killed thirty men, took their spoil, and gave changes of garments to the friends of the bride. So he returned to his fathers house. But Samson's wife was given to his best man (15-20).
     [ Sermons: William Still. Various. ]
     [ Illustration: Today's painting illustrates Samson killing the lion, which is the pivotal incident in today's chapter. The narrative leads up to it and flows from it. ]

     ¹⁵ 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? ¹⁶ 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? ¹⁷ 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. ¹⁸ 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. ¹⁹ 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. ²⁰ But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.

---

Home | DAWN Archive

Tomorrow's Picture: TBA

     ADDITIONAL AD LIB MATERIAL: Prose, Poetry, Writers, Visual Artists, Music, DAWN, and ILLUMINATION. ILLUMINATION features a compact, Illuminated Bible. DAWN, the page you are presently visiting, features a new image and explanation daily.

Please Email Comments and Questions To

AD LIB ARTS EMAIL
copyright 2017, Scott Souza