141 Then Samson went down to Timnah and saw a woman in Timnah , one of the daughters of the Philistines . 2 So he came back and told his father and mother , "I saw a woman in Timnah , one of the daughters of the Philistines ; now therefore, get her for me as a wife ." 3 Then his father and his mother said to him, "Is there no woman among the daughters of your relatives , or among all our people , that you go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines ?" But Samson said to his father , "Get her for me, for she looks e good to me." 4 However, his father and mother did not know that it was of the Lord , for He was seeking an occasion against the Philistines . Now at that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel . 5 Then Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother , and came as far as the vineyards of Timnah ; and behold , a young lion came roaring toward him. 6 The Spirit of the Lord came upon him mightily , so that he tore him as one tears a young goat though he had nothing e in his hand ; but he did not tell his father or mother what he had done . 7 So he went down and talked to the woman ; and she looked e good to Samson . 8 When he returned later e to take her, he turned aside to look at the carcass of the lion ; and behold , a swarm of bees and honey were in the body of the lion . 9 So he scraped the honey into his hands and went on, eating as he went . When he came to his father and mother , he gave some to them and they ate it; but he did not tell them that he had scraped the honey out of the body of the lion .
10 Then his father went down to the woman ; and Samson made a feast there , for the young men customarily did this . 11 When they saw him, they brought thirty companions to be with him. 12 Then Samson said to them, "Let me now propound a riddle to you; if you will indeed tell it to me within the seven days of the feast , and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen wraps and thirty changes of clothes . 13 "But if you are unable e to tell me, then you shall give me thirty linen wraps and thirty changes of clothes ." And they said to him, "Propound your riddle , that we may hear it." 14 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 riddle in three days . 15 Then it came about on the fourth day that they said to Samson's wife , " Entice your husband , so that he will tell us the riddle , or we will burn you and your father's house with fire . Have you invited us to impoverish us? Is this not so?" 16 Samson's wife wept before him and said , " You only hate me, and you do not love me; you have propounded 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?" 17 However she wept before him 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 . 18 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 ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 14:1-18
Commentary on Judges 14:1-4
(Read Judges 14:1-4)
As far as Samson's marriage was a common case, it was weak and foolish of him to set his affections upon a daughter of the Philistines. Shall one, not only an Israelite, but a Nazarite, devoted to the Lord, covet to become one with a worshipper of Dagon? It does not appear that he had any reason to think her wise or virtuous, or any way likely to be a help meet for him; but he saw something in her agreeable to his fancy. He that, in the choice of a wife, is only guided by his eye, and governed by his fancy, must afterwards thank himself if he find a Philistine in his arms. Yet it was well done not to proceed till Samson had made his parents acquainted with the matter. Children ought not to marry, nor to move towards it, without the advice and consent of their parents. Samson's parents did well to dissuade him from yoking himself unequally with unbelievers. It seems that it pleased God to leave Samson to follow his own inclinations, intending to bring out good from his conduct; and his parents consented, because he was bent upon it. However, his example is not recorded for us to do likewise.
Commentary on Judges 14:5-9
(Read Judges 14:5-9)
By enabling him to kill a lion, God let Samson know what he could do in the strength of the Spirit of the Lord, that he might never be afraid to look the greatest difficulties in the face. He was alone in the vineyards, whither he had rambled. Young people consider not how they exposed themselves to the roaring lion that seeks to devour, when they wander from their prudent, pious parents. Nor do men consider what lions lurk in the vineyards, the vineyards of red wines. Our Lord Jesus having conquered Satan, that roaring lion, believers, like Samson, find honey in the carcass abundant strength and satisfaction, enough for themselves, and for all their friends.
Commentary on Judges 14:10-20
(Read Judges 14:10-20)
Samson's riddle literally meant no more than that he had got honey, for food and for pleasure, from the lion, which in its strength and fury was ready to devour him. But the victory of Christ over Satan, by means of his humiliation, agonies, and death, and the exaltation that followed to him, with the glory thence to the Father, and spiritual advantages to his people, seem directly alluded to. And even death, that devouring monster, being robbed of his sting, and stripped of his horror, forwards the soul to the realms of bliss. In these and other senses, out of the eater comes forth meat, and out of the strong, sweetness. Samson's companions obliged his wife to get the explanation from him. A worldly wife, or a worldly friend, is to a godly man as an enemy in the camp, who will watch every opportunity to betray him. No union can be comfortable or lasting, where secrets cannot be intrusted, without danger of being divulged. Satan, in his temptations, could not do us the mischief he does, if he did not plough with the heifer of our corrupt nature. His chief advantage against us arises from his correspondence with our deceitful hearts and inbred lusts. This proved an occasion of weaning Samson from his new relations. It were well for us, if the unkindness we meet with from the world, and our disappointments in it, obliged us by faith and prayer to return to our heavenly Father's house, and to rest there. See how little confidence is to be put in man. Whatever pretence of friendship may be made, a real Philistine will soon be weary of a true Israelite.