1And Samson went down to Timnath , and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines . 2And 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 . 3Then 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 . 4But 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 .
The Lion and the Riddle
5Then 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. 6And 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 . 7And he went down , and talked with the woman ; and she pleased Samson well . 8And 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 . 9And 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 . 10So his father went down unto the woman : and Samson made there a feast ; for so used the young men to do . 11And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him. 12And 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 : 13But 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. 14And 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 .
The Wedding Feast and Betrayal
15And 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 ? 16And 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? 17And 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 . 18And 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 . 19And 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 . 20But Samson’s wife was given to his companion , whom he had used as his friend .