JUDGES LESSON 16


     We will begin this lesson in Judges 14:1 "And Samson went down to
Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the
Philistines."

     Even though this was in the tribal territory of Dan, we know this
is in the hands of the Philistines at this time. We remember, from the
previous lesson that the children of Israel had been delivered into
the hands of the Philistines by the LORD. In Judges chapter 13 verse
5, we read that the angel said that Samson would deliver Israel out of
the hands of the Philistines. This Philistine woman would not be a
choice a Hebrew would make.

     Judges 14:2 "And 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."

     It was the custom of the Hebrew families, that the father of the
groom to be and the father of the bride to be would make the
transaction for marriage. The father of the groom would pay the dowry
to the father of the bride.

     Judges 14:3 "Then 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."

     The father and the mother did not approve of her, because she was
not a Hebrew. They wanted their son to marry someone within the 12
tribes of Israel. They did certainly not want him to marry the
daughter of their oppressors, the Philistines. The Hebrews were all
circumcised. They believed anyone not circumcised did not belong to
God. They did not want their son to marry this woman.  They were not
opposed to him marrying, just the marriage of someone who was a
Philistine. We do not quite understand this, but this too was part of
God's plan.

     Judges 14:4 "But 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 Nazarite vow had placed Samson in the hands of the LORD.
Everything that happened to him was part of God's plan, to destroy the
Philistines. Even Samson was, probably, not aware that God had placed
this desire in his heart for this Philistine for God's purposes.

     Judges 14:5  "Then 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."

     It seemed that Samson, and his parents lived in the hills.
Timnath was in a valley. It was well known for its grape vineyards.
This lion was between the age of a cub and an adult. It lunges at
Samson.

     Judges 14:6 "And 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."

     The spirit of the LORD filled Samson and strengthened him so
greatly, that he killed this lion with his bare hands. He did not tell
anyone. They, probably, would not have believed anyway. This was to
show Samson, himself, how strong he was with the power of God in him.

     Judges 14:7 "And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she
pleased Samson well."

     This is just a time of getting acquainted. It seemed, as Samson
talked to her, he liked her even more.

     Judges 14:8  "And 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."

     This is speaking of another time, after the dowry has been paid,
and the transaction finished between the fathers. This is speaking of
the lion he had killed with his bare hands on a previous visit to the
vineyard. He turned aside at the same vineyard, and the carcase of the
lion was there. A swarm of bees had set up in this carcase, and they
had even made honey there.

     Judges 14:9 "And 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."

     The parents would not have eaten this honey, had they known it
came from a carcase of a lion. He and his parents ate this honey.

     Judges 14:10  "So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson
made there a feast; for so used the young men to do."

     This going down of Samson's father to the woman is some sort of
preparation for the groom. Perhaps, it was to tell her of his coming.
"Samson making a feast" was the wedding feast. This was a custom of
the days.

     Judges 14:11 "And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they
brought thirty companions to be with him."

     This is saying that, the father, and mother, and 30 companions
went out to meet Samson to be part of the wedding party.

     Judges 14:12  "And 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:"

     "Riddle", in this verse, means hard questions, or dark questions.
The sheets, spoken of here, are linen garments worn next to the skin.
They might even be called shirts. Samson had to be a wealthy man to
offer such a valuable prize.

     Judges 14:13 "But 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."

     Samson feels safe, that they will not be able to give him the
solution to the riddle. It is interesting that there were 30 guests
and the challenge was for 30 change of garments. Perhaps, it was one
for each person there. They have agreed, and want to hear the riddle.

     Judges 14:14 "And 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."

     This would be a difficult thing, because no one but Samson knew
that he had killed the lion. Surely no one, but Samson, knew of the
honey in the carcase of the lion. They could not figure this out.

     Judges 14:15 "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]?"

     Now, it appears, that the people he told the riddle to are
Philistines. They have threatened to burn her and her father's house,
if she does not find out what the riddle means. They are blaming her
for inviting them to the wedding feast. These feasts lasted 7 days.
They tried at first to figure out what it was, and when they could
not, they threatened the bride, to cause her to find out for them.

     Judges 14:16 "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?"

     This is a very good question. He, probably, knows that the
Philistines are trying to find out the riddle through her.

     Judges 14:17 "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."

     We can quickly see that he can put no trust in her. The minute he
tells her the riddle. she tells the Philistines. It was on the seventh
day in plenty of time for them to win the challenge.

     Judges 14:18 "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."

     They answer Samson, just in time to win the challenge. Their
answer is in a form they believe Samson would not recognize, but he
quickly lets them know that he knows who told them. The statement
"plowed with my heifer" lets them know that Samson is aware his wife
told them.

     Judges 14:19  "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."

     This may seem cruel, but we must remember that the LORD sent him
to deliver the Israelites out of the hands of the Philistines. Notice,
the Spirit of the LORD came upon him. This gave him supernatural
strength to kill these 30 Philistines. He took the spoil from the
thirty he killed, and gave it to those who had answered the riddle.
His anger was against the Philistines, and against his wife, for the
treachery his wife had done to please them.

     Judges 14:20 "But Samson's wife was [given] to his companion,
whom he had used as his friend."

     Her parents, probably, thought that Samson would no longer want
her as a wife, and gave her to Samson's best man at the wedding. It
seemed that, Samson's friend, also, had been a Philistine. It could
even have been the one she told the riddle to.






















                         Judges 16 Questions


1.  The woman that Samson saw in Timnath was a __________.
2.  This was the tribal territory of _____.
3.  The Israelites, at this time, were in the hands of the __________.
4.  Samson was supposed to deliver the children of Israel from the
    ____________.
5.  What did Samson tell his father and mother?
6.  What reaction did they have to his choice of women?
7.  Who payed the dowry to the girl's father?
8.  What did his parents call the Philistines in verse 3?
9.  His father and mother knew not that it was of the ________.
10. The __________ _____ had placed Samson in the hands of the LORD.
11. Where did Samson go when he ran into the lion?
12. What made Samson strong enough to kill the lion?
13. How did Samson kill the lion?
14. Who did Samson tell about the lion?
15. Quote Judges chapter 14 verse 7.
16. When he came back into the vineyard, there was what in the carcase
    of the lion?
17. Who ate honey with him out of the carcase of the lion?
18. Who made the feast?
19. How many companions did his parents bring to the wedding feast?
20. What did Samson offer them, if they could figure out the riddle?
21. What did they give Samson, if they could not figure the riddle
    out?
22. What was the riddle?
23. What did the men get Samson's wife to ask him?
24. What did they threaten her with?
25. How long did she weep before him, before he told her the riddle?
26. The minute he tells her the riddle, she _______ ________.
27. How did Samson let them know, he knew she told them?
28. How many men did he kill in Askelon?
29. Where did he get the garments to pay for his challenge?
30. Who was Samson's wife given to.