Because the reader is able to solve samsons riddle while the philistines are not, the reader, for example, does not condemn samson for killing 1,000 of these ignorant folks with a jawbone 15. They were getting angry and frustrated because the wedding feast would soon be over. After we see the lesson that is samson, then this riddle, like christs parables, will no longer hide its meaning from our eyes, and it will no longer be a riddle. Holy bible, new living translation 1996, 2004, 2007, 2015 by tyndale house foundation. Samsons riddle 12 then samson said to them, let me now propound a riddle to you. Used by permission of tyndale house publishers, inc. In the days of the judges of israel, samson the twelfth judge being a very strong man, killed a young lion with his bare hands. Judges 14 new living translation nlt samsons riddle. The men pressured samsons wife to find out the answer. Many days later, passing by the carcass of that lion, he noticed that a swarm 1 of bees had made their habitation in the carcass and that there was honey within the remains of the lion. Who did the men threaten in order to get the answer to the riddle. And samsons wife wept before him, and said, thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not. In this lesson, we will consider the reasons why the story of samson deserves close examination and his place in the context of the book of judges.
When the people saw him, they chose thirty men to be his companions. The book of lamentations, the poetic dirge on the fall of jerusalem, the. Samson took honey from the lions carcasein violation of the nazarite vow to avoid dead bodies. The philistines threatened the life of his wife and her family if she did not reveal the answer to the riddle. Samsons riddle related to honey in the lions carcass. This event of the death of the lion and subsequent inhabitation by bees became the basis for a riddle he later told. Sampsons riddle judges 14 west point family worship center.
The holy spirit powerfully took control of him, he went down to ashkelon, killed 30 men, took their belongings and gave their clothing to the men who answered the riddle. Judges 14 nlt samsons riddle one day when samson bible. We cannot understand this riddle until we understand what is the lesson in this story of samson, which is the longest story in all of the book of judges. The book of judges illustrates the fundamental problem of the human heart. Samsons riddle of the bees and honey is, was and will be. So he said to them, out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet.
This betrayal was the occasion to come against the philistines that gd sought from the very beginning judges 14. What is sweeter than honey and stronger than a lion in. Samsons wife begged for him to tell her the answer and she then told the guests. He was a judge for 20 years and a nazirite, set apart to god from birth judges. Judges 14, holman christian standard bible hcsb the. In the days of the judges of israel, samson the twelfth judge being a very strong man. Judges 1416 nlt samsons riddle one day when samson. If they couldnt answer the riddle within 7 days they would give samson those items. Bees built a honeycomb in a lion samson had killed judges 14. I will now put forth a riddleriddles are a favorite oriental amusement at festive entertainments of this nature, and rewards are offered to those who give the solution. Unable to solve the riddle, the thirty men threatened samsons philistine bride for the answer, which came in the form of a riddle as well.
Now samson sunlight went down descended to gaza mightystrength and saw a harlot symbolically a people unfaithful to elohim yhvh. If you solve my riddle during these seven days of the celebration, i will give you thirty fine linen robes and thirty. After the deliverance effected by jephte, the israelites again fell into their evil ways and were delivered over to. The story of samson is recorded in the book of judges. Samson s riddle is interwoven with the narrative about samson and the woman from timnah. The spirit of god came upon him many times, giving. Samson ate and had his fill of the honey, and took and gave some to. Isnt there even one woman in our tribe or among all. What is sweeter than honey and stronger than a lion in samsons. They told her to find out the answer to the riddle. The english poet john milton called samson a mirror of our fickle state. The material for samsons puzzling riddle involved a the jordan river and the town of gaza. The narrative of the life of samson and his exploits is contained in chapters xiiixvi of the book of judges. If you are the only one who can possibly know the answer, is it fair.
Independent, fundamental, kjv bible only, soulwinning baptist preaching. Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet. Three days passed, and none of the young men could solve the riddle. In this fourweek study of judges, we will read the downward spiral of israel as they struggle to embrace their. Samsons riddle judges 14 new christian bible study. Cundall and leon morris, judges and ruth, tyndale old testament commentaries downers grove. Book of judges bible study samson the nazirite and the. Samsons riddle came from one of his personal experiences.
Samsons riddle is a riddle that appears in the biblical narrative about samson, which he wagered to thirty philistine guests. He was a man of great physical strength yet displayed great moral weakness. And there samson held a feast, as was customary for young men. Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. The answer to samsons riddle bible scriptures located in judges 14. Judges 14, new living translation nlt the bible app. This narrative appears in chapters 1415 in the book of judges, and is part of the samson cycle spanning chapters 16. She told the men and they were able to answer the riddle. And the spirit of the lord came mightily upon him, and he rent him. An angel visits manoah and his wife 123 birth of samson 24, 25 14. Samsons riddle one day when samson was in timnah, one of the philistine women.
Samson the nazirite, and the lure of the philistines by i gordon. Judges 14 commentary commentary critical and explanatory. The period of the judges lasted for approximately 350 years, from 25162871 1245890 bce. What do the philistines promise to do to samsons wife if they dont get the answer to the riddle. International standard version let me tell you a riddle, samson told them. The story of samson and delilah in the bible as told in. Book of judges bible study outline judges chapter 14. The men at the wedding feast were able to solve samsons riddle quickly.
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