Judges 14:6-16

6 inruit autem spiritus Domini in Samson et dilaceravit leonem quasi hedum in frusta concerperet nihil omnino habens in manu et hoc patri et matri noluit indicare

7 descenditque et locutus est mulieri quae placuerat oculis eius

8 et post aliquot dies revertens ut acciperet eam declinavit ut videret cadaver leonis et ecce examen apium in ore leonis erat ac favus mellis

9 quem cum sumpsisset in manibus comedebat in via veniensque ad patrem suum et matrem dedit eis partem qui et ipsi comederunt nec tamen eis voluit indicare quod mel de corpore leonis adsumpserat

10 descendit itaque pater eius ad mulierem et fecit filio suo Samson convivium sic enim iuvenes facere consuerant

11 cum igitur cives loci vidissent eum dederunt ei sodales triginta qui essent cum eo

12 quibus locutus est Samson proponam vobis problema quod si solveritis mihi intra septem dies convivii dabo vobis triginta sindones et totidem tunicas

13 sin autem non potueritis solvere vos dabitis mihi triginta sindones et eiusdem numeri tunicas qui responderunt ei propone problema ut audiamus

14 dixitque eis de comedente exivit cibus et de forte est egressa dulcedo nec potuerunt per tres dies propositionem solvere

15 cumque adesset dies septimus dixerunt ad uxorem Samson blandire viro tuo et suade ei ut indicet tibi quid significet problema quod si facere nolueris incendimus et te et domum patris tui an idcirco nos vocastis ad nuptias ut spoliaretis

16 quae fundebat apud Samson lacrimas et querebatur dicens odisti me et non diligis idcirco problema quod proposuisti filiis populi mei non vis mihi exponere at ille respondit patri meo et matri nolui dicere et tibi indicare potero

Judges 14:6-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES 14

This chapter treats of Samson's courtship, and marriage of a Philistine woman, Jud 14:1-5 of his meeting with a young lion as he went courting, and of his slaying it, and afterwards finding honey in it, Jud 14:6-9, of a riddle which be framed out of this incident, and put to his companions at his marriage to solve, giving them seven days to do it in, with a promise of a reward, Jud 14:10-14 and of their solving it by means of his wife, who got the secret from him, Jud 14:15-18, which led him to slay thirty Philistines, to make good his promise of thirty sheets and changes of raiment, and to leave his newly married wife, who was given to his companion, Jud 14:19,20.