The Skeptics Annotated Bible (242 page)

(14.4b)
“But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines.”

(14.5-6) Samson was on his way to visit his new Philistine girlfriend when “the Spirit of the Lord came mightily” upon him, and he ripped up a young lion.

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.

(14.5)
“Behold, a young lion roared against him.”

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.

(14.6)
“And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid.”

(14.7-9) When he arrived at his Philistine girlfriend’s place, “she pleased Samson well.” Then he returned home. On his way he saw the lion carcass, which was covered with bees and filled with honey (a meaningless miracle—or just rotting flesh and maggots?) and Samson ate some of it. He liked it so much that he took a few handfuls home to feed to his parents. (He didn’t tell them where it came from.)

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

(14.7)
“She pleased Samson well.”

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.

(14.8)
“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.”

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.

(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.”

(14.10-14) The Bible doesn’t actually say so, but I guess Samson married he Philistine woman that pleased him well. Then he had a week-long party with thirty of his new-found Philistine friends.

At the party, Samson told a riddle. Whoever can figure it out before the week of partying is over will get 30 sheets and 30 garments. But whoever can’t will have to give Samuel 30 sheets and 30 garments. Here’s the riddle: “Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness.”

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

(14.10)
“Samson made there a feast.”

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

(14.11)
“They brought thirty companions to be with him.”

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
:

(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 … I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments.”

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.

(14.13)
“But if ye cannot declare it me, then shall ye give me thirty sheets and thirty change of garments.”

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.

(14.14)
“And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness.”

(14.15-17) Samson’s party buddies took the riddle seriously. They tell Samson’s new Philistine wife to tell them the answer to the riddle or they’ll burn her house down. After crying in front of Samson for seven days, she finally got the answer from Samson, and she told the guys at the party.

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?

(14.15)
“Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father’s house with fire.”

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?

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
.