Judges 14:16-20

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?

Samson’s wife then no doubt puts on the crocodile tears and proclaims to him that he hates her and really does not love her.  She tells him that he put out this riddle to the children of her people and even though he has not yet given them the answer, she was expecting that he would give her the answer.  Samson knew that if he gave her the answer that she would immediately go and tell the Philistines so Samson would have to give them the thirty sheets and change of garments.  Samson tells her that he has not even given the answer to his own parents and should he tell her?  Even the parents might tend to give the answer to the in-laws which would be an instant conduit to the others.

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.

Here is a really happy wedding feast where the bride cries for seven days and all over the solution of a riddle.  Finally on the seventh day, she convinces Samson to tell her the riddle because of her many tears and pleas.  As soon as she was told the riddle, she went out and told her people which is what Samson knew would happen and it did.  She may have promised him that she would not tell the answer to the riddle but we can see how long that lasted if that is what she promised Samson.

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.

So on the last day of their wedding feast, the Philistine men came to him and told him the solution of the riddle.  They knew it instantly after Samson told his wife.  Then Samson tells them that it was because they plowed with his heifer.  In other words, as an ox is tied to a plow to turn over the soil for planting, the Philistines did the same thing to Samson’s wife.  They were at her every moment to try and get her to uncover the answer to the riddle and finally she broke down and manipulated Samson into giving the answer which may have been part of his plan at this time.

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.

Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon him as he now goes down to Ashkelon from Timnath for the purpose getting the change of garments.  Ashkelon was on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and was 43 miles (69 km) southwest of Timnath.  Ashkelon was one of the five principle cities of the Philistines.  To get the garments, he slew thirty men and took their clothes and then brought them to the thirty men he promised them too.  After he had done this he was filled with anger and instead of going to his home with his wife, he went to his father’s home in Eshtaol which was about to start another chapter in the deliverance of Israel.

Judges 14:20

But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.