Here is an extract from the story of Samson, taken from the Bible. The text is from the Contemporary English Version of the Bible (pictured left). To order your copy of this fresh, new version, click here for Amazon UK or US. |
Samson's riddle
Samson told the thirty young men, "This party will last for seven days. Let's make a bet: I'll tell you a riddle, and if you can tell me the right answer before the party is over, I'll give each one of you a shirt and a full change of clothing. But if you can't tell me the answer, then each of you will have to give me a shirt and a full change of clothing."
"It's a bet!" the Philistines said. " Tell us the riddle."
Samson said:
Once so strong and mighty –
now so sweet and tasty!
Three days went by, and the Philistine young men had not come up with the right answer. Finally, on the seventh day of the party they went to Samson's bride and said, "You had better trick your husband into telling you the answer to his riddle. Have you invited us here just to rob us? If you don't find out the answer, we will burn you and your family to death."
Samson's bride went to him and started crying in his arms. ... For the entire seven days of the party, she had been whining and trying to get the answer from him. But that seventh day she put so much pressure on Samson that he finally gave in and told her the answer. She went straight to the young men and told them.
Before sunset that day, the men of the town went to Samson with this answer:
A lion is the strongest –
honey is the sweetest!
Samson replied,
This answer you have given me
doubtless came from my bride-to-be.
Then the Lord's Spirit took control of Samson. He went to Ashkelon, where he killed thirty men and took their clothing. Samson then gave it to the thirty young men at Timnah and stormed back home to his own family. The father of the bride had Samson's wife marry one of the thirty young men that had been at Samson's party.
The Book of Judges
Next episode
|
