INTRODUCTION: Samson is generally considered to be a man of great strength, but this lesson magnifies his great weakness. This proves the point of Psalm 39:5Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.
See All... where it says, “verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity.” The strength of Samson proves to be his weakness. As indicated by Psalm 39:5Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.
See All..., this is true of “every man.”

1. SAMSON DEMANDS A WIFE FROM TIMNATH (Judges 14:1-4 [1] And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines. [2] And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife. [3] Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well. [4] But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.
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1. Samson Goes Down to Timnath (Judges 14:1And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.
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1. Timnath is down in direction (cp. Genesis 12:10And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.
   See All...; Isaiah 31:1Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!
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2. Timnath is a border town originally given to Judah (Joshua 15:10And the border compassed from Baalah westward unto mount Seir, and passed along unto the side of mount Jearim, which is Chesalon, on the north side, and went down to Bethshemesh, and passed on to Timnah:
   See All...). Application: Samson was certainly a man who liked to dwell on the border or edge of right and wrong.
3. Timnath is at this time a city of the Philistines.
4. NOTE: The Philistines were a people of the coastal region of southern Palestine. For a long time, they were the enemy of Israel that could not be entirely disposed of.  Samson only begins to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines (Judges 13:5For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.
   See All...). They were characterized by
1. Their pride (Zechariah 9:6And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
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2. Their vengeful heart (Ezekiel 25:15Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it for the old hatred;
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3. Their occultism (Isaiah 2:6Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers.
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2. Samson Chooses a Wife (Judges 14:2-3 [2] And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife. [3] Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.
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1. He chooses according to outward appearance (Judges 14:2And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.
   See All...); “I have seen.”
2. He chooses against wise counsel (Judges 14:3Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.
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3. He chooses according to personal lust and desire (Judges 14:3Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.
   See All...); “she pleaseth me well.”
3. God Prepares a Conflict (Judges 14:4But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.
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1. It is of the Lord (cp. Genesis 50:20But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
   See All...). Note: The Lord works in mysterious ways from time to time. Sometimes He does things with which we would not necessarily agree, but we have to come back to the truth of Genesis 18:25That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
   See All..., “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
2. The conflict will be between Samson and the Philistines.
2. SAMSON KILLS A LION IN HIS TRAVELS (Judges 14:5-9 [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. [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. [7] And he went down, and talked with the woman; and 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. [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.
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1. Samson Takes His Parents to Timnath (Judges 14:5-7 [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. [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. [7] And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.
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1. A young lion comes against him (Judges 14:5Then 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.
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1. In the vineyards of Timnath
2. Out of sight of his parents
2. He kills the young lion (Judges 14:6And 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.
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1. By the Spirit of the Lord
2. As he would have rent a kid
3. With his own hands
4. Without telling his parents
3. He talks with the woman (Judges 14:7And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.
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1. She pleases him well.
2. Unlike many situations in the Old Testament, neither family seems to be really involved in the relationship between Samson and this woman.
2. Samson Returns to Timnath (Judges 14:8-9 [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. [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.
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1. He finds honey in the carcass of the lion (Judges 14:8And 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.
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2. He eats the honey and gives to his parents (Judges 14:9And 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.
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3. SAMSON TELLS A RIDDLE AT THE WEDDING FEAST (Judges 14:10-14 [10] So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do. [11] And it came to pass, when they saw him, that 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: [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] 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.
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1. Samson Makes a Feast for the Wedding (Judges 14:10-11 [10] So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do. [11] And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.
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1. When his father came down to settle the marriage (Judges 14:10So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do.
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2. With thirty companions to be with him (Judges 14:11And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.
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2. Samson Tells a Riddle at the Feast (Judges 14:12-14 [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, and find it out, then 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] 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.
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1. The prize for answering the riddle (Judges 14:12And 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:
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2. The forfeit for not answering the riddle (Judges 14:13But 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.
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3. The content of the riddle (Judges 14:14And 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.
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1. Out of the eater came forth meat.
2. Out of the strong came forth sweetness.
4. NOTE: This is a good example of the danger of gambling. Samson thinks he has a sure bet and therefore risks thirty changes of clothing. When he loses, he kills thirty men and steals their garments. Although God has His purpose for letting this happen, nothing humanly good comes from it.
4. SAMSON’S WIFE DISCOVERS THE RIDDLE (Judges 14:15-18 [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? [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. [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.
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1. The Men Threaten Samson’s Wife (Judges 14:15And 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?
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1. Entice thy husband.
2. Declare unto us the riddle.
3. Or we will burn you and your father’s house.
4. “Have ye called us to take that we have?”
5. Evidently, they are not willing to lose the bet either and are willing to cheat to win. Gambling brings many other things with it. It does not stop with gambling.
2. Samson’s Wife Discovers the Riddle (Judges 14:16-17 [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.
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1. She uses her emotions to weaken Samson (Judges 14:16-17 [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.
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1. She accuses Samson of hating her (Judges 14:16And 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?
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2. She cries for seven days (Judges 14:17And 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.
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2. Samson gives in to her emotion (Judges 14:17And 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.
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1. He finally tells her on the seventh day.
2. Because she lay sore upon him
3. She tells the riddle to her people (Judges 14:17And 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.
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3. The Men Give the Answer to the Riddle (Judges 14:18And 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.
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1. The answer to the riddle
1. What is sweeter than honey?
2. What is stronger than a lion?
2. Samson’s response
1. If ye had not plowed with my heifer
2. Ye had not found out my riddle.
5. SAMSON KILLS THIRTY MEN FOR THEIR GARMENTS (Judges 14:19-20 [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. [20] But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.
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1. The Spirit of the Lord Comes on Samson (Judges 14:19And 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.
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1. He goes down to Ashkelon.
2. He slays thirty men of them and takes their spoil.
3. He gives change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle.
4. He goes up to his father’s house.
2. Samson’s Wife Is Given to Someone Else (Judges 14:20But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.
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1. She is given to Samson’s companion.
2. This companion is the one “whom he had used as his friend.” Compare this to the “friend of the bridegroom” (John 3:29He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
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CONCLUSION: The man, who slew a lion with his bare hands and will slay ten thousand with the jawbone of an ass, cowers at the sight of a woman’s tears. Samson is so convinced of his own greatness, he fails to consider that his own wife might be working against him for the sake of his enemies. We, too, must be careful not to put our confidence in the flesh.