“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.”
This verse is part of the narrative about Samson, an Israelite judge chosen by God to deliver the Israelites from the oppression of the Philistines. In this particular account, Samson had proposed a riddle to the Philistine wedding guests, and they were given seven days to solve it. However, they were unable to find the answer within the given time frame. Let’s examine the verse in more detail:
Context:The book of Judges describes a period in Israel’s history when they were governed by a succession of judges, who were raised up by God to deliver the people from their enemies. Samson was one of the judges during this time, known for his great strength and his victories over the Philistines.
The riddle:In Judges 14:12-13, Samson proposed a riddle to the Philistine guests at his wedding feast. The riddle was: “Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness.” He offered them thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing if they could solve the riddle within seven days.
Symbolism of the riddle:The riddle itself contains symbolism that refers to an incident that had occurred earlier in Samson’s life. The phrase “out of the eater came forth meat” refers to Samson’s encounter with a young lion on his way to Timnah (Judges 14:5-6). Samson tore the lion apart with his bare hands, and later, when he returned to the carcass, he found that bees had formed a honeycomb within it. Thus, the honey from the lion’s carcass provided him with food.
The meaning behind the riddle:The riddle serves as a metaphor for a divine act that God performed in Samson’s life. The lion, a strong and fierce creature, represents a challenge or an adversary. The honey that came out of it represents the sweetness or blessing that God brought forth from that difficult situation. This incident is a testament to God’s power and ability to turn adversity into something beneficial.
Inability to solve the riddle:The Philistine guests were unable to solve the riddle within the given time frame of seven days. They recognised that it had a deeper meaning, but they lacked the insight or knowledge to interpret it correctly. This failure foreshadows the conflict and tension between Samson and the Philistines that would follow, ultimately leading to his triumph over them.
