“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.”
Context: The book of Judges describes a period of time in Israel’s history when they were ruled by judges who delivered them from oppression and led them in times of peace. Judges 14 records the account of Samson, one of the judges of Israel. Samson was known for his exceptional physical strength, but he also had a weakness for women. In this particular verse, Samson’s first encounter with his Philistine wife takes place.
The Feast and the Riddle: Samson attended a seven-day wedding feast organised by the Philistines, a people group with whom the Israelites often had conflicts. During this feast, Samson presented a riddle to the Philistine guests. The riddle challenged them to solve it within the duration of the feast, and Samson offered a reward of thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes to those who could unravel the riddle (Judges 14:12-13).
The Woman’s Manipulation: Samson’s wife was a Philistine, and she was approached by her people to find out the answer to the riddle and inform them. The woman used her influence over Samson to coax him into revealing the answer. She wept and pleaded with him for seven days, which eventually wore him down, leading him to disclose the secret (Judges 14:16-17).
Samson’s Weakness: Samson’s decision to reveal the riddle to his wife showcased his weakness for women. He had previously been warned by his parents not to marry outside of their own people, but he disregarded their counsel (Judges 14:3). Samson’s infatuation with foreign women, particularly those from the Philistines, ultimately led to his downfall.
