And shee wept before him the seuen dayes, while the feast lasted: and it came to passe on the seuenth day, that he tolde her, because shee lay sore vpon him: and she tolde the riddle to the children of her people. Judges 14:17 (KJV)
Context: The book of Judges describes a period in Israel’s history when the nation was ruled by judges who delivered them from oppression and led them in times of peace. Judges 14 records the account of Samson, one of those judges, who was known for his exceptional physical strength but also for his weakness for women. Samson’s first encounter with his Philistine wife occurred earlier, in Judges 14:1‑2, when he saw her in Timnath and decided to marry her, despite his parents’ warning not to marry outside his own people (Judges 14:3).
The Feast and the Riddle: Samson attended a seven‑day wedding feast organized by the Philistines, a people with whom the Israelites often conflicted. During the feast he presented a riddle to the Philistine guests, challenging them to solve it within the feast’s duration. He promised a reward of thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes to anyone who could unravel the riddle (Judges 14:12‑13).
The Woman’s Manipulation: Samson’s wife, a Philistine, was approached by her people to discover the answer and report it to them. She used her influence over Samson, weeping and pleading with him for seven days. Her persistent sorrow eventually wore him down, and on the seventh day he disclosed the secret because “she lay sore upon him” (Judges 14:16‑17).
Samson’s Weakness: By revealing the riddle to his wife, Samson displayed his vulnerability to women’s persuasion. His disregard for his parents’ counsel and his infatuation with foreign women, especially the Philistines, set the stage for his later downfall.
