Samson’s Marriage

1  וַיֵּ֥רֶד (And went down) שִׁמְשׁ֖וֹן (Samson) תִּמְנָ֑תָה (to Timnah) וַיַּ֥רְא (and saw) אִשָּׁ֛ה (a woman) בְּתִמְנָ֖תָה (in Timnah) מִבְּנ֥וֹת (of the daughters) פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃ (of the Philistines). 2  וַיַּ֗עַל (And he went up) וַיַּגֵּד֙ (and declared) לְאָבִ֣יו (to his father) וּלְאִמּ֔וֹ (and mother), וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (and said), אִשָּׁ֛ה (A woman) רָאִ֥יתִי (I have seen) בְתִמְנָ֖תָה (in Timnah) מִבְּנ֣וֹת (of the daughters) פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים (of the Philistines). וְעַתָּ֕ה (And now), קְחוּ־ (get) אוֹתָ֥הּ (her) לִּ֖י (for me) לְאִשָּֽׁה׃ (as a wife).

3  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) ל֜וֹ (to him) אָבִ֣יו (his father) וְאִמּ֗וֹ (and mother), הַאֵין֩ (Not) בִּבְנ֨וֹת (among the daughters) אַחֶ֤יךָ (of your brothers), וּבְכָל־ (or among all) עַמִּי֙ (my people) אִשָּׁ֔ה (is a woman), כִּֽי־ (that) אַתָּ֤ה (you) הוֹלֵךְ֙ (must go) לָקַ֣חַת (and get) אִשָּׁ֔ה (a wife) מִפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים (from Philistines) הָעֲרֵלִ֑ים (the uncircumcised)?

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) שִׁמְשׁ֤וֹן (Samson) אֶל־ (to) אָבִיו֙ (his father), אוֹתָ֣הּ (Her) קַֽח־ (Get) לִ֔י (for me), כִּֽי־ (for) הִ֖יא (she) יָשְׁרָ֥ה (is right) בְעֵינָֽי׃ (in my eyes). 4  וְאָבִ֨יו (And his father) וְאִמּ֜וֹ (and mother) לֹ֣א (not) יָדְע֗וּ (did know) כִּ֤י (that) מֵיְהוָה֙ (of YHWH) הִ֔יא (it was), כִּי־ (that) תֹאֲנָ֥ה (an occasion to move) הֽוּא־ (He) מְבַקֵּ֖שׁ (was seeking) מִפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים (against the Philistines). וּבָעֵ֣ת (And for the time) הַהִ֔יא (that) פְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים (the Philistines) מֹשְׁלִ֥ים (had dominion) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃פ (over Israel).

5  וַיֵּ֧רֶד (And went down) שִׁמְשׁ֛וֹן (Samson) וְאָבִ֥יו (and his father) וְאִמּ֖וֹ (and mother) תִּמְנָ֑תָה (to Timnah), וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ (and they came) עַד־ (to) כַּרְמֵ֣י (the vineyards) תִמְנָ֔תָה (of Timnah). וְהִנֵּה֙ (And behold), כְּפִ֣יר (a young lion) אֲרָי֔וֹת (of lions) שֹׁאֵ֖ג (came roaring) לִקְרָאתֽוֹ׃ (against him). 6  וַתִּצְלַ֨ח (And came mightily) עָלָ֜יו (upon him) ר֣וּחַ (the Spirit) יְהוָ֗ה (of YHWH), וַֽיְשַׁסְּעֵ֙הוּ֙ (and he tore it) כְּשַׁסַּ֣ע (as the tearing) הַגְּדִ֔י (of a young goat), וּמְא֖וּמָה (and anything) אֵ֣ין (not was) בְּיָד֑וֹ (in his hand). וְלֹ֤א (Not) הִגִּיד֙ (he did tell) לְאָבִ֣יו (his father) וּלְאִמּ֔וֹ (or his mother) אֵ֖ת (-) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (what) עָשָֽׂה׃ (he had done). 7  וַיֵּ֖רֶד (And he went down) וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר (and talked) לָאִשָּׁ֑ה (with the woman), וַתִּישַׁ֖ר (and she was right) בְּעֵינֵ֥י (in the eyes) שִׁמְשֽׁוֹן׃ (of Samson).

Samson’s Riddle

8  וַיָּ֤שָׁב (And he returned) מִיָּמִים֙ (after some time) לְקַחְתָּ֔הּ (to get her), וַיָּ֣סַר (and he turned aside) לִרְא֔וֹת (to see) אֵ֖ת (-) מַפֶּ֣לֶת (the carcass) הָאַרְיֵ֑ה (of the lion). וְהִנֵּ֨ה (And behold), עֲדַ֧ת (a swarm) דְּבוֹרִ֛ים (of bees was) בִּגְוִיַּ֥ת (in the carcass) הָאַרְיֵ֖ה (of the lion) וּדְבָֽשׁ׃ (and honey). 9  וַיִּרְדֵּ֣הוּ (And He took some of it) אֶל־ (in) כַּפָּ֗יו (his hands) וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ (and went on), הָלוֹךְ֙ (going) וְאָכֹ֔ל (and eating), וַיֵּ֙לֶךְ֙ (and he came) אֶל־ (to) אָבִ֣יו (his father) וְאֶל־ (and to) אִמּ֔וֹ (his mother), וַיִּתֵּ֥ן (and he gave some) לָהֶ֖ם (to them) וַיֹּאכֵ֑לוּ (and they ate), וְלֹֽא־ (not) הִגִּ֣יד (he did tell) לָהֶ֔ם (them) כִּ֛י (that) מִגְּוִיַּ֥ת (out of the carcass) הָאַרְיֵ֖ה (of the lion) רָדָ֥ה (he had taken) הַדְּבָֽשׁ׃ (the honey).

10  וַיֵּ֥רֶד (And went down) אָבִ֖יהוּ (his father) אֶל־ (to) הָאִשָּׁ֑ה (the woman), וַיַּ֨עַשׂ (and gave) שָׁ֤ם (there) שִׁמְשׁוֹן֙ (Samson) מִשְׁתֶּ֔ה (a feast); כִּ֛י (for) כֵּ֥ן (thus) יַעֲשׂ֖וּ (would do) הַבַּחוּרִֽים׃ (the young men). 11  וַיְהִ֖י (And it came to pass) כִּרְאוֹתָ֣ם (in their seeing) אוֹת֑וֹ (him), וַיִּקְחוּ֙ (that they took) שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים (thirty) מֵֽרֵעִ֔ים (companions), וַיִּהְי֖וּ (and they were) אִתּֽוֹ׃ (with him).

12  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) לָהֶם֙ (to them) שִׁמְשׁ֔וֹן (Samson) אָחֽוּדָה־ (Let me pose) נָּ֥א (please) לָכֶ֖ם (to you⁺) חִידָ֑ה (a riddle). אִם־ (If) הַגֵּ֣ד (declaring) תַּגִּידוּ֩ (you⁺ surely declare) אוֹתָ֨הּ (it) לִ֜י (to me) שִׁבְעַ֨ת (in the seven) יְמֵ֤י (days) הַמִּשְׁתֶּה֙ (of the feast), וּמְצָאתֶ֔ם (and have found it out), וְנָתַתִּ֤י (then I will give) לָכֶם֙ (to you⁺) שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים (thirty) סְדִינִ֔ים (linen garments) וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים (and thirty) חֲלִפֹ֥ת (changes) בְּגָדִֽים׃ (of clothing). 13  וְאִם־ (But if) לֹ֣א (not) תוּכְלוּ֮ (you⁺ are able) לְהַגִּ֣יד (to explain it) לִי֒ (to me), וּנְתַתֶּ֨ם (and shall give) אַתֶּ֥ם (you⁺) לִי֙ (to me) שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים (thirty) סְדִינִ֔ים (linen garments) וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים (and thirty) חֲלִיפ֣וֹת (changes) בְּגָדִ֑ים (of clothing).

וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ (And they said) ל֔וֹ (to him), ח֥וּדָה (Pose) חִידָתְךָ֖ (your riddle), וְנִשְׁמָעֶֽנָּה׃ (that we may hear it).

14  וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And he said) לָהֶ֗ם (to them)

מֵהָֽאֹכֵל֙ (Out of the eater) יָצָ֣א (came) מַאֲכָ֔ל (something to eat),

וּמֵעַ֖ז (and out of the strong) יָצָ֣א (came) מָת֑וֹק (something sweet).

וְלֹ֥א (And not) יָכְל֛וּ (they could) לְהַגִּ֥יד (explain) הַחִידָ֖ה (the riddle) שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת (in three) יָמִֽים׃ (days). 15  וַיְהִ֣י׀ (And it came to pass) בַּיּ֣וֹם (on the day) הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗י (seventh) וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ (that they said) לְאֵֽשֶׁת־ (to the wife) שִׁמְשׁוֹן֙ (of Samson), פַּתִּ֣י (Entice) אֶת־ (-) אִישֵׁ֗ךְ (your husband), וְיַגֶּד־ (that he may explain) לָ֙נוּ֙ (to us) אֶת־ (-) הַ֣חִידָ֔ה (the riddle), פֶּן־ (or else) נִשְׂרֹ֥ף (we will burn) אוֹתָ֛ךְ (you) וְאֶת־ (and) בֵּ֥ית (the house) אָבִ֖יךְ (of your father) בָּאֵ֑שׁ (with the fire). הַלְיָרְשֵׁ֕נוּ (To dispossess us) קְרָאתֶ֥ם (have you⁺ called) לָ֖נוּ (us here) הֲלֹֽא׃ (not)?

16  וַתֵּבְךְּ֩ (And wept) אֵ֨שֶׁת (the wife) שִׁמְשׁ֜וֹן (of Samson) עָלָ֗יו (on him) וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (and said), רַק־ (Only) שְׂנֵאתַ֙נִי֙ (you have hated me), וְלֹ֣א (and not) אֲהַבְתָּ֔נִי (have you loved me). הַֽחִידָ֥ה (A riddle) חַ֙דְתָּ֙ (you have posed) לִבְנֵ֣י (to the sons) עַמִּ֔י (of my people), וְלִ֖י (and to me) לֹ֣א (not) הִגַּ֑דְתָּה (you have explained it).

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And he said) לָ֗הּ (to her) הִנֵּ֨ה (Behold), לְאָבִ֧י (to my father) וּלְאִמִּ֛י (and to my mother) לֹ֥א (not), הִגַּ֖דְתִּי (I have explained it) וְלָ֥ךְ (and to you) אַגִּֽיד׃ (should I explain it).

17  וַתֵּ֤בְךְּ (And she wept) עָלָיו֙ (on him) שִׁבְעַ֣ת (seven) הַיָּמִ֔ים (the days), אֲשֶׁר־ (while) הָיָ֥ה (lasted) לָהֶ֖ם (their) הַמִּשְׁתֶּ֑ה (feast). וַיְהִ֣י׀ (And it came to pass) בַּיּ֣וֹם (on the day) הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗י (seventh) וַיַּגֶּד־ (that he told) לָהּ֙ (her), כִּ֣י (because) הֱצִיקַ֔תְהוּ (she had pressed him so much), וַתַּגֵּ֥ד (and she explained) הַחִידָ֖ה (the riddle) לִבְנֵ֥י (to the sons) עַמָּֽהּ׃ (of her people).

18  וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ (And said) לוֹ֩ (to him) אַנְשֵׁ֨י (the men) הָעִ֜יר (of the city) בַּיּ֣וֹם (on the day) הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗י (seventh), בְּטֶ֙רֶם֙ (before) יָבֹ֣א (went down) הַחַ֔רְסָה (the sun),

מַה־ (What is) מָּת֣וֹק (sweeter) מִדְּבַ֔שׁ (than honey)?

וּמֶ֥ה (And what is) עַ֖ז (stronger) מֵאֲרִ֑י (than a lion)?

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And he said) לָהֶ֔ם (to them),

לוּלֵא֙ (If not) חֲרַשְׁתֶּ֣ם (you⁺ had plowed) בְּעֶגְלָתִ֔י (with my heifer),

לֹ֥א (not) מְצָאתֶ֖ם (You⁺ would have solved) חִידָתִֽי׃ (my riddle).

19  וַתִּצְלַ֨ח (And came mightily) עָלָ֜יו (upon him) ר֣וּחַ (the Spirit) יְהוָ֗ה (of YHWH), וַיֵּ֨רֶד (and he went down) אַשְׁקְל֜וֹן (to Ashkelon) וַיַּ֥ךְ (and killed) מֵהֶ֣ם׀ (of them) שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים (thirty) אִ֗ישׁ (men) וַיִּקַּח֙ (and took) אֶת־ (-) חֲלִ֣יצוֹתָ֔ם (their apparel), וַיִּתֵּן֙ (and he gave) הַחֲלִיפ֔וֹת (the changes) לְמַגִּידֵ֖י (to those who had explained) הַחִידָ֑ה (the riddle). וַיִּ֣חַר (And was kindled) אַפּ֔וֹ (his anger), וַיַּ֖עַל (and he went up) בֵּ֥ית (house) אָבִֽיהוּ׃פ (of to his father). 20  וַתְּהִ֖י (And was) אֵ֣שֶׁת (the wife) שִׁמְשׁ֑וֹן (of Samson) לְמֵ֣רֵעֵ֔הוּ (unto his companion) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who) רֵעָ֖ה (had attended) לֽוֹ׃ (to him).