Judges Chapter 14

Samson’s First Failed Marriage
A. Samson Seeks a Philistine Wife

1. Judges 14:1–3 — Samson Demands a Philistine Wife
   "Now Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. So he went up and told his father and mother, saying, 'I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore, get her for me as a wife.' Then his father and mother said to him, 'Is there no woman among the daughters of your brethren, or among all my people, that you must go and get a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?' And Samson said to his father, 'Get her for me, for she pleases me well.'"

a. Samson’s attraction to the Philistine woman at Timnah appears to be a case of immediate infatuation — “love at first sight.” The text notes simply that he "saw a woman," and his reaction was to pursue her without inquiry into her character, her faith, or her standing before God. This is a classic example of being led by the eyes rather than by the Spirit. The phrase “she pleases me well” is literally “she is right in my eyes,” underscoring that Samson’s concern was with his own perception rather than the LORD’s will. In the moral climate of Judges, this expression foreshadows the later refrain, “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25).

b. The danger of such impulsive attraction is significant. It is entirely possible to fall in love with someone we have no business pursuing. Such attraction, while emotionally compelling, is often built on little more than physical appearance and novelty. It can result in an infatuation with the feeling of being in love rather than with the person themselves. Scripture warns against trusting in mere appearance: “Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised” (Proverbs 31:30).

c. Samson’s insistence, “Get her for me, for she pleases me well,” reveals both a disregard for parental counsel and a disregard for God’s clear command. His parents’ objection was grounded in God’s law. Deuteronomy 7:3–4 states, “Nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son. For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods; so the anger of the LORD will be aroused against you and destroy you suddenly.” Samson’s parents rightly recognized that marriage to an unbeliever would compromise his spiritual fidelity.

d. The New Testament applies the same principle for believers today: “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14). The command is not based on a judgment of personal worth, as many unbelievers are kind, moral, and even admirable in worldly terms. Rather, it recognizes that a Christian’s supreme loyalty is to Christ, and that in marriage the deepest values and purposes must be shared. When a believer marries an unbeliever, there is fundamental disagreement over life’s most important priorities — worship, morality, purpose, and eternity.

e. For this reason, believers are not only warned against marrying unbelievers but are also cautioned against dating them. Romantic attachment often clouds judgment and can lead to willful disobedience. Proverbs 4:23 commands, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”

f. Furthermore, Christians must be discerning even when a prospective spouse professes faith. History is filled with instances of false or shallow conversions made to gain a Christian’s trust and secure marriage. Jesus warned in Matthew 7:16, “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?” Genuine saving faith will be evident in consistent fruit and a transformed life.

g. For those who, either by disobedience or later conversion, find themselves married to an unbeliever, Scripture gives clear instruction. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 7:12–14, “But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.” The believing spouse is called to remain faithful and be a godly influence within the marriage.

h. God would still use Samson in mighty ways against the Philistines, but this was not because of his disobedience. Rather, God worked in spite of Samson’s sin. The principle of 2 Timothy 2:20–21 applies here: “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.” Samson could have been a far greater vessel for honor had he sought a wife according to God’s will rather than his own desires.

Judges 14:4 — God’s Will Behind the Scenes of Samson’s Desire to Marry a Philistine Woman
"But his father and mother did not know that it was of the LORD — that He was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines. For at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel."

a. "His father and mother did not know that it was of the LORD": This statement reveals God’s sovereign ability to work His purposes even through human disobedience. Samson’s parents rightly objected to his desire for a pagan wife, in line with God’s law, but they were unaware that God intended to overrule Samson’s poor choice for the larger purpose of confronting Israel’s enemies. At this point in history, “the Philistines had dominion over Israel,” and God would use Samson as an instrument to disrupt their control. Yet the fact that God would use this circumstance for His glory does not mean He approved of the decision. As Joseph told his brothers in Genesis 50:20, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” God is able to take human sin and weave it into His plan without being the author of that sin.

i. Scripture is clear that God can bring good out of evil, but that never makes the evil itself good. Romans 3:8 warns against the mindset of “Let us do evil that good may come,” and Paul adds, “Their condemnation is just.” Samson’s choice violated the principle of Deuteronomy 7:3–4, which prohibited intermarriage with the surrounding nations to prevent spiritual corruption. Though God would use the resulting events to advance His purposes against the Philistines, Samson was still responsible for his own sinful actions.

b. "He was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines": The pronoun “He” here refers to the LORD. God’s plan was to begin delivering Israel from Philistine oppression through Samson’s confrontations, which would arise from this marriage situation. Importantly, God did not plant the sinful desire in Samson’s heart — James 1:13–14 makes it clear that “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” Samson pursued the Philistine woman of his own volition, and God, in His sovereignty, allowed it as the stage upon which He would execute His judgment against Israel’s enemies.

i. This demonstrates the biblical tension between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. God’s purposes are never thwarted by human sin, but this does not excuse the sinner. Just as in the crucifixion of Jesus — where Acts 2:23 states He was “delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God,” yet the men who crucified Him acted with lawless hands — God’s will can be accomplished even through wrongful actions.

ii. Believers today should be careful not to justify sinful decisions by reasoning that God might “use” the situation for good. For example, some justify marrying an unbeliever in the hope that their spouse will later be saved. While God may indeed work in that marriage to bring the unbeliever to Christ, such a choice directly violates 2 Corinthians 6:14, and, as with Samson, often comes with painful consequences. God’s Word is given to protect His people from unnecessary grief.

iii. The lesson is clear: no matter how much good God may bring out of bad situations, He can always bring far more good — and with far less personal loss — through obedience. Proverbs 3:5–6 reminds us, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

Judges 14:5–9 — Samson Slays a Lion and Eats Some Wild Honey
"So Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother, and came to the vineyards of Timnah. Now to his surprise, a young lion came roaring against him. And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he tore the lion apart as one would have torn apart a young goat, though he had nothing in his hand. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done. Then he went down and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well. After some time, when he returned to get her, he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion. And behold, a swarm of bees and honey were in the carcass of the lion. He took some of it in his hands and went along, eating. When he came to his father and mother, he gave some to them, and they also ate. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey out of the carcass of the lion."

a. "He came to the vineyards of Timnah": Samson, as a Nazirite, was dedicated to God from birth under the lifelong stipulations given in Judges 13:4–5. Part of the Nazirite vow was complete separation from grape products in any form — “he shall separate himself from wine and similar drink; he shall drink neither vinegar made from wine nor vinegar made from similar drink; neither shall he drink any grape juice, nor eat fresh grapes or raisins” (Numbers 6:3–4). Even walking through a vineyard was a dangerous step toward compromise. This foreshadows Samson’s pattern of toying with boundaries instead of fleeing from temptation, contrary to 2 Timothy 2:22, which says, “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

b. "He tore the lion apart as one would have torn apart a young goat": Though Samson was already on a path of compromise — both in his choice of a Philistine wife and his presence in the vineyard — the Spirit of the LORD still came upon him mightily, giving him supernatural strength to overcome the lion. This illustrates that God may still empower a believer for service even when their personal walk is inconsistent. Yet empowerment is not the same as approval.

i. The scene serves as an analogy for the believer’s spiritual warfare. First Peter 5:8 warns, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” Our hope in facing that roaring lion is not found in our own strength, skill, or speed, but in the Spirit of God. As Zechariah 4:6 reminds us, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the LORD of hosts.

ii. The empowering of the Holy Spirit is intended not only for moments of dramatic deliverance but also for holy living and bold witness. Acts 1:8 declares, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Samson’s physical victory over the lion is a picture of the spiritual victories God enables His people to win through the Spirit’s power.

c. "She pleased Samson well": The fact that Samson was pleased with the woman does not mean she was good for him. Proverbs 4:23 warns, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” Emotional attachment to the wrong person can cloud spiritual discernment. When we find our affections set on someone outside God’s will, the biblical response is to surrender that relationship in obedience to Him, no matter the cost. Jesus said in Mark 10:29–30 that following Him may require the sacrifice of things and people we love most, but He promises eternal reward for obedience.

d. "He took some of it in his hands and went along": Upon returning, Samson found a swarm of bees and honey in the carcass of the lion. By touching the dead body, he violated another clear aspect of the Nazirite vow: “All the days that he separates himself to the LORD he shall not go near a dead body” (Numbers 6:6–7). This was a direct compromise of his consecration.

i. This happened after he had been powerfully filled with the Spirit, proving that spiritual gifting does not automatically produce holiness. The Spirit provides the resources for godliness, but the believer must yield to God in obedience. It is possible to be gifted and yet spiritually immature — a truth reinforced in 1 Corinthians 3:1–3, where Paul rebukes believers who were still carnal despite their spiritual privileges.

e. "He did not tell them that he had taken the honey out of the carcass of the lion": Samson concealed the source of the honey from his parents, knowing it was obtained through a violation of his vow. This reveals that his consecration had become more a matter of image than of genuine devotion. Outward separation without inward communion with God is hollow and will eventually collapse under testing.

i. Spiritually, the lion’s defeat and the honey’s sweetness can be seen as a picture of Christ’s victory over sin and death. Jesus, “the Lion of the tribe of Judah” (Revelation 5:5), conquered the grave, and from that victory comes life and sweetness for His people. Psalm 34:8 invites, “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!”

ii. Samson’s sharing of the honey offers a pattern for gospel witness:

• He brought the honey first to those nearest to him — a reminder that our witness begins at home (Acts 1:8).

• He brought it in his hands — the simplest, most personal delivery.

• He gave them something to actually taste — showing that evangelism involves inviting others to personally experience the goodness of Christ.

• He gave it without boasting in the victory — the focus was on the gift, not on himself.

B. The Feast and the Riddle

1. Judges 14:10–11 — Samson Hosts a “Bachelor Party” for Philistine Friends
   "So his father went down to the woman. And Samson gave a feast there, for young men used to do so. And it happened, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him."

a. "Samson gave a feast there": The Hebrew word for “feast” here (mishteh) denotes a drinking feast — a celebration involving wine and often drunkenness. For a Nazirite, this was spiritually dangerous territory. Numbers 6:3–4 explicitly commanded, “He shall separate himself from wine and similar drink; he shall drink neither vinegar made from wine nor vinegar made from similar drink; neither shall he drink any grape juice, nor eat fresh grapes or raisins. All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, from seed to skin.” Even if Samson refrained from drinking, his presence in such a setting placed him near temptation and compromised his testimony. This foreshadows his tendency to place himself in spiritually hazardous situations without considering the consequences.

b. "They brought thirty companions to be with him": As Samson was in Philistine territory, these thirty men were not his friends but rather appointed companions — likely more to watch him than to celebrate with him. It was not difficult to gather a crowd for a drinking feast, but the company he kept here illustrates the warning of 1 Corinthians 15:33, “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits.’” Samson’s isolation from godly fellowship made him more vulnerable to manipulation and temptation during the feast.

1. Judges 14:12–14 — Samson Poses a Riddle Concerning the Lion and the Honey
   "Then Samson said to them, 'Let me pose a riddle to you. If you can correctly solve and explain it to me within the seven days of the feast, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing. But if you cannot explain it to me, then you shall give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing.' And they said to him, 'Pose your riddle, that we may hear it.' So he said to them:

'Out of the eater came something to eat,
And out of the strong came something sweet.'

Now for three days they could not explain the riddle."

a. "Changes of clothing": This refers to expensive garments suitable for formal or ceremonial occasions. In the ancient Near Eastern context, clothing was costly, and such a wager was significant. Thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes represented considerable wealth. Like many wagers, what may have seemed like a lighthearted challenge would quickly escalate into conflict, revealing the danger of competitive pride and gambling-like agreements. Proverbs 17:14 warns, “The beginning of strife is like releasing water; therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.”

b. "Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet": This was a riddle drawn from Samson’s private experience with the lion and the honey. Its meaning was hidden from the Philistines because they had no knowledge of the event. It was a clever display of wit, showing that Samson, while morally compromised, possessed a sharp intellect. Yet using this God-given mental sharpness for personal amusement and to gain from others mirrors the pattern in his life — God had equipped him for deliverance, yet he often used his gifts for self-interest.

i. This riddle also demonstrates the human tendency to use personal victories for self-advancement rather than God’s glory. Proverbs 25:2 says, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.” Samson concealed the source of the riddle, but not for righteous reasons.

ii. Spiritually, the imagery in the riddle — sweetness coming from strength, food coming from the eater — points to how God can bring blessing out of conflict and life from what was meant to destroy. This finds ultimate fulfillment in Christ’s victory over sin and death, where the cross, an instrument of execution, became the means of eternal life.

3. Judges 14:15–18 — Samson’s Philistine Wife Extracts the Riddle’s Answer

"But it came to pass on the seventh day that they said to Samson’s wife, 'Entice your husband, that he may explain the riddle to us, or else we will burn you and your father’s house with fire. Have you invited us in order to take what is ours? Is that not so?' Then Samson’s wife wept on him, and said, 'You only hate me! You do not love me! You have posed a riddle to the sons of my people, but you have not explained it to me.' And he said to her, 'Look, I have not explained it to my father or my mother; so should I explain it to you?' Now she had wept on him the seven days while their feast lasted. And it happened on the seventh day that he told her, because she pressed him so much. Then she explained the riddle to the sons of her people. So the men of the city said to 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 to them:

'If you had not plowed with my heifer,
You would not have solved my riddle!'"

a. "Then Samson’s wife wept on him, and said, 'You only hate me! You do not love me'": Here we see manipulation at work in its most common form — an emotional appeal designed to wear down resistance. Samson’s Philistine wife employed guilt and accusation to get her way, making herself a continual burden until he relented. This tactic works in the short term, which is why it is often used, but it is toxic to the health of any relationship. Ephesians 4:25 commands, “Therefore, putting away lying, let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.” Honest communication builds trust, whereas manipulation erodes it.

i. When emotional pressure becomes the means of getting what one wants, it creates a pattern of distrust and resentment. Proverbs 21:9 gives the warning: “Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, than in a house shared with a contentious woman.” The same principle applies to a contentious or manipulative husband — such tactics damage intimacy and respect.

b. "He told her, because she pressed him so much": The strongest man in the world was undone by the persistent pressure of a woman. This weakness in Samson’s character — a tendency to yield to ungodly female influence — will ultimately lead to his downfall with Delilah in Judges 16. Strength in battle cannot compensate for weakness in moral and relational discernment.

i. Her willingness to betray her husband to her own people reveals the foundational flaw in their marriage. Genesis 2:24 teaches, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Matthew 19:5 reaffirms this principle. Samson’s wife had not embraced the covenantal unity that marriage demands, and this is unsurprising given that she was a Philistine, not a worshiper of the LORD. This underscores the biblical command against marrying outside the faith (2 Corinthians 6:14).

ii. Her betrayal was also motivated by fear, as the Philistines threatened to burn her and her father’s house with fire. Though her fear was understandable, she could have trusted Samson to protect her — he was more than capable. Her decision to hide the threat from him indicates that she did not see him as her ultimate source of safety, further exposing the weakness of a marriage not founded on mutual faith and trust in God.

c. "If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle": Samson’s proverb is a pointed rebuke. The phrase “plowed with my heifer” is an agricultural metaphor meaning that they had meddled with his wife to extract what they wanted. His choice of words also shows bitterness and wounded pride. Though she “won” the answer for her people, she lost her husband’s trust and affection in the process.

i. This episode reveals a principle that applies in any marriage: when a man yields to manipulation to keep peace, it often breeds anger and resentment in him, and guilt in the woman who used manipulation. This cycle is destructive, producing bitterness rather than unity. Ephesians 5:33 gives God’s design for harmony: “Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”

ii. Spiritually, this incident illustrates that when we align ourselves with the world rather than with God’s people, we will inevitably betray God’s purposes. James 4:4 warns, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” Samson’s wife sided with her people over her husband because her loyalties were never with the LORD — a sober reminder of the dangers of entering covenant relationships with unbelievers.

4. Judges 14:19–20 — Samson’s Anger and Revenge

"Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon him mightily, and he went down to Ashkelon and killed thirty of their men, took their apparel, and gave the changes of clothing to those who had explained the riddle. So his anger was aroused, and he went back up to his father’s house. And Samson’s wife was given to his companion, who had been his best man."

a. "Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon him mightily": This empowering of the Spirit was not for the sake of Samson’s wounded pride but to advance God’s larger redemptive plan. As stated earlier in Judges 14:4, “But his father and mother did not know that it was of the LORD — that He was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines. For at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.” God used Samson’s personal conflict as the spark to provoke confrontation with the Philistines, whom Israel had grown too comfortable living under. Even though Samson’s motives were mixed, the Spirit used him as an instrument of judgment upon Israel’s enemies. This illustrates that God’s sovereignty can overrule flawed human motives without condoning them, much like how He used Cyrus in Isaiah 45:1–4 for His purposes despite Cyrus not knowing Him.

b. "Killed thirty of their men, took their apparel, and gave the changes of clothing to those who had explained the riddle": Samson fulfilled the wager’s terms, but he did so through the death of thirty Philistines in Ashkelon, another Philistine city about 23 miles from Timnah. In killing them and taking their garments, he both satisfied his debt and struck a blow against Israel’s oppressors. This act would have sent a clear message to the Philistines that the God of Israel could raise a single man to humiliate their warriors. Spiritually, it reminds us that God’s deliverance often begins with small but decisive confrontations, though Samson’s personal anger was intertwined with this act.

c. "Samson’s wife was given to his companion, who had been his best man": This was both a personal betrayal and a cultural insult. In Philistine custom, a marriage not consummated or completed could be annulled, but giving the bride to Samson’s “companion” — essentially the friend assigned to assist the groom — was an affront to his honor. In biblical marriage terms, Genesis 2:24’s principle of “leaving and cleaving” was never established here, and the union failed before it truly began.

i. Marriage counseling perspective — If Samson and his wife were to describe the situation:

• Samson: “I love my wife, but it feels like we’re pulling in opposite directions. She pressures me constantly, and when I give in, I’m left angry. I need her to stand with me, not against me.”

• His wife: “It was love at first sight, but things went downhill fast. I don’t feel secure with him, and he doesn’t meet my needs. When I try to get through to him, it turns into conflict.”

ii. Samson’s faults:

• He failed to guard his heart and entered a relationship with an unbeliever, against God’s command (Deuteronomy 7:3–4).

• He built the marriage on physical attraction rather than spiritual compatibility.

• He reacted to manipulation with anger rather than Spirit-led patience (Proverbs 15:1).

iii. His wife’s faults:

• She sided with her people against her husband, undermining the marital bond.

• She failed to communicate the real threat against her family, depriving Samson of the chance to protect her.

• She resorted to manipulation rather than trust.

• She abandoned the marriage entirely, which runs contrary to God’s command to honor the covenant (Malachi 2:16).

iv. Both illustrate how ignoring God’s design for marriage — shared faith, mutual loyalty, and Spirit-led love — leads to relational collapse. While God would still use Samson to confront the Philistines, his personal life was marked by disorder because he disregarded God’s wisdom.

v. As Charles Spurgeon observed, “Samson himself is a riddle. He was not only a riddle-maker; but he was himself an enigma very difficult to explain.” His life combines Spirit-given power with self-inflicted weakness, a warning to all believers that giftedness is no substitute for obedience.