Samson’s First Big Mistake (Judges 14:1–20)
The story of Samson is full of action, surprises, and lessons. He was chosen by God before he was even born to help save Israel from their enemies, the Philistines. But like many of us, Samson didn’t always make the best choices. In Judges 14, we see the beginning of his adult life—and the start of some serious trouble.
Samson Chooses a Philistine Wife
One day, Samson went to a Philistine town called Timnah and saw a woman who caught his eye. He immediately went home and told his parents, “I want to marry her.”
His parents were upset. “Can’t you find a wife among our own people?” they asked. But Samson insisted. What they didn’t realize was that God had a plan to use this situation. Even though it seemed like Samson was just making a bad choice, God was using it to start something bigger between Israel and the Philistines.
The Lion Attack
On the way to Timnah, something strange happened. A lion jumped out at Samson. But God’s Spirit gave him special strength, and Samson tore the lion apart with his bare hands. He didn’t tell anyone about it.
Later, he passed by the lion’s body and saw that bees had made a hive inside it. He scooped out some honey and ate it, then shared it with his parents—but again, didn’t say where it came from.
A Wedding and a Riddle
Samson prepared a wedding feast with 30 Philistine men as his companions. Wanting to have some fun, he gave them a riddle:
“Out of the eater came something to eat,
Out of the strong came something sweet.”
It was a trick question based on the lion and the honey, and no one could figure it out. After three days, the men pressured Samson’s wife, telling her they would hurt her if she didn’t get the answer from him. She cried and begged Samson every day until he finally gave in and told her. She quickly told the men.
When the Philistines answered the riddle, Samson was furious. He knew he had been tricked. In his anger, he went to another town, killed 30 Philistines, and took their clothes to pay off the bet. Then he stormed off home.
A Shocking Twist
While Samson was gone, his new wife was given to someone else—his best man! This betrayal would lead to even more problems in the future.
What Can We Learn?
This story shows us that even someone chosen by God can make poor decisions. Samson acted on impulse, let his emotions control him, and didn’t listen to wise advice. Yet God still worked through the situation. That doesn’t mean Samson’s choices were right—but it does remind us that God can bring good out of even the messiest situations.
So what can we take away? Think before you act. Listen to those who care about you. And remember, even when things go wrong, God can still move His plan forward.
Judges 14:1-20 (WEB)
14:1 Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. 2 He came up, and told his father and his mother, saying, “I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. Now therefore get her for me as my wife.”3 Then his father and his mother said to him, “Isn’t there a woman among your brothers’ daughters, or among all my people, that you go to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines?”Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she pleases me well.”4 But his father and his mother didn’t know that it was of the LORD; for he sought an occasion against the Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines ruled over Israel.5 Then Samson went down to Timnah with his father and his mother, and came to the vineyards of Timnah; and behold, a young lion roared at him. 6 The LORD’s Spirit came mightily on him, and he tore him as he would have torn a young goat with his bare hands, but he didn’t tell his father or his mother what he had done. 7 He went down and talked with the woman, and she pleased Samson well. 8 After a while he returned to take her, and he went over to see the carcass of the lion; and behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey. 9 He took it into his hands, and went on, eating as he went. He came to his father and mother and gave to them, and they ate, but he didn’t tell them that he had taken the honey out of the lion’s body. 10 His father went down to the woman; and Samson made a feast there, for the young men used to do so. 11 When they saw him, they brought thirty companions to be with him.12 Samson said to them, “Let me tell you a riddle now. If you can tell me the answer within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing; 13 but if you can’t tell me the answer, then you shall give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing.”They said to him, “Tell us your riddle, that we may hear it.”14 He said to them,“Out of the eater came out food.Out of the strong came out sweetness.”They couldn’t in three days declare the riddle. 15 On the seventh day, they said to Samson’s wife, “Entice your husband, that he may declare to us the riddle, lest we burn you and your father’s house with fire. Have you called us to impoverish us? Isn’t that so?”16 Samson’s wife wept before him, and said, “You just hate me, and don’t love me. You’ve told a riddle to the children of my people, and haven’t told it to me.”He said to her, “Behold, I haven’t told my father or my mother, so why should I tell you?”17 She wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted; and on the seventh day, he told her, because she pressed him severely; and she told the riddle to the children of her people. 18 The men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, “What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?”He said to them,“If you hadn’t plowed with my heifer,you wouldn’t have found out my riddle.”19 The LORD’s Spirit came mightily on him, and he went down to Ashkelon and struck thirty men of them. He took their plunder, then gave the changes of clothing to those who declared the riddle. His anger burned, and he went up to his father’s house. 20 But Samson’s wife was given to his companion, who had been his friend.