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APRIL 24
18 And the Angel of the LORD said to him, 4 But his father and mother did not know
“Why do you ask My name, seeing it is won- that it was of the LORD—that He was seeking
derful?” an occasion to move against the Philistines.
19 So Manoah took the young goat with the For at that time the Philistines had dominion
grain offering, and offered it upon the rock to over Israel.
the LORD. And He did a wondrous thing while 5 So Samson went down to Timnah with his
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Manoah and his wife looked on— it hap- father and mother, and came to the vineyards
pened as the flame went up toward heaven of Timnah.
from the altar—the Angel of the LORD ascend- Now to his surprise, a young lion came roar-
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ed in the flame of the altar! When Manoah and ing against him. And the Spirit of the LORD
his wife saw this, they fell on their faces to the came mightily upon him, and he tore the lion
ground. 21 When the Angel of the LORD apart as one would have torn apart a young
appeared no more to Manoah and his wife, goat, though he had nothing in his hand. But
then Manoah knew that He was the Angel of he did not tell his father or his mother what he
the LORD. had done.
22 And Manoah said to his wife, “We shall 7 Then he went down and talked with the
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surely die, because we have seen God!” woman; and she pleased Samson well. After
23 But his wife said to him, “If the LORD had some time, when he returned to get her, he
desired to kill us, He would not have accepted turned aside to see the carcass of the lion. And
a burnt offering and a grain offering from our behold, a swarm of bees and honey were in the
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hands, nor would He have shown us all these carcass of the lion. He took some of it in his
things, nor would He have told us such things hands and went along, eating. When he came
as these at this time.” to his father and mother, he gave some to
24 So the woman bore a son and called his them, and they also ate. But he did not tell
name Samson; and the child grew, and the them that he had taken the honey out of the
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LORD blessed him. And the Spirit of the LORD carcass of the lion.
began to move upon him at Mahaneh Dan be- 10 So his father went down to the woman.
tween Zorah and Eshtaol. And Samson gave a feast there, for young men
Now Samson went down to Timnah, and used to do so. And it happened, when they
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14 saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters saw him, that they brought thirty companions
2
of the Philistines. So he went up and told his to be with him.
father and mother, saying, “I have seen a 12 Then Samson said to them, “Let me pose a
woman in Timnah of the daughters of the riddle to you. If you can correctly solve and
Philistines; now therefore, get her for me as a explain it to me within the seven days of the
wife.” feast, then I will give you thirty linen garments
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3 Then his father and mother said to him, “Is and thirty changes of clothing. But if you
there no woman among the daughters of your cannot explain it to me, then you shall give me
brethren, or among all my people, that you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of
must go and get a wife from the uncircum- clothing.”
cised Philistines?” And they said to him, “Pose your riddle, that
And Samson said to his father, “Get her for we may hear it.”
me, for she pleases me well.” 14 So he said to them:
“Out of the eater came something to eat,
And out of the strong came something
sweet.”
14:1–4 she pleases me well. The Philistines Now for three days they could not explain the
were not among the 7 nations of Canaan which riddle.
Israel was specifically forbidden to marry. 15 But it came to pass on the seventh day that
Nonetheless Samson’s choice was seriously they said to Samson’s wife, “Entice your hus-
weak. Samson sins here, but God is sovereign
and was able to turn the situation to please band, that he may explain the riddle to us, or
Him (14:4). He was not at a loss, but used the else we will burn you and your father’s house
opportunity to work against the wicked with fire. Have you invited us in order to take
Philistines and provided gracious help to His what is ours? Is that not so?”
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people.He achieved destruction of these people, Then Samson’s wife wept on him, and said,
not by an army, but by the miraculous power “You only hate me! You do not love me! You
of one man. have posed a riddle to the sons of my people,
but you have not explained it to me.”

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