Samson's Wedding and Riddle

Samson went down to Timnah and saw a Philistine woman there. He told his father and mother that he wanted her as his wife. They asked why he would choose a Philistine woman instead of a woman from his own people. Samson insisted. His parents did not know that the Lord would use this matter in his dealings with the Philistines, who were ruling over Israel.

As Samson travelled with his father and mother toward Timnah, a young lion roared at him near the vineyards. The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully on him, and Samson tore the lion apart with his bare hands. He did not tell his parents what he had done. Then he spoke with the woman, and she pleased him.

Later Samson returned to take her. He turned aside to look at the lion's body and found bees and honey inside it. He ate some and gave some to his father and mother, but he did not tell them where it had come from. Then Samson made a feast there, and thirty companions were brought to be with him.

At the feast Samson set a challenge. He told the companions a riddle and promised thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing if they solved it within the seven days of the feast. If they could not, they would owe him the same. The riddle came from the lion and the honey, and for three days they could not explain it.

On the seventh day, the men threatened Samson's wife and her father's house so that she would get the answer from him. She wept before Samson during the feast and pressed him hard. At last he told her, and she passed the answer to her people. When the men answered before sunset, Samson knew how they had learned it.

Then the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully on Samson again. He went down to Ashkelon, struck down thirty men, took their plunder, and gave the changes of clothing to the men who had solved the riddle. Samson burned with anger and went back to his father's house. His wife was given to the companion who had been his friend. What do you notice about how quickly this wedding feast turned into grief and violence?