In Judges 14:14, Samson bets his bride's relatives they can't answer this riddle: "Out of the eater came something to eat. Out of the strong came something sweet." The relations are stumped, mainly because the riddle makes no sense unless you know Samson recently had seen honey deposited by bees in the carcass of a lion, which he had--urk--scraped out and eaten. The relatives pester the bride for the answer, and she pesters Samson, who finally breaks down and tells her. The newly-clued relatives say to Samson, "What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?" "If you had not plowed with my heifer," Samson ungallantly ripostes, "you would not have found out my riddle," whereupon he massacres 30 unlucky locals to raise enough swag to pay off the bet. Hilarious, eh?
2007-03-22 20:37:04 · 22 answers · asked by clever investor 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Sampson's entire purpose in the land of the Philistines was to torment them. Plain and Simple.....
2007-03-22 20:41:22 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The Bible says that this was God's way of getting Samson to fight the enemies of Israel.
Judges 4:4 But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.
Keep in mind that Samson is doing many wrong things. First of all, he is not ever supposed to take a non-Israelite bride. Secondly, he is a Nazarite from birth, he is not to touch any dead thing (of course maybe he did not touch it, but he does end up touching dead thing later for sure). Also, the Philistines were not even supposed to be there at this time, they did horrible crimes before God and were meant to be drove out by this time. As a result of their disobedience, the Philistines were always a great thorn in Israel's side.
The Philistines were extremely evil, and not at all innocent. It was rather like living next door to the mob. God wanted them out of there and He was using Samson as a tool to get Israel to do their duty and to rid the land of these wicked people.
2007-03-22 21:09:05 · answer #2 · answered by Shawn D 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The riddle features on the front of the Tate and Lyle Golden Syrup tin, which shows a small picture of a dead lion with bees round it, and the quote: "Out of the strong came forth sweetness".
Maybe that's where God got the idea from...
2007-03-22 20:56:00 · answer #3 · answered by Martin 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Seems the old testament is going good in the garden of eden, to this day.
Good thing sampson didn't see an aphid, with an ant collecting honeydew. Farmers would be earning more money now and we'd be paying for food. Able to see the analogy?
BTW wait till you see what happens when he's bar hopping and meets a ho called delilah.
2007-03-22 21:02:03 · answer #4 · answered by Wonka 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What has the Bible to do with "Gods" humour.
The bible is just a book written by a bunch of people and this excerpt is all about Jews killing Phillistines, Nothing to do with Humour or God as far as I can see. Must be some kind of insider Christian joke that goes over the heads of normal people. About as funny as a jockey with piles.
2007-03-22 23:46:58 · answer #5 · answered by Pattythepunk 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes I loved the story and you can not believe how many Christians don't know the answer to the riddle. You shouldn't have told them. That was hilarious about plowing with his heifer don't you think. And how dumb can a guy be? He keeps telling Delilah how to make him lose his strength. She keeps betraying him to the Philistines. Still the idiot tell her to cut his hair.
2007-03-22 20:46:58 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
nicely, Jesus mocked the Pharisees on dissimilar activities, now and returned with extremely sarcastic comments with a diffused humor to them, a marvelous type of the time extremely extremely offended. yet as somebody else pronounced, the Bible isn't a jokebook!!!
2016-10-01 08:55:20 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think its funny because if the Phillistines hadn't cheated none of the other phillistines would have had to die to pay off the debt.Just goes to show that phillistines can't deal with a bet honestly. they always cheat.
2007-03-22 20:48:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sampson had a unique personality, no doubt. But.... he got the last laugh against the Philistines in the end, did he not?
2007-03-22 20:47:58 · answer #9 · answered by C J 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Honey, bees, philistines, riddles, relatives, dead lions
Funny?
Err what?
Quite simply no. Rude? yes but funny? no
2007-03-22 21:56:41 · answer #10 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋