Samson's riddle.
Judg. xiv. 12 — 14. And Samson said unto them, I will noio put forth a riddle unto you : if ye can certainly declare it me ivithin the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I tvill give you thirty sheets aiid thirty change of garments: but if ye can7iot declare it me, then shall ye give me thirty sheets.
274.1 Samson's riddle. 67
and thirty change of garments. And they said unto him, Put forth thy riddle, that ive may hear it. And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth siveetness.
OF all the Judges that were in Israel, there was not one who committed so many faults, or by whom God wrought so many miracles, as Samson. His character is dark and inexplicable ; insomuch that, if he had not been celebrated in the New Testament as an eminent Believer, we might reasonably have doubted whether he was possessed of any true piety. It must be recollected however, that his history is very short, and that the peculiarity of the dispensa- tion under which he lived may account for many things, which, if done at this time and without the special appointment of Heaven, would be highly cri- minal. Besides, there might be in him many exer- cises of true piety, which, if they had been recorded, would have reflected a different light upon his cha- racter. The circumstances of his birth we have noticed: those of his marriage are next to be con- sidered.
We cannot approve his conduct in connecting himself with a Philistine woman, though we com- mend it highly in not forming that connexion without having first obtained the consent of his parents. It should seem as if his choice was sanctioned by God, because we are told, that " it was of the Lord that he sought an occasion against the Philistines ^" But this circumstance does not necessarily make the action good : it may be that God only overruled the evil propensities of Samson, to accomplish his own purposes against the oppressors of his people*". How- ever, in going down with his parents to Timnath, where the woman lived, he turned aside from them into a vineyard, and, when separated from them, was attacked by a young lion ; whom, though un- armed, he rent, as easily as he would have rent a kid''. This he did through the mighty power of God: yet though the exploit was so astonishing, he
* ver. 4. *> See Josh. xi. 20. 1 Kings xii. 15. "^ ver. 6.