8. Later, when he returned to Timnah for the wedding, he turned off the path to look at the carcass of the lion. And he found that a swarm of bees had made some honey in the carcass.
9. He scooped some of the honey into his hands and ate it along the way. He also gave some to his father and mother, and they ate it. But he didn’t tell them he had taken the honey from the carcass of the lion.
10. As his father was making final arrangements for the marriage, Samson threw a party at Timnah, as was the custom for elite young men.
11. When the bride’s parents saw him, they selected thirty young men from the town to be his companions.
12. Samson said to them, “Let me tell you a riddle. If you solve my riddle during these seven days of the celebration, I will give you thirty fine linen robes and thirty sets of festive clothing.
13. But if you can’t solve it, then you must give me thirty fine linen robes and thirty sets of festive clothing.”“All right,” they agreed, “let’s hear your riddle.”
14. So he said:“Out of the one who eats came something to eat;out of the strong came something sweet.”Three days later they were still trying to figure it out.
15. On the fourth day they said to Samson’s wife, “Entice your husband to explain the riddle for us, or we will burn down your father’s house with you in it. Did you invite us to this party just to make us poor?”
16. So Samson’s wife came to him in tears and said, “You don’t love me; you hate me! You have given my people a riddle, but you haven’t told me the answer.”“I haven’t even given the answer to my father or mother,” he replied. “Why should I tell you?”