Judges 14:15 - On the seventh day, they said to Samson’s wife, “Entice your husband, that he may declare to us the riddle, lest we burn you and your father’s house with fire. Have you called us to impoverish us? Isn’t that so?”
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What does "Judges 14:15" mean?
This verse from Judges 14:15 describes a situation where the Philistines are desperate to solve the riddle that Samson presented to them as part of a wager. Let's break down the meaning:
"On the seventh day..." This indicates that the wager period is nearing its end. Samson gave them seven days to solve the riddle.
"...they said to Samson's wife, 'Entice your husband, that he may declare to us the riddle...'" The Philistines realize they can't figure out the riddle on their own. They pressure Samson's new wife (who is also a Philistine) to use her influence over him to get him to tell her the answer. The verb "entice" implies using charm, flattery, and persuasion (possibly even manipulation) to get what they want.
"...lest we burn you and your father's house with fire.'" This is a direct threat. If she doesn't cooperate, they will kill her and her entire family by burning their house down. This highlights the Philistines' ruthlessness and their willingness to use violence to get their way.
"'Have you called us to impoverish us? Isn’t that so?'" This is the Philistines' perceived motive for the riddle. They believe Samson (and by extension, his wife's family) intentionally gave them a riddle they couldn't solve, hoping to win the wager and take their valuable possessions. They feel like they have been lured into a trap to be financially ruined. The wager was a very significant amount of clothing, so losing would have been a substantial blow to those betting.
In summary, the verse depicts a coercive and manipulative situation. The Philistines, unable to solve Samson's riddle fairly, resort to threatening his wife to force her to betray him. Their threat reveals their brutality and their suspicion that they are being taken advantage of, revealing the animosity between the Israelites and the Philistines. This situation sets the stage for Samson's future actions and the ensuing conflict.
Judges 14:15 - On the seventh day, they said to Samson’s wife, “Entice your husband, that he may declare to us the riddle, lest we burn you and your father’s house with fire. Have you called us to impoverish us? Isn’t that so?”
What does "Judges 14:15" mean?
This verse from Judges 14:15 describes a situation where the Philistines are desperate to solve the riddle that Samson presented to them as part of a wager. Let's break down the meaning:
"On the seventh day..." This indicates that the wager period is nearing its end. Samson gave them seven days to solve the riddle.
"...they said to Samson's wife, 'Entice your husband, that he may declare to us the riddle...'" The Philistines realize they can't figure out the riddle on their own. They pressure Samson's new wife (who is also a Philistine) to use her influence over him to get him to tell her the answer. The verb "entice" implies using charm, flattery, and persuasion (possibly even manipulation) to get what they want.
"...lest we burn you and your father's house with fire.'" This is a direct threat. If she doesn't cooperate, they will kill her and her entire family by burning their house down. This highlights the Philistines' ruthlessness and their willingness to use violence to get their way.
"'Have you called us to impoverish us? Isn’t that so?'" This is the Philistines' perceived motive for the riddle. They believe Samson (and by extension, his wife's family) intentionally gave them a riddle they couldn't solve, hoping to win the wager and take their valuable possessions. They feel like they have been lured into a trap to be financially ruined. The wager was a very significant amount of clothing, so losing would have been a substantial blow to those betting.
In summary, the verse depicts a coercive and manipulative situation. The Philistines, unable to solve Samson's riddle fairly, resort to threatening his wife to force her to betray him. Their threat reveals their brutality and their suspicion that they are being taken advantage of, revealing the animosity between the Israelites and the Philistines. This situation sets the stage for Samson's future actions and the ensuing conflict.