When the Philistines began to worry about finding the solution for the riddle, they formed a plan. They asked Samson’s bride to coax the answer out of him. In the Deborah story women played a role in the deliverance of Israel. Following the “bad to worse” scenario in this book, women are now asked to betray those close to them. This will be the first instance, but of course, the most well-known incident will later concern Samson and another Philistine woman, Delilah.
This verse begins with the Hebrew discourse marker wayehi (literally “And it was”), which marks a significant moment here. Many versions start a new paragraph here (Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation). Contemporary English Version begins with “Finally.”
On the fourth day: The Hebrew text has “on the seventh day.” Revised Standard Version‘s reading is based on the Septuagint. Most versions follow the ver Septuagintver*, but Contemporary English Version renders the Hebrew with “on the seventh day of the party.” According to verse 14.17, it was not until the seventh day that Samson’s bride convinced him to tell her the meaning. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project prefers the Hebrew text, but gives it a {C} reading. Translators are free to choose the reading they prefer and add a footnote if necessary. On the fourth day may be rendered “On the fourth day of the groom’s feast/celebration.”
They said to Samson’s wife: The pronoun they refers to the young Philistine companions of Samson whom he challenged with the riddle. As noted earlier, Hebrew has only one word meaning both “woman” and “wife.” The wedding had not taken place yet, but in many cultures an engaged woman is also a wife. Translators should use a term appropriate in their language. In English we might say “bride” (Contemporary English Version, NET Bible).
Entice your husband …: Compare verse 16.5. The Hebrew verb rendered Entice means “coax” or “persuade.” They are asking Samson’s bride to use her charms on him, so that he will tell her the riddle’s answer. Good News Translation uses the verb “Trick,” which is not exactly correct here. A better rendering is “Speak sweetly/nicely.” The Hebrew word for husband (ʾish) can also mean “man” in general. Here it specifically means “groom” since the wedding had not taken place yet. Like wife, in many cultures the engaged man is spoken of as the husband, even before the ceremony.
To tell us what the riddle is: Once again the verb tell reappears. There is a textual problem concerning the pronoun us. In Hebrew this pronoun could include the woman, as part of the Philistine group, or it could refer to only the young men. If this reading is accepted, an appropriate plural form, whether inclusive or exclusive, can be used here. But the ver Septuagintver* has the second person singular pronoun “you,” referring to the woman, a reading followed by Contemporary English Version and Revised English Bible. This reading makes good sense because Samson would more likely tell his fiancée the meaning, and then she would relate it to her countrymen. Even though Hebrew Old Testament Text Project gives an {A} rating to the Hebrew text, translators are free to make their own choice of interpretation. The wording here is also difficult, since the Philistines do not want to know what the riddle is, but rather what its solution is. In most languages this will need to be made explicit.
Lest we burn you and your father’s house with fire: It now becomes apparent that this bet is not just a game. Providing thirty fine pieces of cloth and changes of clothes would be difficult, but there must be something more at stake to make them so angry, namely, their honor. So Samson’s companions go so far as to threaten his bride and her family with death if she does not do as they request. For this threat see verse 12.1. The Hebrew conjunction rendered lest may be translated “otherwise.” In many languages it will be easier to begin a new sentence, saying “If you don’t [do as we say]…” or simply “If not….” The pronoun we clearly refers to Samson’s companions, excluding his bride. Many languages will find it redundant to say burn … with fire. The use of the verb burn will suffice. The Philistines are threatening more than fire, but actual death, which Contemporary English Version and New International Version make clear: “burn … to death.” The Hebrew noun for house (bayit) can refer to a physical home or set of buildings, but very often it refers to the extended family living together under one roof or in one courtyard. Both meanings could be present in the phrase your father’s house. Thus we might say “If you don’t, we’ll burn down your father’s house, with you and your family in it.”
Have you invited us here to impoverish us? is literally an emphatic “Was it to dispossess us that you called us? Isn’t that so?” The Philistines accuse Samson’s bride of calling them to the party so her fiancé could get the better of them and enrich himself. Invited renders the Hebrew verb meaning “call.” The adverb here points to the place of the party. The Hebrew verb rendered impoverish (yarash) is the same one translated “drive out” in verse 1.19, here meaning “dispossess” or “make poor.” Providing thirty fine pieces of cloth and sets of clothes would indeed cost quite a bit and given they are young men, use up all their resources. A rhetorical question may be kept here (“Did you invite us here to ruin us?”), or expressed as a statement (“You’ve called us here just to ruin us!”). A double question may also express their indignation, for example, “Is that why you brought us here? To ruin us?”
Translation models for this verse are:
• On the fourth day [of the party] the men said to Samson’s bride, “You had better get your fiancé to tell you the answer to the riddle. Otherwise, we will burn you and your whole family to death. Did you bring us here to strip us of everything we possess?”
• On the seventh day* of the celebration, the Philistine men threatened Samson’s wife, saying, “Persuade your husband to tell the meaning of the riddle. If you don’t, we’ll burn your house down, along with you and your family in it. Did you invite us here just to take everything we have?”
* The Septuagint and some other ancient versions say “fourth day.”
Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .