It happened, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.
The bride’s family invited 30 guests to the feast (Judges 14:11). They were evidently proud of their prospective son-in-law. He fit into Philistine society quite comfortably. It was also common in ancient times for people to propound riddles as entertainment (Judges 14:12). [Note: Keil and Delitzsch, p. 411. For an evaluation of various interpretations of Samson’s riddle, see Philip Nel, "The Riddle of Samson (Judg 14,14.18)," Biblica 66:4 (1985):534-45.] The same Hebrew word, hidot, occurs in 1 Kings 10:1 where we read that the Queen of Sheba tested Solomon with "difficult questions." [Note: See Harry Torcszyner, "The Riddle in the Bible," Hebrew Union College Annual 1 (1924):125-49.] 