He said to them, Out of the eater came forth food, Out of the strong came forth sweetness. They couldn't in three days declare the riddle.
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.] 