Judges 14:15

*Then it came about on the fourth day that they said to Samson’s wife, “Entice your husband, so that he will tell us the riddle, or we will burn you and your father’s house with fire. Have you invited us to impoverish us? Is this not so?”* (v.15) This moment captures a critical escalation at Samson’s wedding feast in Timnah, a town located in the border region between the land of the Israelites and the Philistines. Timnah sat in the lowland area of Judah, making it a contested site during periods of conflict between these two peoples. Here, we see Samson’s wife suddenly under threat from the Philistine companions who felt deceived when they could not solve Samson’s riddle. They threaten her with a dire consequence, planning to burn her and her father’s household if she fails to obtain the solution. This harsh reaction underscores the depths of tension simmering beneath what was meant to be a celebratory occasion, and it illustrates how the Philistines regarded the entire situation as a matter of dishonor and potential financial harm.

The verse also highlights Samson’s position as one of the final judges in Israel’s history around the 12th century BC, one whom God had appointed for a special purpose (Judges 13:5, NASB-95). Although it appears Samson is on the brink of marital unity with a Philistine woman, it becomes apparent that the conflict between the Philistines and the Israelites remains deeply rooted. This episode sets the stage for the patterns of betrayal, violence, and salvation that define Samson’s life, foreshadowing the divine mission God entrusted to him—to begin delivering Israel from the Philistines’ oppression (Judges 13:5, NASB-95). On a deeper level, this verse resonates with the theme of testing found elsewhere in Scripture, drawing a parallel to the way Jesus was tested in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11, NASB-95). While Samson’s testing led to a cycle of later violence and struggle, Jesus stood firm and overcame, modeling faithful obedience.

Moreover, the threat to Samson’s wife reveals both the severity of interpersonal schemes and the fragility of alliances. The Philistine companions suggest she was complicit in an attempt to gain from them, thereby accusing her of collusion. Their solution is immediate violence if they do not get their way. Samson’s role, too, raises moral and spiritual questions: though used by God, Samson was not immune to human weaknesses. In the trajectory of biblical history, this pattern of divine calling amid flawed humanity ultimately finds perfect resolution in Christ, who fulfills God’s plan without failing. Samson’s story foreshadows the need for a perfect deliverer and underscores how God’s purposes unfold despite human shortcomings (Romans 8:28, NASB-95).

This verse describes how Samson’s wedding companions threaten his wife to force the answer to his riddle.