This is a simplified version of the Bible story found in Judges 14, written for children to understand. For the original version, please refer to the Bible passage.
Once there was a man named Samson who lived in a place called Israel. The Philistines were not very kind to Samson’s people, and they often caused trouble.
One day, Samson went to a place called Timnah and there he saw a girl from the Philistines who he thought was pretty. Samson wanted to marry her, but his parents didn’t think it was a good idea because they wanted him to marry someone from their own people.
But Samson really wanted to marry this girl, and what he didn’t know was that God had a plan to use Samson to help his people. Samson and his parents went to Timnah, and on the way, a lion came at him, roaring! But the power of the Lord came upon Samson, and he was able to fight and kill the lion with his bare hands, like it was nothing! He didn’t even tell his parents about it.
Later, when Samson came back to Timnah to marry the girl, he saw that the lion’s body was filled with honey, and he ate some of it. He even brought some home for his parents to eat, but he didn’t tell them where he got the honey.
When Samson and his family were having a big party for the wedding, Samson made a riddle for the guests. He said, “Out of the eater came something to eat. Out of the strong came something sweet.” And if anyone could figure out what the riddle meant, he would give them a prize.
But some of the Philistines were not happy that they couldn’t solve the riddle, and they threatened Samson’s wife, saying they would hurt her and her family if she didn’t tell them the answer. She cried and begged Samson to tell her, and eventually he did. When the Philistines found out the answer, they won the prize, but Samson was really angry.
The Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson again, and he went and defeated some Philistines in a different city. He went to a nearby city called Ashkelon and killed thirty men there to take their clothes as the prize for the riddle.
Samson’s wife was given to someone else.
Biblical Lessons
- God can use unexpected people to do great things.
- We should trust God’s plan, even if we don’t understand it.
- Revenge is not the answer.
- It’s important to choose a good spouse who shares your values.