Time to Fiddle with a Riddle

At Samson’s wedding feast he posed a riddle for the men to solve. “Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet”(Judges 14:14). At stake was thirty garments and after three days the Philistines were stumped. So they persuaded Samson’s bride to nag the answer out of him. It worked. They answered Samson as if they were on Jeopardy: “What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?” So Samson just went out and killed thirty Philistines and took their garments to pay his wager. Eventually, this little game with a riddle cost him his wife and later cost his wife and her father their life (Judges 15:6).

According to Merriam-Webster a riddle is “a mystifying, misleading, or puzzling question posed as a problem to be solved or guessed : conundrum, enigma.”

Riddles may be more common in the Bible than you might think. The same Hebrew word used for Samson’s riddle, hidhah, is translated as “hard questions” in (1 Kings 10:1–3). King Solomon’s wisdom was so great he could resolve just about any enigma. He did impress the Queen of Sheba and he resolved the issue of the conundrum of whose baby was whose. Solomon included some of riddles in his proverbs (Proverbs 30:15–31) to promote the pursuit of wisdom (1:6). Daniel was said to have “an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining enigmas” (Daniel 5:12). In the New Testament some of Jesus’ parables have been compared to riddles. Furthermore the number 666 is like a mathematical riddle (Revelation 13:18).

Riddles can be fun, motivate interest in learning, and stimulate the mind. Try a few of mine and note some of them rhyme.

Riddle #1
My first job was promoting fruit consumption.
Job and God proved me to be mistaken.
I am noted for my skill at deception.
And I was put to flight by “it is written”
Who am I?

Riddle #2
The Jews I hated and abused the King’s ring.
I paraded my enemy to do him honor.
The Queen exposed my plot to my horror.
I built the gallows on which I would swing.
Who am I?

Riddle #3
A staff in a box.
A stick is a snake.
A shaft decides a battle.
A stave divides a lake.
What am I?

Riddle #4
Naaman so dipped in the river to be cured
Days out of camp Miriam endured
Fiery furnace heated at King’s request
God chosen as this as the day of rest
What number am I?

Riddle #5
Jude gave it as an example of eternal fire.
The men were known for inappropriate desire.
Fire and brimstone one day rained down.
Lot protected angels from the men of this town.
What city am I?

Riddle #6
The King gave me the name Belshazzar.
Among all the wisemen I was the star.
Divine graffiti on the wall I could read
On me the hungry lions did not feed.
Who am I?

Riddle #7
I am what I am because I am not a wife.
I made clothes that helped bring me back to life.
Seven men of the church were assigned to help me.
My great giving Jesus was very happy to see.
What am I?

Riddle #8
Jesus is better than the angels.
Jesus is better than Moses
Jesus is a better High Priest.
Jesus has a better covenant.
What Book am I?

Riddle #9
Books of the Law
Books of the Psalms
Offerings to God
Amorite Kings Killed by Joshua
What number am I?

Riddle #10
The most wicked queen of Judah.
My pagan mother killed the prophets of Heaven.
I murdered almost all my grandsons.
My execution gave the throne to boy of seven.

The answers are found below.

by Daniel R. Vess

Answers to Riddles. #1 – Devil; #2 – Haman; #3 – Aaron’s Rod; #4 – Seven; #5 – Sodom;
#6 – Daniel; #7 – a widow; #8 – Hebrews; #9 – Five and #10 – Athaliah