People would kick back on their cozy cushions, get super drunk and entertain each other by telling riddles. This was actually a popular party activity in those days. So what did the people in those days do for fun? No, everyone was stuck with each other the whole time…which meant things could get a bit boring. So it wasn’t like the party guests traveled back and forth from home every day over the 7-day period. Nor was there a some big screen TV showing movies, sporting events or any other form of exciting entertainment.Īnd also consider that the nearest city was Ashkelon which was located miles away.
There wasn’t some DJ spinning discs of the latest hot tunes for the people to boogie woogie to… Now I know that sounds like a lot of fun.īut remember we’re talking about the ancient Middle East here folks. We’re talking about a 7-day long party here.
It was the equivalent of a full-blown bachelor’s party in our day! Lots of delicious and probably un-kosher food… Given all of the mixing going on between the Israelites and the Philistines, I think it’s safe to say Samson probably knew some of these men and no doubt would have been good friends with the best man.Īgain, picture what’s going on here folks. So to ensure the banquet wouldn’t be a lonely affair, out of hospitality the bride’s side of the family sent 30 Philistine male companions to attend. None of Samson’s Hebrew pals would have been present. So this banquet was a Philistine thing, not Hebrew.
Samson was in Philistine territory marrying a Philistine girl. The “young men” here are NOT referring to Israelites. So we’re told a huge banquet was served and that “ this is what the young men used to do”. This absurd state of ease between Israel and her sworn enemies was the reason why the Lord was about to shake things up. There was zero hint of tenseness in the air or that either of the two families were uncomfortable about the situation at all. We have an Israelite family and a Philistine family coming together to celebrate a union forbidden by the Lord. In verse 10, we’re told the ceremony kicked off when Samson’s dad went down the aisle to greet and extend a hand of congratulations to Samson’s future bride.Īgain, try to clearly imagine what’s going on here. When the P’lishtim saw him, they provided thirty companions to be with him.”-Judges 14:10-11Įxcept this was a wedding that never should have been. “His father went down to the woman, and there Shimshon gave a banquet - this is what the young men used to do.
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