The Wedding Feast of the Nazarite

Lyrics

Judges Chapter Fourteen

[seductive strings]
[elegant harp]
[soft tambourines]
[wedding procession]

Then went Samson down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.

And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.

But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.

[harp fades]
[wind through vineyards]
[distant growl]
[heartbeat]

Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him.

[drop]
[lion circles]
[bones cracking]
[tearing flesh]
[earth shaking]
[choir disappears]

And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.

[wind only]

And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion.

[harp returns]
[beautiful but uneasy]

So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do.

And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.

And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments:

But if ye cannot declare it me, then shall ye give me thirty sheets and thirty change of garments. And they said unto him, Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it.

Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness.

[seductive strings tighten]
[whispering voices]
[wine cups tremble]

And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto Samson’s wife, Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father’s house with fire: have ye called us to take that we have? is it not so?

[silence]

And she wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted: and it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she lay sore upon him: and she told the riddle to the children of her people.

[choir cut]
[sub-bass awakening]

And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion?

And he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle.

[everything turns black]
[massive taiko hits]
[war horns]
[iron impacts]
[furious breathing]
[blade echoes]
[relentless 808s]

And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father’s house.

[final impact]
[echoing footsteps into darkness]