Charles Ellicott Commentary Judges 14:12

"And Samson said unto them, Let me now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can declare it unto me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of raiment;" — Judges 14:12 (ASV)

I will now put forth a riddle to you. — Chidah, “a riddle,” comes from chud, “to knot.” The use of riddles at feasts is of great antiquity both among the Jews (1 Kings 10:1 and following) and Greeks (Athen. x. 457; Pollux, vi. 107, and so on). Jewish legends have much to tell us of the riddles that passed between Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, and between Solomon and Hiram (Dius, apud Josephus, Antiquities viii. 5, § 3); and as large sums often depended on the discovery of the answer, they were very much like wagers.

A sharp boy named Abdemon helped Hiram, just as the Greek sage Bias is said to have helped Amasis solve the riddles of the Ethiopian king, which would otherwise have caused heavy losses. The Sphinx of Theban legend devoured those who could not solve her riddle. Mirth and riddles are also connected with the rites of Hercules (Müller, Dorians, ii. 12).

Sheets. —Rather, as in the margin, shirts; but it means shirts of fine linen (sedinim; Septuagint, Vulgate, sindones), such as are only worn by the wealthy (Isaiah 3:23; Mark 14:51). Samson’s offer was fair enough, for if defeated, each paranymph would only have to provide one sindon and one robe, whereas Samson, if they guessed his riddle, would have to provide thirty.