Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

RIDDLE

A wisdom genre common in the literature of the ancient Near East. Examples abound in Sumerian, Babylonian, Assyrian, Egyptian, Iranian, and Greek sources. One Sumerian riddle proposes a classic riddle question: “What is the most useful thing for mankind?” The widespread riddle, “What is the strongest thing in the world?” is represented in the Samson stories (Judges) and in 1 Esdr. 3:1–5:6.

Riddles appear throughout the OT and are related to fables, parables, and metaphors, all of which require that the hearer or reader look behind the words and images to discern the meaning or hidden wisdom therein. Some scholars speak of the “clue” and “trap” form which riddles take. Riddles probably had their origin in some specific situation in the life of a people. They were probably originally independent of the tales and stories in which they appeared, and as riddles were passed on from generation to generation.

One function of the riddle form is to test the participants and hearers in order to discern some truth. But this quest for truth can take a playful turn during the riddling. The riddle contest in the Samson narrative, in which the Israelite is matched with the Philistines in both intellectual and physical contests, is an example of this playfulness, occurring in a setting with quite high stakes (Judg. 14:14, 18).

The OT Wisdom Literature contains many riddles. 1 Kgs. 10:1-3 tells of Solomon, Israel’s patron and purveyor of wisdom par excellence, engaging in a riddle contest with the queen of Sheba. Josephus reports a tradition of an exchange of “tricky problems and enigmatic sayings” between Solomon and Hiram, king of Tyre (Ant. 18.143).

1 Esdras preserves a tale of a riddle contest at the court of Darius in which one of the oldest riddles in the world is proposed to three youths, presumed guards of the king. Whoever can solve the riddle “What is the strongest thing in the world?” will be rewarded handsomely. The three youths offer separate answers: wine, the king, and women, respectively. In the original, secular version of the contest the third page wins, with the answer “women,” but in a later version “truth” is added as the winning entry, thus moralizing the tale.

Riddles also appear in prophetic oracles (e.g., Amos 6:12). Many of the riddles in the Bible, especially those associated with Samson and Solomon (Song of Songs, Proverbs), may reflect an underlying erotic context.

William R. Goodman

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

RIDDLE

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)