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RIDDLE
Word puzzle widely used and esteemed in the ancient world, both as an everyday amusement and as a test of wisdom at a more serious level. The point of a riddle was the discovery of a concealed meaning. Riddles, therefore, may be broadly distinguished from fables, which, like Jotham’s celebrated plant fable (Jgs 9:7-15), contained an easily discerned significance. Obviously, there is an intermediate area where there is no sharp differentiation. For instance, Ezekiel’s riddle (Ez 17) has sometimes been classified as a plant fable.
Samson’s riddle at his wedding feast is the best-known biblical riddle (Jgs 14). Probably it was a form of diversion used on such occasions (vv 12-13). The riddle took the form of a couplet: “From the one who eats came something to eat; out of the strong came something sweet” (v 14). Samson’s 30 young men threatened his betrothed, who wheedled the secret from him: “What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?” (v 18).
Solomon’s wisdom was demonstrated in his ability to answer the “hard questions” (lit., “riddles”) of the queen of Sheba (1 Kgs 10:1-4). His reputation for this kind of wisdom is further demonstrated by Ben Sirach: “Your soul covered the earth, and you filled it with parables and riddles” (Ecclus 47:15).
Josephus notes a contest of wits between Solomon and Hiram, with riddles being exchanged. Solomon won the earlier exchanges, but Hiram finally outwitted him by enlisting outside help (Antiquities 8.5.5). Such wisdom to solve riddles was, understandably, claimed by Israel’s wise men (e.g., Ps 49:4; Prv 1:6). In Daniel 8:23-24 there is the apocalyptic vision of “a master of intrigue [who] will rise to power” (lit. “one who understands riddles”). Daniel himself possessed the same ability to “interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems” (Dn 5:12).
In the NT riddles figure infrequently. The various “hard sayings” of Jesus (e.g., Jn 6:60) are difficult to accept and are equally as hard to understand. Possibly the only true riddle is the number of the beast, 666 (Rv 13:18). Various attempts have been made to identify a person, after the pattern of numerical references in contemporary literature. Of these, the emperor Nero is the most plausible candidate.