all his life； he led them to the war。
9。 And when Jephtha had taken immediate care of their affairs； he
placed his army at the city Mizpeh； and sent a message to the
Ammonite ＇king＇； complaining of his unjust possession of their
land。 But that king sent a contrary message； and complained of
the exodus of the Israelites out of Egypt； and desired him to go
out of the land of the Amorites； and yield it up to him； as at
first his paternal inheritance。 But Jephtha returned this answer：
That he did not justly complain of his ancestors about the land
of the Amorites； and ought rather to thank them that they left
the land of the Ammonites to them； since Moses could have taken
it also； and that neither would he recede from that land of their
own； which God had obtained for them； and they had now inhabited
＇above＇ three hundred years； but would fight with them about it。
10。 And when he had given them this answer； he sent the
ambassadors away。 And when he had prayed for victory； and had
vowed to perform sacred offices； and if he came home in safety；
to offer in sacrifice what living creature soever should first
meet him； （17） he joined battle with the enemy； and gained a
great victory； and in his pursuit slew the enemies all along as
far as the city of Minnith。 He then passed over to the land of
the Ammonites； and overthrew many of their cities； and took their
prey； and freed his own people from that slavery which they had
undergone for eighteen years。 But as he came back； he fell into a
calamity no way correspondent to the great actions he had done；
for it was his daughter that came to meet him； she was also an
only child and a virgin： upon this Jephtha heavily lamented the
greatness of his affliction； and blamed his daughter for being so
forward in meeting him； for he had vowed to sacrifice her to God。
However； this action that was to befall her was not ungrateful to
her； since she should die upon occasion of her father's victory；
and the liberty of her fellow citizens： she only desired her
father to give her leave； for two months； to bewail her youth
with her fellow citizens； and then she agreed； that at the
forementioned thee he might do with her according to his vow。
Accordingly； when that time was over； he sacrificed his daughter
as a burnt…offering； offering such an oblation as was neither
conformable to the law nor acceptable to God； not weighing with
himself what opinion the hearers would have of such a practice。
11。 Now the tribe of Ephraim fought against him； because he did
not take them along with him in his expedition against the
Ammonites； but because he alone had the prey； and the glory of
what was done to himself。 As to which he said； first； that they
were not ignorant how his kindred had fought against him； and
that when they were invited； they did not come to his assistance；
whereas they ought to have come quickly； even before they were
invited。 And in the next place； that they were going to act
unjustly； for while they had not courage enough to fight their
enemies； they came hastily against their own kindred： and he
threatened them that； with God's assistance； he would inflict a
punishment upon them； unless they would grow wiser。 But when he
could not persuade them； he fought with them with those forces
which he sent for out of Gilead； and he made a great slaughter
among them； and when they were beaten； he pursued them； and
seized on the passages of Jordan by a part of his army which he
had sent before； and slew about forty…two thousand of them。
12。 So when Jephtha had ruled six years； he died； and was buried
in his own country； Sebee； which is a place in the land of
Gilead。
13。 Now when Jephtha was dead； Ibzan took the government； being
of the tribe of Judah； and of the city of Bethlehem。 He had sixty
children； thirty of them sons； and the rest daughters； all whom
he left alive behind him； giving the daughters in marriage to
husbands； and taking wives for his sons。 He did nothing in the
seven years of his administration that was worth recording； or
deserved a memorial。 So he died an old man； and was buried in his
own country。
14。 When Ibzan was dead after this manner； neither did Helon； who
succeeded him in the government； and kept it ten years； do any
thing remarkable： he was of the tribe of Zebulon。
15。 Abdon also； the son of Hilel； of the tribe of Ephraim； and
born at the city Pyrathon； was ordained their supreme governor
after Helon。 He is only recorded to have been happy in his
children； for the public affairs were then so peaceable； and in
such security； that neither did he perform any glorious action。
He had forty sons； and by them left thirty grandchildren； and he
marched in state with these seventy； who were all very skillful
in riding horses； and he left them all alive after him。 He died
an old man； and obtained a magnificent burial in Pyrathon。
CHAPTER 8。
Concerning The Fortitude Of Samson； And What Mischiefs He Brought
Upon The Philistines。
1。 After Abdon was dead； the Philistines overcame the Israelites；
and received tribute of them for forty years； from which distress
they were delivered after this manner： …
2。 There was one Manoah； a person of such great virtue； that he
had few men his equals； and without dispute the principal person
of his country。 He had a wife celebrated for her beauty； and
excelling her contemporaries。 He had no children； and； being
uneasy at his want of posterity； he entreated God to give them
seed of their own bodies to succeed them； and with that intent he
came constantly into the suburbs （18） together with his wife；
which suburbs were in the Great Plain。 Now he was fond of his
wife to a degree of madness； and on that account was unmeasurably
jealous of her。 Now； when his wife was once alone； an apparition
was seen by her： it was an angel of God； and resembled a young
man beautiful and tall； and brought her the good news that she
should have a son； born by God's providence； that should be a
goodly child； of great strength； by whom； when he was grown up to
man's estate； the Philistines should be afflicted。 He exhorted
her also not to poll his hair； and that he should avoid all other
kinds of drink； （for so had God commanded；） and be entirely
contented with water。 So the angel； when he had delivered that
message； went his way； his coming having been by the will of God。
3。 Now the wife informed her husband when he came home of what
the angel had said； who showed so great an admiration of the
beauty and tallness of the young man that had appeared to her；
that her husband was astonished； and out of himself for jealousy；
and such suspicions as are excited by that passion： but she was
desirous of having her husband's unreasonable sorrow taken away；
accordingly she entreated God to send the angel again； that he
might be seen by her husband。 So the angel came again by the
favor of God； while they were in the suburbs； and appeared to her
when she was alone without her husband。 She desired the angel to
stay so long till she might bring her husband； and that request
being granted； she goes to call Manoah。 When he saw the angel he
was not yet free from suspicion； and he desired him to inform him
of all that he had told his wife； but when he said it was
sufficient that she alone knew what he had said； he then
requested of him to tell who he was； that when the child was born
they might return him thanks； and give him a present。 He replied
that he did not want any present； for that he did not bring them
the good news of the birth of a son out of the want of any thing。
And when Manoah had entreated him to stay； and partake of his
hospitality； he did not give his consent。 However he was
persuaded； at the earnest request of Manoah to stay so long as
while he brought him one mark of his hospitality； so he slew a
kid of the goats； and bid his wife boil it。 When all was ready；
the angel enjoined him to set the loaves and the flesh； but
without the vessels； upon the rock； which when they had done； he
touched the flesh with the rod which he had in his hand； which；
upon the breaking out of a flame； was consumed； together with the
loaves； and the angel ascended openly； in their sight； up to
heaven； by means of the smoke； as by a vehicle。 Now Manoah was
afraid that some danger would come to them from this sight of
God； but his wife bade him be of good courage； for that God
appeared to them for their benefit。
4。 So the woman proved with child； and was careful to observe the
injunctions that were given her； and they called the child； when
he was born； Samson； which name signifies one that is strong。 So
the child grew apace； and it appeared evidently that he would be
a prophet； （19） both by the moderation of his diet； and the
permission of his hair to grow。
5。 Now when he once came with his parents to Timhath； a city of
the Philistines； when there was a great festival； he fell in love
with a maid of that country； and he desired of his parents that
they would procure him the damsel for his wife： but they refused
so to do； because she was not of the stock of Israel； yet because
this marriage was of God； who intended to convert it to the
benefit of the Hebrews； he over…persuaded them to procure her to
be espoused to him。 And as he was continually coming to her
parents； he met a lion； and though he was naked； he received his
onset； and strangled him with his hands； and cast the wild beast
into a woody piece of ground on the inside of the road。
6。 And when he was going another time to the damsel； he lit upon
a swarm of bees making their combs in the breast of that lion；
and taking three honey…combs away； he gave them； together with
the rest of his presents； to the damsel。 Now the people of
Timhath； out of a dread of the young man's strength； gave him
during the time of the wedding…feast （for he then feasted them
all） thirty of the most stout of their youth； in pretense to be
his companions； but in reality to be a guard upon him； that he
might not attempt to give them any disturbance。 Now as they were
drinking merrily and playing； Samson said； as was usual at such
times； Come； if I propose you a riddle； and you can expound it in
these sev