times； Come； if I propose you a riddle； and you can expound it in
these seven days' thee； I will give you every one a linen shirt
and a garment； as the reward of your wisdom。〃 So they being very
ambitious to obtain the glory of wisdom； together with the gains；
desired him to propose his riddle。 He； 〃That a devourer produced
sweet food out of itself； though itself were very disagreeable。〃
And when they were not able； in three days' time； to find out the
meaning of the riddle； they desired the damsel to discover it by
the means of her husband； and tell it them； and they threatened
to burn her if she did not tell it them。 So when the damsel
entreated Samson to tell it her； he at first refused to do it；
but when she lay hard at him； and fell into tears； and made his
refusal to tell it a sign of his unkindness to her； he informed
her of his slaughter of a lion； and how he found bees in his
breast； and carried away three honey…combs； and brought them to
her。 Thus he； suspecting nothing of deceit； informed her of all；
and she revealed it to those that desired to know it。 Then on the
seventh day； whereon they were to expound the riddle proposed to
them； they met together before sun…setting； and said； 〃Nothing is
more disagreeable than a lion to those that light on it； and
nothing is sweeter than honey to those that make use of it。〃 To
which Samson made this rejoinder： 〃Nothing is more deceitful than
a woman for such was the person that discovered my interpretation
to you。〃 Accordingly he gave them the presents he had promised
them； making such Askelonites as met him upon the road his prey；
who were themselves Philistines also。 But he divorced this his
wife； and the girl despised his anger； and was married to his
companion； who made the former match between them。
7。 At this injurious treatment Samson was so provoked； that he
resolved to punish all the Philistines； as well as her： so it
being then summer…time； and the fruits of the land being almost
ripe enough for reaping； he caught three hundred foxes； and
joining lighted torches to their tails； he sent them into the
fields of the Philistines； by which means the fruits of the
fields perished。 Now when the Philistines knew that this was
Samson's doing； and knew also for what cause he did it； they sent
their rulers to Timhath； and burnt his former wife； and her
relations； who had been the occasion of their misfortunes。
8。 Now when Samson had slain many of the Philistines in the plain
country； he dwelt at Etam； which is a strong rock of the tribe of
Judah； for the Philistines at that time made an expedition
against that tribe： but the people of Judah said that they did
not act justly with them； in inflicting punishments upon them
while they paid their tribute； and this only on account of
Samson's offenses。 They answered； that in case they would not be
blamed themselves； they must deliver up Samson； and put him into
their power。 So they being desirous not to be blamed themselves；
came to the rock with three thousand armed men； and complained to
Samson of the bold insults he had made upon the Philistines； who
were men able to bring calamity upon the whole nation of the
Hebrews； and they told him they were come to take him； and to
deliver him up to them； and put him into their power； so they
desired him to bear this willingly。 Accordingly； when he had
received assurance from them upon oath； that they would do him no
other harm than only to deliver him into his enemies' hands； he
came down from the rock； and put himself into the power of his
countrymen。 Then did they bind him with two cords； and lead him
on； in order to deliver him to the Philistines； and when they
came to a certain place； which is now called the Jaw…bone； on
account of the great action there performed by Samson； though of
old it had no particular name at all； the Philistines； who had
pitched their camp not far off； came to meet them with joy and
shouting； as having done a great thing； and gained what they
desired； but Samson broke his bonds asunder； and catching up the
jaw…bone of an ass that lay down at his feet； fell upon his
enemies； and smiting them with his jaw…bone； slew a thousand of
them； and put the rest to flight and into great disorder。
9。 Upon this slaughter Samson was too proud of what he had
performed； and said that this did not come to pass by the
assistance of God； but that his success was to be ascribed to his
own courage； and vaunted himself； that it was out of a dread of
him that some of his enemies fell and the rest ran away upon his
use of the jaw…bone； but when a great thirst came upon him； he
considered that human courage is nothing； and bare his testimony
that all is to be ascribed to God； and besought him that he would
not be angry at any thing he had said； nor give him up into the
hands of his enemies； but afford him help under his affliction；
and deliver him from the misfortune he was under。 Accordingly God
was moved with his entreaties； and raised him up a plentiful
fountain of sweet water at a certain rock whence it was that
Samson called the place the Jaw…bone； （20） and so it is called to
this day。
10。 After this fight Samson held the Philistines in contempt； and
came to Gaza； and took up his lodgings in a certain inn。 When the
rulers of Gaza were informed of his coming thither； they seized
upon the gates； and placed men in ambush about them； that he
might not escape without being perceived； but Samson； who was
acquainted with their contrivances against him； arose about
midnight； and ran by force upon the gates； with their posts and
beams； and the rest of their wooden furniture； and carried them
away on his shoulders； and bare them to the mountain that is over
Hebron； and there laid them down。
11。 However； he at length （21） transgressed the laws of his
country； and altered his own regular way of living； and imitated
the strange customs of foreigners； which thing was the beginning
of his miseries； for he fell in love with a woman that was a
harlot among the Philistines： her name was Delilah； and he lived
with her。 So those that administered the public affairs of the
Philistines came to her； and； with promises； induced her to get
out of Samson what was the cause of that his strength； by which
he became unconquerable to his enemies。 Accordingly； when they
were drinking； and had the like conversation together； she
pretended to admire the actions he had done； and contrived to get
out of him by subtlety； by what means he so much excelled others
in strength。 Samson； in order to delude Delilah； for he had not
yet lost his senses； replied； that if he were bound with seven
such green withs of a vine as might still be wreathed； he should
be weaker than any other man。 The woman said no more then； but
told this to the rulers of the Philistines； and hid certain of
the soldiers in ambush within the house； and when he was
disordered in drink and asleep； she bound him as fast as possible
with the withs； and then upon her awakening him； she told him
some of the people were upon him； but he broke the withs； and
endeavored to defend himself； as though some of the people were
upon him。 Now this woman； in the constant conversation Samson had
with her； pretended that she took it very ill that he had such
little confidence in her affections to him； that he would not
tell her what she desired； as if she would not conceal what she
knew it was for his interest to have concealed。 However； he
deluded her again； and told her； that if they bound him with
seven cords； he should lose his strength。 And when； upon doing
this； she gained nothing； he told her the third thee； that his
hair should be woven into a web； but when； upon doing this； the
truth was not yet discovered； at length Samson； upon Delilah's
prayer； （for he was doomed to fall into some affliction；） was
desirous to please her； and told her that God took care of him；
and that he was born by his providence； and that 〃thence it is
that I suffer my hair to grow； God having charged me never to
poll my head； and thence my strength is according to the increase
and continuance of my hair。〃 When she had learned thus much； and
had deprived him of his hair； she delivered him up to his
enemies； when he was not strong enough to defend himself from
their attempts upon him； so they put out his eyes； and bound him；
and had him led about among them。
12。 But in process of time Samson's hair grew again。 And there
was a public festival among the Philistines； when the rulers； and
those of the most eminent character； were feasting together； （now
the room wherein they were had its roof supported by two pillars
；） so they sent for Samson； and he was brought to their feast；
that they might insult him in their cups。 Hereupon he； thinking
it one of the greatest misfortunes； if he should not be able to
revenge himself when he was thus insulted； persuaded the boy that
led him by the hand； that he was weary and wanted to rest
himself； and desired he would bring him near the pillars； and as
soon as he came to them； he rushed with force against them； and
overthrew the house； by overthrowing its pillars； with three
thousand men in it； who were all slain； and Samson with them。 And
such was the end of this man； when he had ruled over the
Israelites twenty years。 And indeed this man deserves to be
admired for his courage and strength； and magnanimity at his
death； and that his wrath against his enemies went so far as to
die himself with them。 But as for his being ensnared by a woman；
that is to be ascribed to human nature； which is too weak to
resist the temptations to that sin； but we ought to bear him
witness； that in all other respects he was one of extraordinary
virtue。 But his kindred took away his body； and buried it in
Sarasat his own country； with the rest of his family。
CHAPTER 9。
How Under Eli's Government Of The Israelites Booz Married Ruth；
From Whom Came Obed The Grandfather Of David。
1。 Now after the death of Samson； Eli the high priest was
governor of the Israelites。 Under him； when the country was
afflicted with a famine； Elimelech of Bethlehem； which is a city
of the tribe of Judah； being not able to support his family un