THE HISTORY OF SAMSON

JUDGES, CHAP. XIII.

When Israel's sins th' Almighty did provoke, To make them subject to Philistine yoke For forty years: in Zorah dwelt a man, His name Manoah, of the tribe of Dan; His wife was barren, unto whom appeared The angel of the Lord, and thus declared: Though thou, said he, art barren, time shall come Thou shalt enjoy the blessing of thy womb; Now therefore I entreat thee to refrain From wine, strong drink, and things that are unclean, For lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son, Upon whose head there shall no razor come: For he to G.o.d a Nazarite shall be, And shall begin to set his people free From the Philistine yoke. The woman came And told her husband, she had seen a man Of G.o.d: his dreadful look made me, said she, Think him an angel of the Lord to be: But I inquired not from whence he came, Neither did he make known to me his name: But thus he said, Thou shalt conceive a son; Wherefore strong drink and wine, see that thou shun, And have a care that thou be not defil'd With things that are unclean; for why, the child Shall from his separation from the womb, Become a Nazarite, ev'n to his tomb.

Manoah then did supplicate the Lord, And said, O Lord, be pleased to afford This favour unto me, to send again The man of G.o.d, more fully to explain Thy will to us, that we may rightly know, When this child shall be born, what we must do.

And to Manoah's prayer G.o.d gave ear, And to his wife the angel did appear Again, as she did in the field retire, At such time as her husband was not nigh her.

And she made haste, and ran, and strait declared Unto her husband, that the man appeared Again, whom she had seen the other day.

Manoah then arose, and went his way, And when he came, he said, Art thou the man That spakest to my wife? He said, I am.

Manoah said, Now let thy words be true; How shall we use the child, What must we do?

Then said the angel of the Lord, let her Of all that I have charged her beware: She may not taste of what comes of the vine, Nor may she drink strong drink, or any wine, Nor may she eat of things that are unclean, From all that I have said let her refrain.

Manoah said unto the angel, stay With us, till we have dress'd a kid, I pray.

But he reply'd, though thou shalt me detain, I'll eat no bread, but if thou dost design A sacrifice unto the Lord, then offer: For ne'er till now, Manoah did discover It was a man of G.o.d he spake unto.

Then said he to the angel, Let me know Thy name, that when these things shall be perform'd, The honour due to thee may be return'd.

Whereto the man of G.o.d made this reply, Why askest thou, since 'tis a mystery?

So he a kid, and a meat-off'ring took, And offer'd to the Lord upon a rock.

And there the man of G.o.d did wond'rously, The whilst Manoah and his wife stood by: For as the altar did send up the flame, The man of G.o.d ascended in the same.

Manoah and his wife stood looking on, And on their faces to the ground fell down.

But then the angel did appear no more.

Manoah then knew who he was: therefore He said unto his wife, most surely we Shall die, for we the face of G.o.d did see.

But she reply'd, If G.o.d would such a thing, He would not now accept our offering, Or would he have to us these things made known; Or told us, as at this time he hath done.

And now, according to the angel's word, The woman bare a son, to whom the Lord Was pleas'd, his blessing graciously to give: She call'd him Samson, and the child did thrive.

And lo! the spirit of the Lord began, At times to move him in the camp of Dan.

CHAP. XIV.

Now down to Timnath Samson's steps incline, Where seeing the daughter of a Philistine, He came up and did of his parents crave, That he in marriage might the woman have.

Then thus his father and his mother said, 'Mongst all thy kin can'st thou find ne'er a maid; Nor yet among my people, fit to make A wife, but thou wilt this Philistine take, Of race uncirc.u.mcised? He replied, Get her for me, for I'm well satisfied.

But neither of his parents then did know, It was the Lord that moved him thereto, To seek a way to accomplish his designs, Upon the then o'er-ruling Philistines.

Then Samson and his parents both went down To Timnath, and as they came near the town, Among the vineyards a young lion roar'd: Then on him came the spirit of the Lord, And though unarm'd, he rent him like a kid, But he discovered not to them the deed.

And he went down, and with the woman treated, And was well pleas'd to have the match completed.

And in a while as he returned again To take his wife, behold, where he had slain The beast, he there a swarm of bees set eye on, And honey in the carcase of the lion: He took thereof, and eating, on he went, And to his parents did a part present: And they did also eat, but did not know That from the lion's carcase it did flow.

So down his father went unto the woman, And Samson made a feast, as it was common Among young men. The Philistines provide Thirty companions with him to abide And Samson said unto them, now behold, I have a riddle for you to unfold; Which if you do before the seven days' feast Be ended, I will give to every guest A sheet and change of garments; but if ye Cannot declare it, ye shall give to me Full thirty sheets, and thirty changes too.

Then said they, What's thy riddle, let us know?

And Samson said, The eater sent forth meat, And from the strong there came a thing most sweet.

And they could not in three days find it out, Wherefore before the seventh came about, They said unto his wife, Thou must entice Thy husband to discover this device Lest we burn thee, and all thy father's house: Is it not so, that ye have called us To make a spoil? And Samson's wife wept sore, And said, thou dost but hate me, and no more; To put a riddle to my countrymen And not tell't me. And he reply'd again, I have not told my father or my mother, And shall I now to thee this thing discover.

And she continually before him wept, During the time the feasting days were kept.

And now behold it came to pa.s.s that he, By reason of her importunity, Did on the seventh day to her unfold The riddle, which she to her brethren told; And e'er the sun went down on that same day, The Philistines to Samson thus did say, What is more sweet than honey? What more strong Than is a lion? And he said, how long Would it have been, e'er you had understood This thing, had you not with my heifer plow'd?

Then came the spirit of the Lord upon Him, and he hasted down to Askelon, And thirty of the Philistines he slew, And took their clothes, and gave the garments due.

To every one of them that had disclosed The meaning of the riddle he proposed; And towards them his anger fiercely burned, And he unto his father's house returned.

But Samson's wife was given unto one That was his friend and chief companion.

CHAP. XV.

But in a while, as Samson visited His wife, in the wheat harvest with a kid, To her into her chamber he would go, The which her father would not let him do; But said, I thought that thou had'st quite forsook her, Wherefore I gave consent, and thy friend took her; Doth not her sister's beauty her's exceed, Though young? I pray then take her in her stead.

And Samson said, I shall more blameless be Than they, though I shall do them injury.

And then he caught three hundred foxes, and Turn'd tail to tail, and put a fiery brand Between two tails, and setting fire thereto, Into the standing corn he let them go, And burnt both shocks and standing corn and vines, And all the olives of the Philistines.

Then they inquired who this thing had done, And were inform'd it was the Timnite's son; Because his father took his wife away, And gave her his companion to enjoy.

And the Philistines came up, full of wrath, And burnt with fire, her and her father both.

And Samson said, though you have done this thing, A further evil I will on you bring; And my avenging hand shall cease hereafter; And hip and thigh he smote them with great slaughter.

And he return'd, and came up to the top Of Etam, and dwelt there upon the rock.

Then the Philistines up to Judah went, And in the vale of Lehi pitched their tent.

Then said the men of Judah, for what reason Are you come up against us at this season?

And they made answer, We are come to bind Samson, to do to him in the same kind As he hath done to us. Then there went up Three thousand men of Judah to the top Of the rock Etam, and to Samson said, Dost thou not know that we have long obey'd The Philistines? Wherefore is it that thou Hast done this thing, to bring this evil now, Upon us, let us know it? Then said he I did to them as they have done to me.

Then said they we are come, and have brought bands, To bind, and give thee up into their hands.

And he made answer, you shall swear unto me, That you yourselves no injury will do me.

And they reply'd, no no, we will but bind thee, We will not kill thee, but to them resign thee.

And they took two new cords, and therewith tied him, And from the rock where he abode convey him: Whom when they to the camp at Lehi brought, The Philistines against him gave a shout: And mightily the Spirit of the Lord Came on him, and like burning flax each cord That was upon his arms became; the bands Were likewise separated from his hands.

And he the jaw-bone of an a.s.s espied, And took and smote them till a thousand died.

Then said he, with an a.s.s's jaw-bone I Have made mine enemies in heaps to lie.

Behold I have destroy'd a thousand men With this same worthless a.s.s's jaw. And when He made an end to speak, it came to pa.s.s He cast away the jaw-bone of the a.s.s, And said, Now let the place where this was done Be by the name of Ramath-Lehi known.

And he was sore athirst, and to the Lord He cried, and said, O Lord, thou did'st afford This great deliverance, and now shall I, By reason of my thirst fall down and die, And fall into the most accursed hands Of these uncirc.u.mcis'd Philistine bands?

But G.o.d was pleas'd to cleave an hollow place, Within the jaw, from whence did water pa.s.s; Whereof when he had drunk, his spirit came As heretofore, and he reviv'd again: Wherefore that place, which is in Lehi, bore Unto this day the name of En-hakkore.

And in the days the Philistines bore sway, Israel for twenty years did him obey.

CHAP. XVI.

Then down to Gaza Samson went, and there Seeing an harlot, went in unto her.

And when the Gazites heard he was come thither: Straightway they gathered themselves together To compa.s.s him about, and lay in wait All night, to take him in the city gate; And they were still all night, for why? Say they, To-morrow we shall kill him when 'tis day.

And he till midnight lay, and then arose, And with the city gates away he goes, Bearing the posts and bar and all away, And on an hill near Hebron did them lay.

And afterward it came to pa.s.s he saw, And lov'd a woman named Delilah, Who in the vale of Sorek dwelt, to whom There did the lords of the Philistines come, And said, If thou wilt but entice him to reveal Where lies his strength, and which way we may deal With him, to bind him, to afflict him, we Each one will give a great reward to thee.

And she to Samson said, I pray thee, tell Wherein thy strength doth other men excel, And how thou may'st be bound. And he replied, If they with seven green withs that ne'er were dried, Shall bind me hand and foot, I shall be then As weak and impotent as other men.

Then the Philistine lords for her provide The seven green withs which never had been dried, And she therewith did bind him, (now there were Men lying in wait whom she had placed there,) Then she cried out, and said, Now Samson stand Thy ground, for the Philistines are at hand.

And straight he brake the withs, and they became Like to a thread of tow when touch'd with flame: So was his strength not found out. Then said she, Samson, behold, thou hast deceived me, And told me lies: therefore no longer blind me, But tell, I pray thee, wherewith I may bind thee.

Bind me with ropes that ne'er were us'd, said he; Then weak as other men are, shall I be.

She therefore took new ropes, and bound him, and Cried, Samson, the Philistines are at hand: (And in the chamber there were man lay hid) And from his arms he brake them like a thread.

Then said she, Thou hast mocked me hitherto, And told me lies: now tell me what to do To bind thee. He replied, Thou with the web Must interweave the seven locks of my head.

Then she his locks did fasten with the pin, And said, The Philistines are coming in, Shift, Samson, for thyself; then he awoke, And pin and web, and all away he took.

Then said she, How canst thou pretend to love me, When thus thy doing towards me disprove thee?

For now, behold, thou hast deceived me thrice, And hast not told me where thy great strength lies.

At length his soul being vex'd exceedingly, By reason of her importunity: He told the secrets of his heart, and said, Never yet razor on my head was laid; For I have been to G.o.d a Nazarite, Even from the day that first I saw the light: Wherefore like other men, if I am shaven, I shall be weak, and of my strength bereaven.

And when she saw that he had told her all The secrets of his heart, she sent to call The lords of the Philistines. Come, said she, This once, for now he hath made known to me The very truth. Then they came up together, And brought the money in their hands to give her.

Then down to sleep upon her knees she laid him, And call'd a man, who of his locks betray'd him.

And to afflict him she began, and then His strength became like that of other men.

Then said she, Samson, thy Philistine foes Are just at hand: and he from sleep arose, And as at other times went forth to shake him, Not knowing that the Lord did now forsake him.

But the Philistines seized him, and brought Him down to Gaza, having first put out His eyes, and did with brazen fetters bind And made him in the prison house to grind.

Howbeit the hair upon his head began, After he had been shaved, to grow again.

Then the Philistine lords together met, And a thanksigivng-day apart they set, For to rejoice, and unto Dagon pay Their highest service; For our G.o.d, say they, Did this: and when the people did behold Poor captive Samson, they their G.o.d extoll'd, And said, Our G.o.d hath given into our hand Him that destroy'd us, and laid waste our land.

And in their height of mirth they sent to call Samson, to come and make sport for them all.

And from the prison-house they brought him, and Between the pillars they set him to stand; And there he made them sport. Then to the lad That led him by the hand, thus Samson said; Let me now feel the pillars that sustain The house, that I myself thereon may lean.

Now in the house there was a mighty throng Of men and women gather'd, and among Them, all the lords of the Philistines were.

Besides, upon the roof there did appear, About three thousand men and women, who Beheld, while Samson made them sport below.

And Samson, calling on the Lord, did say, O Lord, my G.o.d, remember me, I pray, This once give strength, that I aveng'd may be Of those Philistines who have blinded me.

And with his right hand and his left, he held Two middle pillars which the house upheld; And said, Let me with the Philistines die, And then he bowed himself most mightily: And down the house fell on the lords, and all The people that were in't; so that the fall Thereof, slew at his dying many more Than he had slain in all his life before.

Then did his brethren and his kinfolks come And took him up, and brought him with them home, And laid him in his father's sepulchre, When he had judged Israel twenty year.

CHRIST'S SERMON ON THE MOUNT