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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 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