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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 under
so sore a distress； took with him Naomi his wife； and the
children that were born to him by her； Chillon and Mahlon； and
removed his habitation into the land of Moab； and upon the happy
prosperity of his affairs there； he took for his sons wives of
the Moabites； Orpah for Chillon； and Ruth for Mahlon。 But in the
compass of ten years； both Elimelech； and a little while after
him； the sons； died； and Naomi being very uneasy at these
accidents； and not being able to bear her lonesome condition； now
those that were dearest to her were dead； on whose account it was
that she had gone away from her own country； she returned to it
again； for she had been informed it was now in a flourishing
condition。 However； her daughters…in…law were not able to think
of parting with her； and when they had a mind to go out of the
country with her； she could not dissuade them from it； but when
they insisted upon it； she wished them a more happy wedlock than
they had with her sons； and that they might have prosperity in
other respects also； and seeing her own affairs were so low； she
exhorted them to stay where they were； and not to think of
leaving their own country； and partaking with her of that
uncertainty under which she must return。 Accordingly Orpah staid
behind； but she took Ruth along with her； as not to be persuaded
to stay behind her； but would take her fortune with her；
whatsoever it should prove。
2。 When Ruth was come with her mother…in…law to Bethlehem； Booz；
who was near of kin to Elimelech； entertained her； and when Naomi
was so called by her fellow citizens； according to her true name；
she said； 〃You might more truly call me Mara。〃 Now Naomi
signifies in the Hebrew tongue happiness； and Mara； sorrow。 It
was now reaping thee； and Ruth； by the leave of her
mother…in…law； went out to glean； that they might get a stock of
corn for their food。 Now it happened that she came into Booz's
field； and after some thee Booz came thither； and when he saw the
damsel； he inquired of his servant that was set over the reapers
concerning the girl。 The servant had a little before inquired
about all her circumstances； and told them to his master； who
kindly embraced her； both on account of her affection to her
mother…in…law； and her remembrance of that son of hers to whom
she had been married； and wished that she might experience a
prosperous condition； so he desired her not to glean； but to reap
what she was able； and gave her leave to carry it home。 He also
gave it in charge to that servant who was over the reapers； not
to hinder her when she took it away； and bade him give her her
dinner； and make her drink when he did the like to the reapers。
Now what corn Ruth received of him she kept for her
mother…in…law； and came to her in the evening； and brought the
ears of corn with her； and Naomi had kept for her a part of such
food as her neighbors had plentifully bestowed upon her。 Ruth
also told her mother…in…law what Booz had said to her； and when