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the antiquities of the jews-1-第66章

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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
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