the antiquities of the jews-1-第54章

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enemies；　they　came　hastily　against　their　own　kindred：　and　he
threatened　them　that；　with　God's　assistance；　he　would　inflict　a
punishment　upon　them；　unless　they　would　grow　wiser。　But　when　he
could　not　persuade　them；　he　fought　with　them　with　those　forces
which　he　sent　for　out　of　Gilead；　and　he　made　a　great　slaughter
among　them；　and　when　they　were　beaten；　he　pursued　them；　and
seized　on　the　passages　of　Jordan　by　a　part　of　his　army　which　he
had　sent　before；　and　slew　about　forty…two　thousand　of　them。

12。　So　when　Jephtha　had　ruled　six　years；　he　died；　and　was　buried
in　his　own　country；　Sebee；　which　is　a　place　in　the　land　of
Gilead。

13。　Now　when　Jephtha　was　dead；　Ibzan　took　the　government；　being
of　the　tribe　of　Judah；　and　of　the　city　of　Bethlehem。　He　had　sixty
children；　thirty　of　them　sons；　and　the　rest　daughters；　all　whom
he　left　alive　behind　him；　giving　the　daughters　in　marriage　to
husbands；　and　taking　wives　for　his　sons。　He　did　nothing　in　the
seven　years　of　his　administration　that　was　worth　recording；　or
deserved　a　memorial。　So　he　died　an　old　man；　and　was　buried　in　his
own　country。

14。　When　Ibzan　was　dead　after　this　manner；　neither　did　Helon；　who
succeeded　him　in　the　government；　and　kept　it　ten　years；　do　any
thing　remarkable：　he　was　of　the　tribe　of　Zebulon。

15。　Abdon　also；　the　son　of　Hilel；　of　the　tribe　of　Ephraim；　and
born　at　the　city　Pyrathon；　was　ordained　their　supreme　governor
after　Helon。　He　is　only　recorded　to　have　been　happy　in　his
children；　for　the　public　affairs　were　then　so　peaceable；　and　in
such　security；　that　neither　did　he　perform　any　glorious　action。
He　had　forty　sons；　and　by　them　left　thirty　grandchildren；　and　he
marched　in　state　with　these　seventy；　who　were　all　very　skillful
in　riding　horses；　and　he　left　them　all　alive　after　him。　He　died
an　old　man；　and　obtained　a　magnificent　burial　in　Pyrathon。

CHAPTER　8。

Concerning　The　Fortitude　Of　Samson；　And　What　Mischiefs　He　Brought
Upon　The　Philistines。

1。　After　Abdon　was　dead；　the　Philistines　overcame　the　Israelites；
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　hi