Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/240

 The sudden  alarm  and  the  fierce  attack  of  Gedeon’s  men threw the  Madianites  into  such  confusion  that  they  turned  their swords against  each  other  and  fled  in  all  directions. Then all the tribes  of  Israel,  seeing  that  victory  was  on  their  side,  rose up and  pursued  the  Madianites,  cutting  off  their  retreat  on  every side, so  that  of  the  whole  army  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-five thousand men,  only  fifteen  thousand  returned  alive  to  their  own country. Israel had  peace  for  forty  years.

The Israelites  fell  again  into  idolatry,  and  were  persecuted by the  Philistines. But an  angel  appeared  to  the  wife  of  Manue  , of the  tribe  of  Dan,  and  said: “Thou  shalt  bear  a son; no  razor shall touch  his  head,  for  he  shall  be  a Nazarite  of  God  from  his infancy, and  he  shall  begin  to  deliver  Israel  from  the  hands  of the  Philistines.”  When  the  child  was  born,  he  was  called Samson.

Going to  the  city  of  the  Philistines,  he  met  a young  lion; but the Spirit  of  the  Lord came  upon  Samson,  and  he  tore  the  lion to pieces. Being delivered  into  the  hands  of  the  Philistines,  he tore  the  cords  with  which  he  was  bound,  and  finding  the  jawbone of  an  ass,  he  slew  with  it  a thousand  men. Remaining over night  in  Gaza,  the  Philistines  bolted  the  gates  of  the  city to prevent  his  escape. But Samson  arose  at  midnight,  took  the gates with  their  posts  and  bolts,  and  carried  them  to  the  top of a hill.