Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/241

 Dalila, a Philistine  woman,  after  many  pleadings,  extracted from him  the  secret  of  his  strength. “The razor  hath  never  come upon my  head,  for  I am  a Nazarite:  that  is  to  say,  consecrated to God. If my  head  be  shaven  my  strength  will  depart,  and  I shall  be  like  other  men.”  During  his  sleep  Dalila  cut  off  his  hair, called the  Philistines,  who  captured  him,  put out his  eyes,  and  cast  him  into  prison. Some time after,  a great  feast  was  celebrated  in honour  of  the  idol  Dagon  (Fig. 39),  when more than  three  thousand  Philistines  were assembled in  the  house. Blind Samson,  whose hair had  grown  again,  was  brought  out  that he might  amuse  them  by  feats  of  his  strength. He told  the  boy  who  led  him  to  bring  him to the  pillars  upon  which  the  whole  house rested. Then he  prayed:  “O  Lord  God,  remember  me  and  restore to me  my  former  strength.”  Then  grasping  the  pillars,  he  shook them so  strongly  that  the  whole  house  rocked  and  fell  upon himself and  all  the  people. In this  manner  he  killed  many  more enemies of  God  at  his  death  than  he  had  killed  during  life.



Justice, Patience, and Mercy  of  God.  The  Chanaanites,  if  they  had had a right  will,  could  have  learnt  to  know  the  true  God  by  means  of the  wonders  which  He  wrought  before  their  very  eyes. As, however, in spite  of  this,  they  persevered  in  impiety  and  immorality,  the  judgments of God  overtook  them,  and  they  were  rooted  out  by  the  Israelites.