STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS. 141

George. Did Jephthah fight any more battles, grand-
father ? |

Grandfather. We hear of no more battles that he
fought. For six years he judged Israel, then he died.
The next fighting of which we hear was the most remark-
able feud that the world ever saw. A warrior fought
alone, entirely unassisted by man; by the strength of
his arm his enemies fell in crowds round him.

Johnnie. What was his name, grandfather ?

Grandfather. Samson.

George. Samson! Oh, I should like to hear all about
him.
Grandfather. I shall give you a history of him, then.
His whole life was a war. In the town of Zorah, in the
tribe of Dan, lived a man of the name of Manoah. To
his wife and to himself also an angel appeared to an-
nounce the birth of a son, who was to be a Nazarite
from the day that he was born.

George. What is a Nazarite ?

Grandfather. A Nazarite was one who was set apart
for the service of God in a peculiar manner. They
bound themselves by a vow to taste no wine nor strong
drink of any kind, and not to cut the hair of their heads.
People took this vow of their own accord, for a week, or
for a month, or for any length of time that they chose.
The son of Manoah was born a Nazarite, and was com-
manded to continue so during his life. He was called
Samson, which means a little sun. When very young he
began to signalize himself, but we have no particulars of