146 BATTLES OF THE BIBLE.

though it be to avoid the greatest of dangers. Samson
then fell upon the Philistines and slew a great many of
them, and afterwards he retired to the top of the rock
Etam, a strong place in the tribe of Judah, to the top of
which two men could not go abreast. While he staid
there the Philistines assembled a large army and pitched
in Judah. The men of Judah asked them what they
wanted. To bind Samson they said they hadcome. Then
three thousand men of the tribe of Judah went up the
rock Etam, and asked Samson what he meant by irritating
their masters, and so bringing evil upon his own people.
Those cowardly Israelites were not ashamed to tell the
only man who fought for their deliverance, that they were
come to bind him and give him into the hands of his
enemies, who they knew would put him to death.
George. But Samson would not let them bind him ;
even three thousand men could not conquer him.
Grandfather. He could have resisted if he had
chosen, but he did not. After his countrymen had
promised that they would do nothing to him themselves,
he permitted them to bind him. ‘Two new cords they
used for the purpose, that he might be bound securely.
The Philistines shouted for joy when they saw their
great enemy in their power, as they thought. But it
was not long that they had cause to rejoice. No sooner
was Samson amongst them than the Spirit of the Lord
came upon him, and he broke the strong cords that
bound him as easily as we would break flax that has
been burnt. Then he took up a jaw bone of an ass