148 BATTLES OF THE BIBLE.

So they fell upon their old trick, that of getting a wo-
man on their side. They bribed a woman called
Delilah to find out where his great strength lay. If she
could succeed in getting him to tell her this secret, they
promised each to give her eleven hundred pieces of silver.

George. How much would that be altogether in our
money ?

Grandfather. There were five of the lords of the
Philistines, rulers of their five chief cities, so that it
would be fifty-five hundred shekels of silver which they
promised ; this amounts in our coin to about three hun-
dred and forty-three pounds fifteen shillings. Delilah
was one of those contemptible characters who love
money above all things, so she did her utmost to earn
the reward of treachery. Samson told her first that if
he were bound with seven green withes that were never
dried, he would be as weak as any man. The lords of
the Philistines brought her the withes,—she bound him
with them,—brought men into the room to take him,
and called out, “The Philistines be upon thee, Samson.”
As easily as tow is broken when it touches the fire,
Samson broke the withes that bound him. Delilah
complained that he had mocked her, and besought him
to tell her the truth. He said that if he were bound
with new ropes that never had been used, he would be
weak. She got the ropes, bound him, and brought in
the Philistines to seize him. The strong ropes were
like a thread on Samson’s arms, he broke them so
easily. Again Delilah fell upon him with her flatteries,