BOYS OF THE BIBLE. 139

Samson married this woman of Timnath, and there was
a great feast that lasted more than a week. It is at this
strange wedding-feast that we first hear Samson at his favorite.
sport of asking riddles. ee

““And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle
unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven
days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty
sheets and thirty change of garments: but if ye cannot declare
it me, then shall ye give me thirty sheets and thirty change
of garments. And they said unto him, Put forth thy riddle,
that we may hear it. And he said unto them, Out of the
eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweet-
_ ness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle.”

And they never would have found out the riddle if they
had not coaxed Samson’s wife to tell them.

Samson was soon sorry that he had allied himself with
these Philistines. One day he went with a pretty present for
his wife, but he was not allowed to see her, and was told that
he could never see her again.

Samson was very angry. And then came one of his
wicked practical jokes. He caught three hundred jackals, and
tied blazing wool to their tails, and sent them into the stand-
ing corn that was just ready for the harvest. The harvest-
fields and vineyards were soon ablaze. Such an awful prairie
fire had never been seen. What a weak, and wicked, and
revengeful spirit this strong Samson had!

Next comes the story of Samson’s breaking the new cords
with which he was bound on the high peak of Etam in the
presence of his foes.

“Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of
the rock Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that
the Philistines are rulers over us? what is this that thou hast