eir
benefit.

4. So the woman proved with child, and was careful to observe the
injunctions that were given her; and they called the child, when he was
born, Samson, which name signifies one that is strong. So the child grew
apace; and it appeared evidently that he would be a prophet, [19] both
by the moderation of his diet, and the permission of his hair to grow.

5. Now when he once came with his parents to Timhath, a city of the
Philistines, when there was a great festival, he fell in love with a
maid of that country, and he desired of his parents that they would
procure him the damsel for his wife: but they refused so to do, because
she was not of the stock of Israel; yet because this marriage was
of God, who intended to convert it to the benefit of the Hebrews, he
over-persuaded them to procure her to be espoused to him. And as he
was continually coming to her parents, he met a lion, and though he was
naked, he received his onset, and strangled him with his hands, and cast
the wild beast into a woody piece of ground on the inside of the road.

6. And when he was going another time to the damsel, he lit upon a swarm
of bees making their combs in the breast of that lion; and taking three
honey-combs away, he gave them, together with the rest of his presents,
to the damsel. Now the people of Timhath, out of a dread of the young
man's strength, gave him during the time of the wedding-feast [for
he then feasted them all] thirty of the most stout of their youth, in
pretense to be his companions, but in reality to be a guard upon him,
that he might not attempt to give them any disturbance. Now as they were
drinking merrily and playing, Samson said, as was usual at such times,
"Come, if I propose you a riddle, and you can expound it in these seven
days' thee, I will give you every one a linen shirt and a garment, as
the reward of your wisdom." So they being very ambitious to obtain the
glory of wisdom, together with the gains, desired him to propose his
riddle. He, "That a devourer produced sweet food out of itself, though
itself were very disagreeable." And when they were not able, in three
days' time, to find out the meaning of the riddle, they desired the
damsel to discover it by the means of her husband, and tell it them;
and they threatened to burn her if she did not tell it them. So when the
damsel entreated Samson to tell it her, he at first refused to do it;
but when she lay hard at him, and fell into tears, and