made his refusal
to tell it a sign of his unkindness to her, he informed her of his
slaughter of a lion, and how he found bees in his breast, and carried
away three honey-combs, and brought them to her. Thus he, suspecting
nothing of deceit, informed her of all, and she revealed it to those
that desired to know it. Then on the seventh day, whereon they were
to expound the riddle proposed to them, they met together before
sun-setting, and said, "Nothing is more disagreeable than a lion to
those that light on it, and nothing is sweeter than honey to those that
make use of it." To which Samson made this rejoinder: "Nothing is
more deceitful than a woman for such was the person that discovered my
interpretation to you." Accordingly he gave them the presents he had
promised them, making such Askelonites as met him upon the road his
prey, who were themselves Philistines also. But he divorced this his
wife; and the girl despised his anger, and was married to his companion,
who made the former match between them.

7. At this injurious treatment Samson was so provoked, that he resolved
to punish all the Philistines, as well as her: so it being then
summer-time, and the fruits of the land being almost ripe enough for
reaping, he caught three hundred foxes, and joining lighted torches to
their tails, he sent them into the fields of the Philistines, by which
means the fruits of the fields perished. Now when the Philistines knew
that this was Samson's doing, and knew also for what cause he did it,
they sent their rulers to Timhath, and burnt his former wife, and her
relations, who had been the occasion of their misfortunes.

8. Now when Samson had slain many of the Philistines in the plain
country, he dwelt at Etam, which is a strong rock of the tribe of Judah;
for the Philistines at that time made an expedition against that tribe:
but the people of Judah said that they did not act justly with them, in
inflicting punishments upon them while they paid their tribute, and this
only on account of Samson's offenses. They answered, that in case they
would not be blamed themselves, they must deliver up Samson, and put him
into their power. So they being desirous not to be blamed themselves,
came to the rock with three thousand armed men, and complained to Samson
of the bold insults he had made upon the Philistines, who were men able
to bring calamity upon the whole nation of the Hebrews; and they told
him they were come to take him, and t