See Judges xiii, xiv.

THE story of Samson abounds in occurrences of the most remarkable nature. Of a character rough, daring and heroic-cast in a mold of iron rather than bronze-he rises into the hero, the avenger and the judge of his people, and from the earliest incident in his career deals in violence, passion and bloodshed, though directed, under Divine control, into channels of Justice, where actions, otherwise inexcusable, become legitimate and just.

His birth was miraculously foretold to his mother by an angel, and it was directed that no razor should come on his head, for he was to be ever a Nazarite unto God, and should "begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines."

Samson was yet young when he sought him a wife "in Timnath, of the daughters of the Philistines." It was evidently a thing distasteful to his parents, who would much rather have had him choose a helpmeet from among their own people; but Samson was of a different mind, and said unto his father, "Get her for me, for she pleaseth me well." "Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and behold., a young lion roared against him. And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand." In the engraving the strength and beauty of the young athlete are splendidly shown. The incident, moreover, was the occasion of that famous riddle that led to such sanguine and direful results- for the thing was "of the Lord"