A Legacy to the Friends of Free Discussion: Principal Historical Facts and Personages of the Books Known as The Old and New Testament; With Remarks on the Morality of NatureOffen, Benjamin
Religion
A Legacy to the Friends of Free Discussion: Principal Historical Facts and Personages of the Books Known as The Old and New Testament; With Remarks on the Morality of Nature
Offen, Benjamin
Bible -- Criticism, interpretation, etc.
The foolish story of Samson, which commences in Judges, chapter xiii.,
deserves no notice, but for its being ascribed to Jehovah, the God of
Israel. The whole silly account, when it is fathered on the God of the
Universe, will not fail to convince every man of a sane mind, how human
beings have been imposed upon, in ascribing to the Sovereign Ruler of
all worlds such contemptible trash. After the Israelites had for forty
years been subjected to the Philistines, Jehovah determined to deliver
his chosen people from bondage, by raising up a man (then unborn) to war
against their enemies. Samson was the person chosen for this business.
The story is as follows:—
The mother of Samson had for years lived with her husband, Manoah, but
remained childless. Her sorrow, on that account, so prevailed with the
Lord, that an angel came down from Jehovah, whom Christians believe to
be the allwise Governor of the Universe, and informed her that she
should have a son that would war against the oppressors of Israel, and
that particular care on her part must be taken during her pregnancy. She
was to drink no wine, nor strong drink, nor eat any thing unclean; and
no hair must on any account be taken from his head. The woman told her
husband the good tidings, and he was over-joyed, and prayed to the Lord
that the angel would again descend. This request was granted, and the
angel repeated to the husband what had been told to his wife. When these
instructions, given by the angel, were ended, out of gratitude to the
heavenly messenger, this joyful pair proposed to dress a kid, and
invited the angel to partake of it This request was not complied with,
but Manoah and his wife were told to sacrifice to the Lord; which they
did, and as the flame ascended, the angel went up with it, after
refusing to make known his name.
In a few months, Sampson was born; and his parents were particular in
observing all things commanded, as it respected the child, until his
arrival to manhood; when, behold! this Samson, the gift of the Lord, who
was to deliver his countrymen out of bondage, from the galling yoke of
the Philistines—this Samson commenced his life by going down to the
Philistines, and taking up with different women. Some he took as wives,
and with others he carried on any thing but a respectable intercourse;
and in all his actions he sought a quarrel with the enemies of Israel.
All unknown to his parents, it is recorded that he possessed strength
superior to human beings, and that this strength resided in the hair of
his head. His enemies discovered this strength, and bribed his wives and
concubines to discover how he could be bound, so that they could destroy
him. After lying, and submitting to be bound, he betrayed the secret to
one of his favorite women. His head was shaved, his eyes put out and he
was cast into prison.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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