SAMSON AND HIS EXPLOITS. This Israelite hero is said to have been born at a time when the children of Israel were in the hands of the Philistines. His mother, who had been barren for a number of years, is entertained by an angel, who informs her that she shall conceive, and bear a son,[62:1] and that the child shall be a _Nazarite_ unto God, from the womb, and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hands of the Philistines. According to the prediction of the angel, "the woman bore a son, and called his name _Samson_; and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him." "And Samson (after he had grown to man's estate), went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines. And he came up and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore get her for me to wife." Samson's father and mother preferred that he should take a woman among the daughters of their own tribe, but Samson wished for the maid of the Philistines, "for," said he, "she pleaseth me well." The parents, after coming to the conclusion that it was the will of the Lord, that he should marry the maid of the Philistines, consented. "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 (Samson). And the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he rent him (the lion) as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand." This was Samson's _first_ exploit, which he told not to any one, not even his father, or his mother. He then continued on his way, and went down and talked with the woman, and she pleased him well. And, after a time, he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion, and behold, "there was a swarm of bees, and honey, in the carcass of the lion." Samson made a feast at his wedding, which lasted for _seven_ days. At this feast, there were brought thirty companions to be with him, unto whom he said: "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 changes of garments. But, if ye cannot declare it me, then shall ye give me thirty sheets, and thirty changes of garments." And they said unto him, "Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it." And he answered them: "Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness." This riddle the thirty companions could not solve. "And it came to pass, on the _seventh_ day, that they said unto Samson's wife: 'Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle.'"