"This is exactly the story of Samson with the Philistines, but it is a Phenician tale. _Car-Seol_ is a compound word in that tongue, signifying _town of foxes_. The Philistines, originally from Egypt, do not appear to have had any colonies. The Phenicians had a great many; and it can scarcely be admitted that they borrowed this story from the Hebrews, as obscure as the Druses are in our own times, or that a simple adventure gave rise to a religious ceremony; _it evidently can only be a mythological and allegorical narration_."[68:4] So much, then, for the foxes and fire-brands. Samson's fourth exploit was when he smote the Philistines "hip and thigh," "with great slaughter." It is related of Hercules that he had a combat with an _army_ of Centaurs, who were armed with pine sticks, rocks, axes, &c. They flocked in wild confusion, and surrounded the _cave_ of Pholos, where Hercules was, when a violent fight ensued. Hercules was obliged to contend against this large armed force single-handed, but he came off victorious, and slew a great number of them.[69:1] Hercules also encountered and fought against _an army of giants_, at the Phlegraean fields, near Cumae.[69:2] Samson's next wonderful exploit was when "three thousand men of Judah" bound him with _cords_ and brought him up into Lehi, when the Philistines were about to take his life. The cords with which he was bound immediately became as flax, and loosened from off his hands. He then, with the jaw-bone of an ass, slew one thousand Philistines.[69:3] A very similar feature to this is found in the history of Hercules. He is made prisoner by the Egyptians, who wish to take his life, but while they are preparing to slay him, he breaks loose his bonds--having been tied with _cords_--and kills Buseris, the leader of the band, _and the whole retinue_.[69:4] On another occasion, being refused shelter from a storm at Kos, he was enraged at the inhabitants, and accordingly _destroyed the whole town_.[69:5] Samson, after he had slain a thousand Philistines, was "sore athirst," and called upon _Jehovah_, his father in heaven, to succor him, whereupon, water immediately gushed forth from "a hollow place that was in the jaw-bone." Hercules, departing from the Indies (or rather Ethiopia), and conducting his army through the desert of Lybia, feels a burning thirst, and conjures _Ihou_, his father, to succor him in his danger. Instantly the (celestial) Ram appears. Hercules follows him and arrives at a place where the Ram scrapes with his foot, _and there instantly comes forth a spring of water_.[70:1] Samson's sixth exploit happened when he went to Gaza to visit a harlot. The Gazites, who wished to take his life, laid wait for him all night, but Samson left the town at midnight, and took with him the gates of the city, and the _two posts_, on his shoulders. He carried them to the top of a hill, some fifty miles away, and left them there.