159 (§46C). What did Gideon do in order to find out about the enemy? Tell the dream that he heard explained. 160 (§46D). Read carefully and explain what Gideon told his men. He had a stratagem in mind to frighten the enemy. It is to be noted that the men who went home left their provisions and their trumpets, so Gideon had as many trumpets in his little army as in the big army. What would the Midianites think when they heard three hundred trumpets blowing? The night was divided into three watches. The sentries had just been set for the second watch when the attack was made. Describe the actions of the Israelites. What did they shout? The Midianites killed one another in the confusion. 161 (§46E). Gideon wanted the great tribe of Ephraim to help in the fight, so he asked them to go down to the river Jordan to cut off the flying enemy. What did Gideon do himself? What happened to the kings of Midian and the host? 162 (§47). What did the grateful people offer Gideon? Why did he refuse? What great American refused to be a king? The story closes in disappointment. Is it not strange that after the great victory Gideon should forget God? Tell the story of making the idol. WRITTEN REVIEW Make a search during the next week for an example of some brave person standing up like Gideon for a good cause when others hold back. There is sure to be someone if you are keen enough to find him. It may be at school or in the city, or you may hear of someone in the newspapers. Talk it over with your companions until you have found the best example. Write about it in your notebook. XVI. SAMSON, THE STRONG MAN THE STORY =§48. The Birth of Samson= (Judg. 13:2-6, 24) There was a certain man of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife bare no child. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, "Behold now, thou shalt bear a son. Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink no wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing: for, lo, thou shalt bear a son; and no razor shall come upon his head: for the child shall be a Nazirite unto God from his birth: and he shall begin to save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines." Then the woman came and told her husband. And the woman bare a son and called his name Samson: and the child grew and the Lord blessed him. =§49. The Riddle at the Wedding Feast= (Judg. 14) And Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah 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 Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife." Then his father and his mother said unto him, "Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the Philistines?" And Samson said unto his father, "Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well."