. A.C. 1113.] and that if he broke his vow by cutting his hair, God would forsake him. How he was Delilah then enticed him to go betrayed. to sleep upon her lap, cut off his hair, and, calling for the Philistines, delivered him into their hands. How they treated him. Exulting in their success, the Philistines bore out both his eyes; and then shut him up in a prison at Gaza to grind like a pack-horse at a mill. How long he was He remained in prison about a year, when a festival was held in honour of the idol Dagon. The lords of the Philistines then sent for him to make them sport. a prisoner. behaved. How he He went at their bidding; and, having displayed various feats of strength, requested to rest awhile against the pillars of a building, in which the chief spectators were assembled. What then occurred. His request was granted; and, grasping in his arms the two pillars What became which supported the edifice, he snapped them asunder; the building fell, and 3000 Philistines were buried in the pile. Samson also died in the same ruin. He was only 38 years old, and had been a judge of Israel for nearly 20 years. (B.c. 1113.) of Samson. was succeeded. By whom he He was succeeded by Eli, the high-priest, who was in turn succeeded by Samuel, the last of the 14 judges, and with whom ended the Jewish theocracy. 1.-SUPPLEMENT FOR SENIOR PUPILS. Samson a type. SAMSON was a TYPE of JESUS CHRIST: (1.) The birth of each was miraculous, and announced from heaven by an angel; (2.) In each case the angel declared the child born should be a Nazarite and a Saviour; (3.) The lion which Samson slew in his youth was a type of the conquest of Christ over Satan, "who goeth about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour;" (4.) The honey which flowed from the lion's carcase, symbolized the blessings which flow from the victory of Christ over Satan; (5.) Samson was rejected by his countrymen and delivered bound unto his enemies; so Christ was rejected by those whom he came to save, and delivered bound to the Gentiles; (6.) Samson burst asunder his bonds and slew his captors, as Christ burst asunder the bonds of death, and triumphed when his enemies thought they had secured him; (7.) Samson burst from Gaza and carried away with him the city gates; Jesus Christ burst from the tomb on the morning of the resurrection, and the stone which confined him there was rolled away; (8.) Samson blinded, insulted, enslaved, made his grave with the wicked; and Christ blindfolded, insulted, and treated as a slave, was crucified with two thieves. 2.-SUPPLEMENT FOR SENIOR PUPILS THE MARRIAGE AND DOMESTIC How husbands and wives were selected. Husbands and wives were selected by the fathers of the young people; but if a son had formed a preference, he asked his father to effect the match for him.* The consent of the brother also was needful *Gen. xxxiv. 2-5. Judges xiv. 1, 2. What marriages were forbidden. before any father could give away his daughter in marriage. (Gen. xxiv. 50. 2 Sam. xiii. 20-29.) Intermarriages were prohibited with the Canaanites, and subsequently with any foreigner whatsoever.* Priests might Priests might marry, but a highmarry. priest was not allowed to marry a widow. (Lev. xxi. 7-14.) Law respecting A daughter who had no brothers daughters. could marry only in her own tribe; the object of this law was to prevent the paternal estate from passing into another tribe.t A marriage A marriage vow was a covenant be tween the fathers of the contracting party on behalf of their son and daughter. When this bond was made, the father of the bride stated what dowry he intended to give. A rich man's dowry varied from 30 to 50 shekels (£3 12s. to £6); but it occasionally happened that no dowry was demanded. (Deut. xxii. 29. Hos. iii. 1, 2.) The interval, how called. The interval between the vow and the marriage was called the time of espousal. If a man proved faithless during this period, he had to give his betrothed a bill of divorce; but if the woman broke the covenant, she was stoned to death. * Ezra ix. 2-12. Neh. xiii. 23. + Num. xxvii. 1-11; xxxvi. 1-12. How the bride was prepared for marriage. 2 The bride was prepared for the wedding by bathing, and putting on her most costly attire. She wore a crown on her head and a veil reaching down to her feet. The banquet, The banquet was provided by the bridegroom, and lasted, in some cases, an entire week. The bride was conducted thither by the bridegroom at night, and the bridesmaids lighted them on their way. (Matt. xxv. 1-10.) how provided. Who gave the bride away. The bride was given away by her father, who pronounced a blessing as he joined the right hands of the contracting party. After which she took off her veil and retired to the bridal chamber. What concu bines were. Concubines were the inferior wives of a man who had more than one. The children of concubines could never inherit the paternal estates. It must be remembered that men were allowed more than one wife till our Lord forbade it. Why the Jews Children were greatly desired by desired children. Jewish women, from the hope of being mother of the Messiah; and to be unmarried or barren was considered by them a great disgrace. (Judges xi. 40.) The Levirate A childless widow married her hus law explained. band's brother, in order that the paternal estate might not be lost to the family. This was called the Levirate law. |
