but God encouraged him. What did Gideon build there? What did that mean?

156 (§45C). What further sign was given to Gideon to make him sure that the Lord was with him?

157 (846A). There were twelve tribes in Israel and each tribe consisted of a number of clans. Gideon was of the clan of Abiezer, which was part of the tribe of Manasseh. Look at the map of Canaan and note the names of the Twelve Tribes. In the tribe of Issachar is the Plain of Esdraelon. That was the great plain where many of the battles of Israel were fought. If you can look at a relief map you will see how this great plain lay. The enemy had crossed the Jordan and camped on this plain. When Gideon heard it, he was stirred to the heart. What did he do? First his own clan followed him. Then he called his own tribe to follow him. Then he sent to three of the northern tribes. Find all these on the map. Try to imagine the Israelites all gathering together at the call of the hero.

158 ($46B). Here we have a strange story. It would seem as if the army ought to be as large as possible, but the Lord told Gideon that he did not want the people to boast of the victory. Who were told to go home? How large was the army? How many went home? How many remained? But still the numbers were too large: what was the second plan to reduce them? How many at last were left?

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., chap. 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."

Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnah, and came to the vineyards of Timnah: and, behold, a young lion roared against him. And the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done. And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.

And after a while he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey. And he took it into his hands, and went on, eating as he went, and he came to his father and mother, and gave unto them, and they did eat: but he told them not that he had taken the honey out of the body of the lion. And his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do. And it 'came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.

And Samson said unto them, "Let me now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of

raiment: but if ye cannot declare it me, then shall ye give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of raiment."

And they said unto him, "Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it."

And he said unto them,

"Out of the eater came forth meat,

And out of the strong came forth sweetness."

And they could not in three days declare the riddle.

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, lest we burn thee and thy father's house with fire: have ye called us to impoverish us? is it not so ?"

And Samson's wife wept before him, and said, "Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people, and hast not told it me."

And he said unto her, "Behold, I have not told it my father nor my mother, and shall I tell thee ?"

And she wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted: and it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she pressed him sore: and she told the riddle to the children of her people. And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, "What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion ?"