Keil, and also than English version, takes the literal Hebrew, "vengeance of one," as standing for "one vengeance," "that I may take this one vengeance"] of the Philistines for my two eyes. (29) And Samson took hold of [yilpoth, 'clasped' (Gesenius)] the two middle pillars upon which the house stood [firmly, nakon], and on which it was borne up [marg., " he leaned on them"], of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left. (30) And Samson said, Let me [Heb., " my soul "] die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself [or the pillars] with (all his) might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that (were) therein. So the dead which he slew at his death (were) more than they which he slew in his life. (31) Then his brethren [i.e., immediate kinsmen, for no mention of brothers of Samson occurs elsewhere (so Matt. xiii. 55)], and all the house of his father [the Danites; so "father's house" means a tribe in Numb. xviii. 1], came down, and took him [fear after the catasrophe prevented the Philistines from offering any opposition], and rought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol [the esidence of his father (xiii. 25), who probably was now dead, s the words "the burying-place of Manoah his father" imply], the burying-place of Manoah his father: and he judged =rael twenty years [see note, ch. xv. 20].

SAMSON HIMSELF A RIDDLE, AND THE riddle of SAMSON. 1. The believer's danger in affinity with unbelievers.—Samson s a strange compound-an embodied paradox. A Nazarite secrated wholly to Jehovah, yet in the most important of thly choices, he chooses after "the sight of his eyes" (come ch. xiv. 3 with Eccl. ix. 9). What a contrast to this judge Israel is the Antitype who, when he comes to reign, “shall judge after the sight of His eyes" (Isa. xi. 3). Commised by God to deliver Israel from the Philistines, he turned back on all the daughters of Israel to go down to the listines for a wife. The believer who, in the selection of a ner for life, is only guided by fancy, is guilty of the most lous folly. He must not marvel if he find a Philistine in arms. The eye is indeed to be pleased in the choice; but

God ought to be pleased first. There is a better beauty than that of face and figure, of the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible-the beauty of holiness, "the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit," the lasting loveliness of grace. If religion be any other than a cipher, how dare we not regard it in our most important choice! (Trapp). Herein, as in war generally, one can err but once (1 Pet. iii. 4). God's warning ought to be ever before believers, "Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? or he that believeth with an infidel?" (2 Cor. vi. 14, 15). Let our resolution be to make a covenant with our eyes, as Job did (xxxi. 1, 7), and to obtain strength to carry out our resolution by praying, "Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity" (Ps. cxix. 37).

2. The believer's errors counteracted and overruled to fulfil the Lord's will.-Samson, though guilty of dangerous folly in his choice, yet showed filial piety and wisdom in consulting his parents before proceeding further. God prospers the youth that honours his parents (Eph. vi. 2, 3). Moreover, we may learn that as the "young lion roared against Samson" at the very outset of his career, so, no sooner doth an awakened soul set out on his pilgrim journey, than Satan, in encountering him. fixes his eye upon him and roars for his prey. But Samson had turned aside from his father and mother, who went on the high road, and had wandered into the vineyards to eat grapes Too often the young forget that in leaving the tutelage of pious parents, in order to have their so-called liberty, they are exposing themselves to the adversary, who, as a roaring lion, seeketh whom he may devour. Especially is he to be encountered in The spiritually wise will avoid the

the vineyards of wine. way of danger.

But Samson's case forbids despair, even when the danger that threatens to overwhelm the believer has been the resul of his own self-will. God holds out hope, when the devi would preach despair (see Jer. xviii. 12). The providence of God, if only we renounce self-confidence, and trust wholly in Him, can and will make us conquerors through Him. Davi had to encounter the lion and bear first, to prepare him for

the combat with the giant Goliath (1 Sam. xvii. 36). God took occasion from Samson's wandering aside into the vineyards, to let him see what he could do, in the strength of the Spirit of Jehovah, in order that henceforth he might not fear to face. the Philistine hosts. So God suffers the young believer to fall into temptation, in order to show him his own innate weakness, and, at the same time, the irresistible might of Jehovah's strength, made perfect in human weakness. Samson had no instrument in his hands. So the believer conquers Satan most effectually when he looks to the Saviour alone to fight for him (Ps. xxxv. 1-3), in the spirit of the hymn

"Nothing in my hand I bring-
Simply to Thy cross I cling.”

3. The riddle "Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness," the key to the mystery of redemption.-Samson turned aside to see the lion's carcase, in order, doubtless, to recall the remembrance of God's great goodness in delivering him. We ought at times to stop on our way, that we may wisely consider, and so "understand the loving-kindness of the Lord" (Ps. cvii. 43). God would have his children, like Moses (Exod. iii. 3, 4), "turn aside," to see His gracious loings for them. Turning aside from dearest friends and important business for this purpose, we shall often, to our surprise, find rich and sweet stores of comfort.

The Spirit had a further purpose in bringing Samson again o the place where lay the trophy of his victory—(1) To Samson himself there was a lesson of encouragement. As by is conquest of the lion he was animated to encounter the Philistines, notwithstanding their fierceness and gigantic tature; so, by dislodging the bees, he was taught not to dread he swarming multitudes of the foe compassing him like bees, ecause “in the name of the Lord he shall destroy them" (Ps. xviii. 12). (2) To Israel, whose representative Samson was, he honey for food and enjoyment, drawn from the slain lion, pified that their foes, who now, because of Israel's unfaithfuless to Jehovah, were permitted to oppress the elect people, ould, upon Israel's penitent return to Him, be overcome,

notwithstanding their lion-like violence, and would ultimately yield a spoil to Israel, instead of being, as now, Israel's spoilers.

(3) Trial blessed at the time.—Meantime the very discipline of trial, through the violence of the Philistines, as in the case of Samson himself, would be overruled to humble the Israelites; so that, after the discipline was past and deliverance obtained, they would appreciate the sweetness of God's word. How many believers have had a similar experience: "It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes -How sweet are Thy words unto my taste, yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth" (Ps. cxix. 71, 103).

(4) Again, to believers there is the lesson of imparting our goods to others.-As Samson imparted of the honey to his father and mother, so when we have found the sweetness of God's grace ourselves, let us invite all whom we can influence, and our immediate relatives first, to "taste and see that the Lord is good" (Ps. xxxiv. 8; compare also lxvi. 16; John iv. 29).

(5) Grace precious wherever found.-Moreover, Samson, though a consecrated Nazarite, did not hesitate to use honey taken from the dried-up carcase of a dead beast. Bishop Hall wisely remarks: "Those are less wise, and more scrupulous, than Samson, who decline the use of God's gifts, because they find them in ill vessels." Honey is not the less honey wheresoever it is found. Let us not call that common which God hath cleansed, but gladly discern grace, and profit by it, in brotherly fellowship with all true Christians, though not of the same ecclesiastical denomination as ourselves (Acts x. 15, 47, xi. 17, xv. 8, 9).

(6) The highest realisation of Samson's riddle is in the Saviour's work of redemption for us.-This is the "great mystery of godliness" (1 Tim. iii. 16), "the wisdom of God in a mystery," an inexplicable riddle to worldly-wise men, that God should choose the weak and foolish things to confound the mighty (1 Cor. i. 27, ii. 7). Christ Jesus, in the might of weakness, and through death, destroyed the roaring lion "who had the power of death (Heb. ii. 14, 15), and hath delivered

those, who through fear of death, were all their lifetime subject to bondage:" so out of death, the eater and devourer of all men, comes forth that which is "meat indeed," even "the bread of life" (John vi. 35, 55): and "the strong man" (Matt. xii. 29), Satan, who has been already bruised on Calvary, and hereafter shall be completely and finally crushed (Rom. xvi. 20; Rev. xx. 1-3, 10), shall, in spite of himself, yield unspeakable and everlasting sweetness to the saints; for their heavenly joys shall be heightened by the contrast with the enemy's attacks, then for ever past (Rev. vii. 14-17, iii. 21). It is God's marvellous prerogative to bring good out of evil. This solves the problem, why evil has been ever permitted. The entrance of sin into the world, which followed the creation of beings possessing free agency and the capability of moral choice, and The temptations of Satan, shall prove the occasion of manifestng to all created intelligences, the infinite love, compassionate ondescension, justice, and wisdom of our God in Christ, the edeemer, which could never have been so manifested in the aterial creation, or in an unfallen world (Rom. v. 15). The sue of the conflict shall be to produce glory to God and essedness to the elect tried ones. Difficulty surmounted comes triumph. Rest is sweeter after toil. And heaven elf will be the brighter for the remembrance of the dark nflict which preceded its attainment; and angels will sing der praises to Jehovah, as they point to the redeemed, hese are they which came out of great tribulation, and have shed their robes and made them white in the blood of the nb."

7) Sweets from affliction now. Even now from Jesus' sory over Satan, there come to believers ample spiritual vision and sweetness to outweigh their distresses and needs. th itself becomes the gate of life. Afflictions and temptas, and even falls from which the grace of God restores a, are the discipline to train them for holiness, blessedness, glory. The conflict may be severe, but the sweeter will he everlasting triumph. The enemies of Christ's church made to promote in the end her best interests: as the gs that happened unto Paul (his imprisonment at Rome)