 Book 5, Chapter 8 of the Antiquities of the Jews, Volume 1. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Ann Boulet. The Antiquities of the Jews, Volume 1 by Flavius Josephus, translated by William Wiston, Book 5, Chapter 8. Chapter 8, concerning the fortitude of Samson, and what mischiefs he brought upon the Philistines. After Abdon was dead, the Philistines overcame the Israelites and received tribute of them for forty years, from which distress they were delivered after this manner. There was one Manoa, a person of such great virtue that he had few men his equals, and without dispute the principal person of his country. He had a wife celebrated for her beauty and excelling her contemporaries. He had no children and, being uneasy at his want of posterity, he entreated God to give them seed of their own bodies to succeed them, and with that intent he came constantly into the suburbs together with his wife, which suburbs were in the Great Plain. Now he was fond of his wife to a degree of madness, and on that account was unmeasurably jealous of her. Now, when his wife was once alone, an apparition was seen by her. It was an angel of God, and resembled a young man beautiful and tall, and brought her the good news that she should have a son, born by God's providence. That should be a goodly child of great strength, by whom, when he was grown up to man's estate, the Philistines should be afflicted. He exhorted her not to pull his hair, and that he should avoid all other kinds of drink, for so God had commanded, and be entirely contented with water. So the angel, when he had delivered that message, went his way, his coming having been by the will of God. Now the wife informed her husband when he came home of what the angel had said, who showed so great an admiration of the beauty and tallness of the young man that had appeared to her, that her husband was astonished, and out of himself for jealousy, and such suspicions as are excited by that passion, but she was desirous of having her husband's unreasonable sorrow taken away. Accordingly she entreated God to send the angel again, that he might be seen by her husband. So the angel came again by the favor of God, while they were in the suburbs, and appeared to her when she was alone without her husband. She desired the angel to stay so long till she might bring her husband, and that request being granted, she goes to call Manoa. When he saw the angel he was not yet free from suspicion, and he desired him to inform him of all that he had told his wife, but when he said it was sufficient that she alone knew what he had said, he then requested of him to tell who he was, that when the child was born they might return him thanks and give him a present. He replied that he did not want any present, for that he did not bring them the good news of the birth of a son out of the want of anything. And when Manoa entreated him to stay and partake of his hospitality, he did not give his consent. However, he was persuaded, at the earnest request of Manoa to stay so long as while he brought him one mark of his hospitality. So he slew a kid of the goats, and bid his wife boil it. When all was ready the angel enjoined him to set the loaves and the flesh, but without the vessels, upon the rock, which when they had done, he touched the flesh with the rod which he had in his hand, which, upon breaking out of a flame, was consumed, together with the loaves, and the angel ascended openly, in their sight, up to heaven, by means of the smoke, as by a vehicle. Now Manoa was afraid that some danger would come to them from this sight of God, but his wife bade him be of good courage, for that God appeared to them for their benefit. So the woman proved with child, and was careful to observe the injunctions that were given her, and they called the child, when he was born, Samson, which name signifies one that is strong. So the child grew a pace, and it appeared evidently that he would be a prophet, both by the moderation of his diet, and the permission of his hair to grow. Now when once he came with his parents to Timhath, a city of the Philistines, when there was a great festival, he fell in love with a maid of that country, and he desired his parents that they would procure him the damsel for his wife. But they refused to do so because she was not of the stock of Israel. Yet because this marriage was of God, who intended to convert it to the benefit of the Hebrews, he over persuaded them to procure her to be espoused to him. And as he was continually coming to her parents, he met a lion, and though he was naked, he received his onset and strangled him with his hands, and cast the wild beast into a woody piece of ground on the inside of the road. And when he was going another time to the damsel, he lit upon a swarm of bees making their combs in the breast of that lion, and taking three honeycombs away, he gave them, together with the rest of his presence, to the damsel. Now the people of Timhath, out of the dread of the young man's strength, gave him during the time of the wedding feast, for he then feasted them all, thirty of the most stout of their youth, impretent to be his companions, but in reality to be a guard upon him, that he might not attempt to give them any disturbance. Now as they were drinking merrily and playing, Samson said, as was usual at such times, Come, if I propose you a riddle and you can expound it in these seven days' time, I will give you everyone a linen shirt and a garment, as the reward of your wisdom. So they, being very ambitious to obtain the glory of wisdom, together with the gains, desired him to propose his riddle. He, that a devourer, produced sweet food out of itself, though itself were very disagreeable. And when they were not able, in three days' time, to find out the meaning of the riddle, they desired the damsel to discover it by means of her husband and tell it them, and they threatened to burn her if she did not tell it them. So when the damsel entreated Samson to tell it her, he at first refused to do it, but when she laid hard at him and fell into tears, and made his refusal to tell it a sign of his unkindness to her, he informed her of his slaughter of a lion, and how he found bees in his breast, and carried away three honeycombs and brought them to her. Thus he, suspecting nothing of deceit, informed her of all, and she revealed it to those that desired to know it. Then on the seventh day, whereon they were to expound the riddle proposed to them, they met together before sunsetting and said, Nothing is more disagreeable than a lion to those that light on it, and nothing is sweeter than honey to those that make use of it. To which Samson made this rejoiner, nothing is more deceitful than a woman for such was the person that discovered my interpretation to you. Accordingly, he gave them the presence he had promised them, making such ascalonites as he met upon the road his prey, who were themselves Philistines also, but he divorced this his wife, and the girl despised his anger, and was married to his companion, who made the former match between them. At this injurious treatment Samson was so provoked, that he resolved to punish all the Philistines as well as her. So at being then summertime, and the fruits of the land being almost ripe enough for reaping, he caught three hundred foxes, and joined lighted torches to their tails. He sent them into the fields of the Philistines, by which means the fruits of the fields perished. Now when the Philistines knew that this was Samson's doing, and knew also for what cause he did it, they sent their rulers to Timhath, and burnt his former wife, and her relations, who had been the occasion of their misfortunes. Now when Samson had slain many of the Philistines in the plain country, he dwelt at Itam, which is a strong rock of the tribe of Judah, for the Philistines at that time made an expedition against that tribe. But the people of Judah said they did not act justly with them in inflicting punishments upon them while they paid their tribute, and this only on account of Samson's offenses. They answered that in case they would not be blamed themselves, they must deliver up Samson and put him into their power. So they, being desirous not to be blamed themselves, came to the rock with three thousand armed men, and complained to Samson of the bold insults he made upon the Philistines, who were men able to bring calamity upon the whole nation of the Hebrews, and they told him they were come to take him, and to deliver him up to them, and put him into their power. So they desired him to bear this willingly. Accordingly, when he had received assurance from them upon oath, that they would do him no other harm than only to deliver him into his enemy's hands, he came down from the rock, and put himself into the power of his countrymen. Then did they bind him with two cords, and lead him on in order to deliver him to the Philistines. And when they came to a certain place, which is now called the Jawbone, on account of the great action there performed by Samson, though of old it had no particular name at all, the Philistines, who had pitched their camp not far off, came to meet them with joy and shouting, as having done a great thing and gained what they desired. But Samson broke his bonds asunder, and catching up the Jawbone of an ass that lay down at his feet, fell upon his enemies, and smiting them with his Jawbone, slew a thousand of them, and put the rest to flight and into great disorder. Upon this slaughter Samson was too proud of what he had performed, and said that this did not come to pass by the assistance of God, but that his success was to be ascribed to his own courage, and vaunted himself that he was out of dread of him that some of his enemies fell, and the rest ran away upon his use of the Jawbone. But when a great thirst came upon him, he considered that human courage is nothing, and bear his testimony that all is to be ascribed to God, and besought him that he would not be angry at anything he had said, nor give him up into the hands of his enemies. But afford him help under his affliction, and deliver him from the misfortune he was under. Accordingly, God was moved with his entreaties, and raised him up a plentiful fountain of sweet water, at a certain rock, once it was that Samson called the place the Jawbone, and so it is called to this day. After this fight, Samson held the Philistines in contempt, and came to Gaza, and took up his lodgings in a certain inn. When the rulers of Gaza were informed of his coming thither, they seized upon the gates, and placed men in ambush about them that he might not escape without being perceived. But Samson, who was acquainted with their contrivances against him, arose about midnight, and ran by force upon the gates, with their posts and beams, and the rest of their wooden furniture, and carried them away on his shoulders, and bared them to the mountain that is over Hebron, and there laid them down. However, he at length transgressed the laws of his country, and altered his own way of living, and imitated the strange customs of foreigners. Which thing was the beginning of his miseries? For he fell in love with a woman that was a harlot among the Philistines. Her name was Delilah, and he lived with her. So those that administered the public affairs of the Philistines came to her, and with promises, induced her to get out of Samson what was the cause of that, his strength, by which he became unconquerable to his enemies. Accordingly, when they were drinking, and had the light conversation together, she pretended to admire the actions he had done, and contrived to get out of him by subtlety, by which means he so much excelled others in strength. Samson, in order to delude Delilah, for he had not yet lost his senses, replied, that if he were bound with seven such green wits of a vine as might still be wreathed, he should be weaker than any other man. The woman said no more then, but told this to the rulers of the Philistines, and hid certain of the soldiers in ambush within the house. And when he was disordered in drink and sleep, she bound him as fast as possible with the wits. And then upon her awakening him, she told him some of the people were upon him. But he broke the wits, and endeavored to defend himself, as though some of the people were upon him. Now this woman, in the constant conversation Samson had with her, pretended that she took it very ill that he had such little confidence in her affections to him, that he would not tell her what she desired, as if she would not conceal what she knew it was for his interest to have concealed. However, he deluded her again, and told her that if they bound him with seven cords, he should lose his strength. And when, upon doing this, she gained nothing, he told her the third time that his hair should be woven into a web. But when, upon doing this, the truth was not yet discovered, at length Samson, upon Delilah's prayer, for he was doomed to fall into some affliction, was desirous to please her, and told her that God took care of him, and that he was born by his providence, and that thence it is that I suffer my hair to grow, God having charged me never to pull my hair, and thence my strength is according to the increase and continuance of my hair. When she had learned this much, and had deprived him of his hair, she delivered him up to his enemies, when he was not strong enough to defend himself from their attempts upon him. So they put out his eyes and bound him, and had him led about among them. But in the process of time, Samson's hair grew again, and there was a public festival among the Philistines, when the rulers, and those of the most eminent character, were feasting together. Now the room wherein they were, had its roofs supported by two pillars, so they sent for Samson, and he was brought to their feast, that they might insult him in their cups. Here upon he, thinking it one of the greatest misfortunes, if he should not be able to revenge himself when he was thus insulted, persuaded the boy that led him by hand, that he was weary and wanted to rest himself, and desired he would bring him near the pillars. And as soon as he came to them, he rushed with force against them, and overthrew the house, by overthrowing its pillars, with three thousand men in it, who were all slain, and Samson with them. And such was the end of this man, when he had ruled over the Israelites twenty years. And indeed this man deserves to be admired for his courage and strength, and magnanimity at his death, and that his wrath against his enemies went so far as to die himself with them. But as for his being ensnared by a woman, that is to be ascribed to human nature, which is too weak to resist the temptations to that sin. But we ought to bear him witness, that in all other respects he was one of extraordinary virtue. But his kindred took away his body and buried it in Sarasat, his own country, with the rest of his family. End of book five, chapter eight. Book five, chapters nine through eleven of the antiquities of the Jews, volume one. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Anne Boulez. The antiquities of the Jews, volume one, by Flavius Josephus, translated by William Winston. Book five, chapters nine through eleven. Chapter nine. How under Eli's government of the Israelites, booze married Ruth, from whom came Obed the grandfather of David. Now after the death of Samson, Eli the High Priest was governor of the Israelites. Under him, when the country was afflicted with a famine, Elimelech of Bethlehem, which is a city of the tribe of Judah, being not able to support his family under Sosora distress, took with him Naomi, his wife, and the children that were born to him by her, Chilon and Malon, and removed his habitation into the land of Moab. And upon the happy prosperity of his affairs there, he took for his son's wives of the Moabites. Orpah for Chilon and Ruth for Malon. But in the compass of ten years, both Elimelech, and a little while after him, the sons, died. And Naomi being very uneasy at these accidents, and not being able to bear her lonesome condition, now those that were dearest to her were dead, on whose account it was that she had gone away from her own country. She returned to it again, for she had been informed it was now in a flourishing condition. However, her daughters-in-law were not able to think of parting with her. And when they had a mind to go out of the country with her, she could not dissuade them from it. And when they insisted upon it, she wished them a more happy wedlock than they had with her sons, and that they might have prosperity in other respects also. And seeing her own affairs were so low, she exhorted them to stay where they were, and not to think of leaving their own country. And partaking with her of that uncertainty under which she must return. Accordingly, Orpah stayed behind. But she took Ruth along with her as not to be persuaded to stay behind her, but would take her fortune with her whatsoever it should prove. When Ruth was come with her mother-in-law to Bethlehem, Booze, who was near of relation to Ilemilec, entertained her. And when Naomi was so called by her fellow citizens, according to her true name, she said, you might more truly call me Mara. Now Naomi signifies in the Hebrew tongue happiness, and Mara sorrow. It was now reaping time and Ruth, by the leave of her mother-in-law, went out to glean, that they might get a stock of corn for their food. Now it happened that she came into Booze field, and after some time Booze came thither, and when he saw the damsel, he inquired of his servant that was set over the reapers concerning the girl. The servant had a little before inquired about all her circumstances, and told them to his master, who kindly embraced her, both on account of her affection to her mother-in-law, and her remembrance of that son of hers to whom she had been married, and wished that she might experience a prosperous condition. So he desired her not to glean, but to reap what she was able, and gave her leave to carry at home. He also gave it in charge to that servant who was over the reapers, not to hinder her when she took it away, and made him gave her dinner, and make her drink when he did the like to the reapers. Now what corn Ruth received of him she kept for her mother-in-law, and came to her in the evening, and brought the ears of corn with her, and Naomi had kept for her a part of such food as her neighbors had plentifully bestowed upon her. Ruth also told her mother-in-law what Booze had said to her, and when the other had informed her that he was near of kin to them, and perhaps was so pious a man as to make some provision for them, she went out again on the days following to gather the cleanings with Booze's maid servants. It was not many days before Booze, after the barley was winnowed, slept in his thrashing floor. When Naomi was informed of this circumstance, she contrived it so that Ruth should lie down by him, for she thought it might be for their advantage that he should discourse with the girl. Accordingly she sent the damsel to sleep at his feet, who went as she bade her, for she did not think it consistent with her duty to contradict any command of her mother-in-law. And at first she lay concealed from Booze as he was fast asleep, but when he awakened about midnight and perceived a woman lying by him, he asked who she was, and when she told him her name and desired that he whom she owned for her lord would excuse her, he then said no more, but in the morning, before the servants began to set about their work, he awakened her and bid her take as much barley as she was able to carry, and go to her mother-in-law before anybody there should see that she had lain by him, because it was but prudent to avoid any reproach that might arise on that account, especially when there had been nothing done that was ill. But as to the main point she aimed at, the matter should rest here. He that is nearer of kin than I am shall be asked whether he wants to take thee to wife. If he says he does, thou shalt follow him, but if he refuse it, I will marry thee, according to the law. When she had informed her mother-in-law of this, they were very glad of it, out of the hope they had that booze would make provision for them. Now about noon booze went down into the city and gathered the senate together, and when he had sent for Ruth, he called for her kinsmen also, and when he was come, he said, does thou not retain the inheritance of Elema Lech and his sons? He confessed that he did retain it, and that he did as he was permitted to do by the laws, because he was their nearest kinsmen. Then said booze, thou must not remember the laws by haves, but do everything according to them. For the wife of Malon is come hither, whom thou must marry, according to the law, in case thou wilt retain their fields. So the man yielded up both the field and the wife to booze, who was himself of kin to those that were dead, as alleging that he had a wife already, and children also. So booze called the senate to witness, and bid the woman to loose his shoe and spit in his face, according to the law. And when this was done, booze married Ruth, and they had a son within a year's time. Naomi was herself a nurse to this child, and by the advice of the women, called him Obed, as being to be brought up in order to be subservient to her in her old age. For Obed in the Hebrew dialect signifies a servant. The son of Obed was Jesse, and David was his son, who was king, and left his dominions to his sons for one and twenty generations. I was therefore obliged to relate this history of Ruth, because I had a mind to demonstrate the power of God, who, without difficulty, can raise those that were of ordinary parentage to dignity and splendor, to which he advanced David, though he was born of such mean parents. Chapter 10 Concerning the birth of Samuel, and how he foretold the calamity that befell the sons of Eli. And now upon the ill state of affairs of the Hebrews, they made war again upon the Philistines. The occasion was this. Eli, the high priest, had two sons, Haphne and Phineas. These sons of Eli were guilty of injustice towards men, and of impiety towards God, and abstained from no sort of wickedness. Some of their gifts they carried off, as belonging to the honorable employment they had. Others of them they took away by violence. They also were guilty of impurity with the women that came to worship God at the tabernacle, obliging some to submit to their lust by force, and enticing others by bribes. Nay, the whole course of their lives was no better than tyranny. Their father therefore was angry at them for such their wickedness, and expected that God would suddenly inflict his punishments upon them for what they had done. The multitude took it heinously also. And as soon as God had foretold what calamity would befell Eli's sons, which he did both to Eli himself and to Samuel the prophet, who was yet but a child, he openly showed his sorrow for his son's destruction. I will first dispatch what I have to say about the prophet Samuel. After that we'll proceed to speak of the sons of Eli and the miseries they brought on the whole people of the Hebrews. Elkhana, a Levite, one of a middle condition among his fellow citizens, and one that dwelt at Ramatham, a city of the tribe of Ephraim, married two wives, Hannah and Penetha. He had children by the latter, but he loved the other best, although she was barren. Now Elkhana came with his wives to the city of Shiloh to sacrifice for there it was that the tabernacle of God was fixed, as we have formerly said. Now when, after he had sacrificed, he distributed at that festival portions of the flesh to his wives and children, and when Hannah saw the other wives' children sitting around about their mother, she fell into tears and lamented herself on account of her barrenness and lonesomeness, and suffering her grief to prevail over her husband's consolations to her. She went to the tabernacle to beseach God to give her seed and to make her a mother, and to vow to consecrate the first son she should bear to the service of God, this in such a way that his manner of living should not be like that of ordinary men. And as she continued at her prayers a long time, Eli, the high priest, for he sat there before the tabernacle, bid her go away, thinking she had been disordered with wine. But when she said she had drank water, but was in sorrow for wants of children and was beseaching God for them, he bid her be of good cheer and told her that God would send her children. So she came to her husband full of hope and ate her meal with gladness, and when they had returned to their own country she found herself with child, and they had a son born to them, to whom they gave the name of Samuel, which may be style one that was asked of God. They therefore came to the tabernacle to offer sacrifice for the birth of the child and brought their tithes with them. But the woman remembered the vows she had made concerning her son, and delivered him to Eli, dedicating him to God, that he might become a prophet. Accordingly, his hair was suffered to grow long, and his drink was water. So Samuel dwelt and was brought up in the temple, but El Cana had other sons by Hannah and three daughters. Now when Samuel was 12 years old, he began to prophesy, and once when he was asleep, God called to him by his name, and he, supposing he had been called by the High Priest, came to him. But when the High Priest said he did not call him, God did so thrice. Eli was then so far illuminated that he said to him, Indeed, Samuel, I was silent now as well as before. It is God that calls thee. Do thou therefore signify it to him and say, I am here ready? So when he heard God speak again, he desired him to speak, and to deliver what oracles he pleased to him, for he would not fail to perform any ministration whatsoever he should make use of him in. To which God replied, Since thou art here ready, learn what miseries are coming upon the Israelites. Such indeed as words cannot declare, nor faith believe. For the sons of Eli shall die on one day, and the priesthood shall be transferred into the family of El Azar. For Eli hath loved his sons more than he hath loved my worship, and to such a degree as is not for their advantage. Which message Eli obliged the prophet by oath to tell him, for otherwise he had no inclination to afflict him by telling it. And now Eli had a more sure expectation of the perdition of his sons, but the glory of Samuel increased more and more. It being found by experience that whatsoever he prophesied came to pass accordingly. Chapter 11 Herein is declared what befell the sons of Eli, the ark, and the people, and how Eli himself died miserably. About this time it was that the Philistines made war against the Israelites, and pitched their camp at the city Affek. Now when the Israelites had expected them a little while, the very next day they joined battle, and the Philistines were conquerors, and slew above four thousand of the Hebrews, and pursued the rest of their multitude to their camp. So the Hebrews, being afraid of the worst, sent to the senate and to the high priest, and desired that they would bring the ark of God, that by putting themselves in array, when it was present with them, they might be too hard for their enemies, as not reflecting that he who had condemned them to endure such calamities was greater than the ark, and for whose sake it was that this ark came to be honored. So the ark came, and the sons of the high priest with it, having received the charge from their father, that if they pretended to survive the taking of the ark, they should come no more into his presence, for Phineas officiated already as high priest, his father having resigned his office to him, by reason of his great age. So the Hebrews were full of courage, as supposing that, by the coming of the ark, they should be too hard for their enemies. Their enemies also were greatly concerned, and were afraid of the ark's coming to the Israelites. However, the upshot did not prove agreeable to the expectation of both sides. But when the battle was joined, that victory which the Hebrews expected was gained by the Philistines, and that defeat the Philistines were afraid of, fell to the lot of the Israelites, and therefore they found that they had put their trust in the ark in vain, for they were presently beaten as soon as they came to a close fight with their enemies, and lost about 30,000 men, among whom were the sons of the high priest. But the ark was carried away by the enemies. When the news of this defeat came to Shiloh, with that of the captivity of the ark, for a certain young man, a Benjaminite, who was in the action, came as a messenger thither. The whole city was full of lamentations. And Eli, the high priest, who sat upon a high throne at one of the gates, heard their mournful cries, and supposed that some strange thing had befallen his family. So he sent for the young man, and when he understood what had happened in the battle, he was not much uneasy as to his sons, or what was told him with all about the army, as having beforehand known by divine revelation that those things would happen, and having himself declared them beforehand. For what sad things come unexpectedly they distress men the most. But as soon as he heard the ark was carried captive by his enemies, he was very much grieved at it, because it fell out quite differently from what he expected. So he fell down from his throne, and died. Having in all lived ninety-eight years, and of them retained the government forty. On the same day his son Phineas's wife died also, as not able to survive the misfortune of her husband, for they told her of her husband's death as she was in labor. However, she bear a son at seven months, who lived, and to whom they gave the name of Ichabod, which name signifies disgrace, and this because the army received a disgrace at this time. Now Eli was the first of the family of Ithamar, the other son of Aaron, that had the government, for the family of Eleazar officiated as high priest at first. The son still receiving that honor from the father which Eleazar bequeathed to his son Phineas, after whom Abbeezer his son took the honor and delivered it to his son, whose name was Buki, from whom his son Ozy received it, after whom Eli, of whom we have been speaking, had the priesthood, and so he and his posterity until the time of Solomon's reign, but then the posterity of Eleazar resumed it. End of book five, chapters nine through eleven. End of the Antiquities of the Jews, volume one, by Flavius Josephus, translated by William Wiston.