"said unto them, If (since) ye have done this, truly when I have been avenged upon you, and after that I will

cease." The result was another great slaughter. Bu t Samson, knowing the cowardice of his countrymen, felt

himself now no longer safe among them, and retired to "the rock-cleft (rock-cave) Etam" ("the lair of wild

Samson's distrust had not been without sufficient ground. Afraid to meet Samson in direct conflict, the

Philistines invaded the territory of Judah and spread in Lehi. Upon this, his own countrymen, as of old, not

understanding "how that God by his hand would deliver them," actually came down to the number of 3000,

to deliver Samson into the hand of the Philistines. Another parallel this, "afar off," to the history of Him

whom His people delivered into the hands of the Gentiles! Samson offered no resistance, on condition that

his own people should not attack him. Bound with two new cords, he was already within view of the hostile

camp at Lehi; already he heard the jubilant shout of the Philistines, when once more "the Spirit of Jehovah

came mightily upon him." Like flax at touch of fire, "flowed his bonds from off his hands."  315

This sudden turn of affairs, and manifestation of Samson's power, caused an immediate panic among the

Philistines. Following up this effect, Samson seized the weapon readiest to hand, the jawbone of an ass, and

with it slew company after company, "heap upon heap," till, probably in various encounters, no less than

1000 of the enemy strewed the ground. Only one more thing was requisite. All "this great deliverance" had

evidently been given by Jehovah. But had Samson owned Him in it; had he fought and conquered "by

faith," and as a true Nazarite? Once more it is through the operation of natural causes, supernaturally

overruled and directed, that Samson is now seen to have been the warrior of Jehovah, and Jehovah the God

of the warrior. Exhausted by the long contest with the Philistines and the heat of the day, Samson sinks

faint, and is ready to perish from thirst. Then God cleaves first, as it were, the rock of Samson's heart, so that

the living waters of faith and prayer gush forth, before He cleaves the rock at Lehi. Such plea as his could

not remain unheeded. Like that of Moses (Exodus 32:31), or like the reasoning of Manoah's wife, it

connected itself with the very covenant purposes of Jehovah and with His dealings in grace. After such

battle and victory Samson could not have been allowed to perish from thirst; just as after our Lord's victory,

He could not fail to see of the travail of His soul and be satisfied; and as it holds true of the Christian in his

spiritual thirst, after the great conquest achieved for him:

"He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give

us all things?" (Romans 8:32)

Then, in answer to Samson's prayer, "God clave the hollow place which is in Lehi,"  316 probably a cleft in the

rock, as erst He had done at Horeb (Exodus 17:6) and at Kadesh (Numbers 20:8, 11). But the well which

sprang thence, and of which, in his extremity, Samson had drunk, ever afterwards bore the significant name

En-hakkore, the well of him that had called -nor had called in vain!