SAMSON CARRIES OFF THE GATES OF GAZA. Gaza was the last coast town on the way down to Egypt, about 30 m. from Samson's home; to-day a town of 16,000 inhabitants. Judges 16:2_ b_ does not agree with Judges 16:2_ a._ There would be no need to keep watch by night, when the gates were closed. The Phili... [ Continue Reading ]
SAMSON AND DELILAH. It was quite near his own home, in the Vale of Sorek (Grape Valley), that the Philistines, a ided by the woman who had him in thrall, ultimately got the giant under their power. A ruined site near Zorah is still called Sû rî k. The Jaffa-Jerusalem railway now runs through the val... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DEATH OF SAMSON. Dagon, the god of the Philistines, had been worshipped in the Maritime Plain long before their coming. They adopted the god of the district, just as many Israelites learned to worship the Baals of Canaan. One of the Amarna letter-writers was called Dagon-takala. There is still a... [ Continue Reading ]