Judges 15
Commentary from 7 fathers
And her father spoke, saying, I said that thou didst surely hate her, and I gave her to one of thy friends: [is] not her younger sister better than she? let her be to thee instead of her.
καὶ εἶπεν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτῆς λέγων· εἶπα ὅτι μισῶν ἐμίσησας αὐτήν, καὶ ἔδωκα αὐτὴν ἑνὶ τῶν ἐκ τῶν φίλων σου· μὴ οὐχὶ ἡ ἀδελφὴ αὐτῆς ἡ νεωτέρα ἀγαθωτέρα ὑπὲρ αὐτήν; ἔστω δή σοι ἀντὶ αὐτῆς.
И҆ речѐ ѻ҆те́цъ є҆ѧ̀, глаго́лѧ: рѣ́хъ, ꙗ҆́кѡ ненави́дѧ возненави́дѣлъ є҆сѝ ю҆̀, и҆ ѿда́хъ ю҆̀ є҆ди́номꙋ ѿ дрꙋгѡ́въ твои́хъ: не се́ ли сестра̀ є҆ѧ̀ ме́ньшаѧ добрѣ́йши є҆ѧ̀ є҆́сть; да бꙋ́детъ тебѣ̀ нн҃ѣ вмѣ́стѡ є҆ѧ̀.
Then follow the words "Samson was angry because a friend married his wife." This friend prefigured all heretics. It is a great mystery, my brothers. Heretics who divide the church have wanted to marry the wife of the Lord and carry her away. By departing from the church and the Gospels, they attempt through adulterous wickedness to seize the church, that is, the body of Christ, as their portion. For this reason that faithful servant and friend of the Lord's bride says, "I betrothed you to one spouse, that I might present you a chaste virgin to Christ." Moreover, through the zeal of faith and a rebuke he touches the person of his wicked companion: "And I fear lest, as the serpent seduced Eve, so your minds may be corrupted from the truth which is in Christ Jesus." Who are the companions, that is, the heretical deserters who want to seize the Lord's spouse, unless Donatus, Arius, Manichaeus, and other vessels of error and perdition?
Sermon 118.4
And Sampson said to them, Even for once am I guiltless with regard to the Philistines, in that I do mischief among them.
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Σαμψών· ἠθώωμαι καὶ τὸ ἅπαξ ἀπὸ ἀλλοφύλων, ὅτι ποιῶ ἐγὼ μετ᾿ αὐτῶν πονηρίαν.
И҆ речѐ є҆мꙋ̀ самѱѡ́нъ: чи́стъ є҆́смь нн҃ѣ ѿ фѷлїсті́млѧнъ, ꙗ҆́кѡ сотворю̀ а҆́зъ съ ни́ми ѕло̀.
And Sampson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took torches, and turned tail to tail, and put a torch between two tails, and fastened it.
καὶ ἐπορεύθη Σαμψὼν καὶ συνέλαβε τριακοσίας ἀλώπεκας καὶ ἔλαβε λαμπάδας καὶ ἐπέστρεψε κέρκον πρὸς κέρκον καὶ ἔθηκε λαμπάδα μίαν ἀναμέσον τῶν δύο κέρκων καὶ ἔδησε·
И҆ по́йде самѱѡ́нъ, и҆ ꙗ҆́тъ три́ста лиси́цъ, и҆ взѧ̀ свѣщы̀, и҆ свѧза̀ ѡ҆́шибъ ко ѡ҆́шибꙋ, и҆ ᲂу҆стро́и є҆ди́нꙋ свѣщꙋ̀ междꙋ̀ двѣма̀ ѡ҆́шибома:
4–5Just as those who travel about in the pathless desert tremble at serpents on the ground, and those who travel on the pathways are also terrified of vipers that hide on the paths, so were the Philistines, who traveled on paths and in the pathless desert, terrified of Samson. “To bite the horse’s heels and throw its rider backward.” It was during the great famine, which God had brought upon the Philistines, that Samson burned their crops by means of foxes, for fire was carried on their bodies like a rider on its horse. Then the Philistines keeled over from lack of bread and then fell backwards from lack of nourishment.
On Genesis 42.9
4–5Wherefore he took three hundred foxes, and in the heat of summer, when the corn was now ripe in the fields, he tied them together two and two by the tails, and fastened a burning firebrand between them, binding it with a firm knot, and by way of avenging his wrong turned them loose among the sheaves which the Philistines had cut. But the foxes, terrified by the fire, scattered flames whichever way they turned, and burnt the harvest.
Letter 19: To Vigilius
4–5Samson resistless because of his hair is attacked by a lion; When he killed the wild beast, from its mouth there flowed streams of honey, And from an ass’s jawbone comes forth a fountain of water: Folly with water overflows and virtue with sweetness. Samson catches three hundred foxes and arms them with firebrands, Which he ties to their tails, and he lets them go into the cornfields Of the Philistines to burn their crops: thus the fox of false doctrine Cunningly scatters the flames of heresy over our vineyards.
Scenes from Sacred History 17.18
4–5Let us avoid, then, brothers, let us avoid the pestilential deceits of the insidious foxes [heretics]. Let us avoid the deadly frauds of wicked persons lest, like the foxes which that famous strong man Samson once sent into the Philistines’ fields, bearing torches on their tails that burned up everything with their flames, the foxes of perverse teachings in like manner either get hold of the fruits of our fields by deceitful traps or consume them by burning flames. Let us, therefore, as we read, be simple and clever—that is to say, simple as doves and clever as serpents, so that the cleverness of the serpents might protect the simplicity of the doves.
Sermon 41.5
4–5Now let us see what Samson did when he was injured by his friend in the person of his wife. He took foxes, that is, adulterous friends of whom it is said in the Canticle of Canticles, “Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that damage the vineyards.” What does it mean, “catch”? It means seize, convict, repress them, lest the vines of the church be destroyed. What else does it mean to catch foxes, except to convict heretics with the authority of the divine law, to fasten and fetter them with the testimony of holy Scripture as with chains? Samson caught the foxes and put torches of fire on their tails after they were coupled. What do the tails of the foxes tied together signify? What are foxes’ tails except the results of heresy (for their first appearance is flattering and deceitful) bound fast, that is, condemned and dragging fire in their trail? Moreover, they destroy the fruits and good works of those who consent to their seductions. People are told, Do not listen to heretics, do not consent to them or be seduced by them. They reply, Why? Has not that one or so and so listened to heretics? Has not that other Christian committed such vices, such adultery, or such robbery? And what evil has befallen him? Those are the first appearances of the foxes, and souls that are seduced pay attention; the fire is behind them. Nothing has happened to him now, it is said. Since nothing has gone before, will nothing be dragged after? He is sure to come to the fire which follows. Do you think further that the heretics drag along the fire with which to burn the fruits of their enemies but are not themselves burned? Doubtless, when the foxes burned the harvest they, too, were burned. This judgment will come back upon the heretics; what they do not see now they have behind them. They delight people with their flattery and show themselves at first free from restraint. But at the judgment of God their tails are bound, that is, they drag fire upon themselves afterwards, since wickedness preceded their punishment.
Sermon 118.4
And he set fire to the torches, and sent [the foxes] into the corn of the Philistines; and every thing was burnt from the threshing floor to the standing corn, and even to the vineyard and olives.
καὶ ἐξέκαυσε πῦρ ἐν ταῖς λαμπάσι καὶ ἐξαπέστειλεν ἐν τοῖς στάχυσι τῶν ἀλλοφύλων, καὶ ἐκάησαν ἀπὸ ἅλωνος καὶ ἕως σταχύων ὀρθῶν καὶ ἕως ἀμπελῶνος καὶ ἐλαίας.
и҆ разжжѐ ѻ҆́гнь въ свѣща́хъ, и҆ пꙋстѝ ѧ҆̀ въ ни̑вы фѷлїсті̑мски: и҆ запалѝ ни̑вы ѿ гꙋме́нъ и҆ да́же до кла́сѡвъ просты́хъ и҆ до вїногра́да и҆ ма́сличїѧ.
Samson resistless because of his hair is attacked by a lion; When he killed the wild beast, from its mouth there flowed streams of honey, And from an ass’s jawbone comes forth a fountain of water Folly with water overflows and virtue with sweetness. Samson catches three hundred foxes and arms them with firebrands, Which he ties to their tails, and he lets them go into the cornfields Of the Philistines to burn their crops: thus the fox of false doctrine Cunningly scatters the flames of heresy over our vineyards. - "Scenes from Sacred History 17.18"
And the Philistines said, Who [has done] these things? and they said, Sampson the son-in-law of the Thamnite, because he has taken his wife, and given her to one of his friends; and the Philistines went up, and burnt her and her father’s house with fire.
καὶ εἶπαν οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι· τίς ἐποίησε ταῦτα; καὶ εἶπαν· Σαμψὼν ὁ νυμφίος τοῦ Θαμνί, ὅτι ἔλαβε τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτὴν τῷ ἐκ τῶν φίλων αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἀνέβησαν οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι καὶ ἐνέπρησαν αὐτὴν καὶ τὸν οἶκον τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτῆς ἐν πυρί.
И҆ реко́ша и҆ноплемє́нницы: кто̀ сотворѝ сїѧ̑; И҆ реко́ша: самѱѡ́нъ зѧ́ть ѳамнаѳе́евъ, ꙗ҆́кѡ взѧ̀ женꙋ̀ є҆гѡ̀ и҆ дадѐ ю҆̀ є҆ди́номꙋ ѿ дрꙋгѡ́въ є҆гѡ̀. И҆ взыдо́ша и҆ноплемє́нницы и҆ сожго́ша ю҆̀ и҆ до́мъ ѻ҆тца̀ є҆ѧ̀ ѻ҆гне́мъ.
And the Philistines, incensed by the loss of all their corn in that region, told it to the princes of their land. And they sent men to Timnath, and burnt in the fire the woman who had been faithless to her husband, and her parents and all her house; saying that she had been the cause of this injury and devastation, and ought not to have provoked a man who could avenge himself by a public calamity.
Letter 19: To Vigilius
And Sampson said to them, Though ye may have dealt thus with her, verily I will be avenged of you, and afterwards I will cease.
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Σαμψών· ἐὰν ποιήσητε οὕτως ταύτην, ὅτι ἦ μὴν ἐκδικήσω ἐν ὑμῖν καὶ ἔσχατον κοπάσω.
И҆ речѐ и҆̀мъ самѱѡ́нъ: а҆́ще и҆ сотвори́сте вы̀ та́кѡ є҆́й, а҆́зъ не благоизво́лю, но ѿмще́нїе моѐ є҆ди́номꙋ комꙋ́ждо ва́съ сотворю̀, и҆ посе́мъ почі́ю.
And he smote them leg on thigh [with] a great overthrow; and went down and dwelt in a cave of the rock Etam.
καὶ ἐπάταξεν αὐτοὺς κνήμην ἐπὶ μηρὸν πληγὴν μεγάλην· καὶ κατέβη καὶ ἐκάθισεν ἐν τρυμαλιᾷ τῆς πέτρας ᾿Ητάμ.
И҆ поразѝ и҆́хъ го́лєни до бе́дръ ꙗ҆́звою ве́лїею: и҆ сни́де, и҆ всели́сѧ ᲂу҆ водоте́чи въ пеще́рѣ ка́мене и҆та́ма.
And the Philistines went up, and encamped in Juda, and spread themselves abroad in Lechi.
Καὶ ἀνέβησαν οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι καὶ παρενέβαλον ἐν ᾿Ιούδᾳ καὶ ἐξερρίφησαν ἐν Λεχί.
И҆ и҆зыдо́ша фѷлїсті́млѧне, и҆ ѡ҆полчи́шасѧ во і҆ꙋ́дѣ, и҆ разсѣ́ѧшасѧ въ лехі̀.
9–10But Samson did not forgive the Philistines their wrong, nor rest content with this measure of vengeance, but he slew them with a great slaughter, and many of them fell by the sword. And he retired to Etam, a torrent in the wilderness, where was a rock, a stronghold of the tribe of Judah. Now the Philistines, not daring to attack him, nor scale the steep heights on which this fortress stood, began to assail with threats of war the tribe of Judah: but when they saw that the plea of the men of Judah was a good one, that it was neither just nor fair nor expedient for them to destroy their own subjects and tributaries, especially for another man's fault, they took counsel, and required that the author of the outrage should be delivered up to them, in order that his countrymen might be exonerated from the consequences of it.
Letter 19: To Vigilius
And the men of Juda said, Why are ye come up against us? and the Philistines said, We are come up to bind Sampson, and to do to him as he has done to us.
καὶ εἶπαν ἀνὴρ ᾿Ιούδα· εἰς τί ἀνέβητε ἐφ᾿ ἡμᾶς; καὶ εἶπον οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι· δῆσαι τὸν Σαμψὼν ἀνέβημεν καὶ ποιῆσαι αὐτῷ ὃν τρόπον ἐποίησεν ἡμῖν.
И҆ речѐ и҆̀мъ всѧ́къ мꙋ́жъ і҆ꙋ́динъ: почто̀ прїидо́сте на ны̀; И҆ реко́ша и҆ноплемє́нницы: свѧза́ти самѱѡ́на прїидо́хомъ и҆ сотвори́ти є҆мꙋ̀, ꙗ҆́коже сотворѝ на́мъ.
And the three thousand men of Juda went down to the hole of the rock Etam, and they said to Sampson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines rule over us? and what [is] this [that] thou hast done to us? and Sampson said to them, As they did to me, so have I done to them.
καὶ κατέβησαν τρισχίλιοι ἀπὸ ᾿Ιούδα ἄνδρες εἰς τρυμαλιὰν πέτρας ᾿Ητὰμ καὶ εἶπαν πρὸς Σαμψών· οὐκ οἶδας ὅτι κυριεύουσιν οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι ἡμῶν, καὶ τί τοῦτο ἐποίησας ἡμῖν; καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Σαμψών· ὃν τρόπον ἐποίησάν μοι, οὕτως ἐποίησα αὐτοῖς.
И҆ снидо́ша трѝ ты́сѧщы мꙋже́й ѿ і҆ꙋ́ды къ пеще́рѣ ка́мене и҆та́ма и҆ реко́ша къ самѱѡ́нꙋ: не вѣ́си ли, ꙗ҆́кѡ владѣ́ютъ на́ми фѷлїсті́млѧне; и҆ вскꙋ́ю сїѧ̑ сотвори́лъ є҆сѝ на́мъ; И҆ речѐ и҆̀мъ самѱѡ́нъ: ꙗ҆́коже мѝ сотвори́ша, та́кѡ сотвори́хъ и҆̀мъ.
11–12These terms being imposed upon them, the men of Judah gathered together three thousand of their tribe and went up to him, and premising that they were subject to the Philistines, and obliged to obey them, not willingly but by terror, they thus sought to turn away from themselves the odium of their act, throwing it upon those by whom they were constrained. Wherefore he thus replied, What kind of Justice is it, O children of Abraham, that the satisfaction I have taken for my bride first over-reached and then torn from me should be injurious to me, and that I may not safely avenge this private injury? Have ye so turned your minds to the low offices of slaves, as to become the ministers of the insolence of others, and to turn your arms against yourselves? If I must perish, because I gave free vent to my grief, I had rather perish by the hand of the Philistines. My home has been attempted, my wife tampered with, if I have not been allowed to live without harm from them, at least let my own countrymen be free from the guilt of my death. I did but requite the injury I had received, I did not inflict one. Judge ye whether it was an equal return. They complain of the loss of their home, I of the loss of my wife; compare the sheaves of corn, with a companion of the marriage bed. They have sanctioned my grief by avenging my injuries. Consider to what an office they have appointed you. They desire you to put to death that man, whom they themselves have judged worthy to be avenged on those who wronged him, and to whose vengeance they ministered. But if your necks are thus bowed down to these proud men, deliver me into the hand of the enemy, slay me not yourselves; I refuse not to die, but I shrink from implicating you in my death. If from fear ye comply with their insolence, bind my hands with chains: though unarmed they will break their bonds and find a weapon for themselves. They will assuredly consider that you have satisfied the imposed condition, if you deliver me alive into their hands.
Letter 19: To Vigilius
And they said to him, We are come down to bind thee to deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines: and Sampson said to them, Swear to me that ye will not fall upon me yourselves.
καὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ· δῆσαί σε κατέβημεν τοῦ δοῦναί σε ἐν χειρὶ ἀλλοφύλων. καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Σαμψών· ὀμόσατέ μοι μή ποτε συναντήσητε ἐν ἐμοὶ ὑμεῖς.
И҆ реко́ша є҆мꙋ̀: свѧза́ти тебѐ прїидо́хомъ и҆ преда́ти тѧ̀ въ рꙋ́цѣ и҆ноплеме́нникѡмъ. И҆ речѐ и҆̀мъ самѱѡ́нъ: клени́тесѧ мнѣ̀, да не ᲂу҆бїе́те менѐ вы̀.
And they spoke to him, saying, Nay, but we will only bind thee fast, and deliver thee into their hand, and will by no means slay thee: and they bound him with two new ropes, and brought him from that rock.
καὶ εἶπον αὐτῷ λέγοντες· οὐχί, ὅτι ἀλλ᾿ ἢ δεσμῷ δήσομέν σε καὶ παραδώσομέν σε ἐν χειρὶ αὐτῶν καὶ θανάτῳ οὐ θανατώσομέν σε· καὶ ἔδησαν αὐτὸν ἐν δυσὶ καλωδίοις καινοῖς καὶ ἀνήνεγκαν αὐτὸν ἀπὸ τῆς πέτρας ἐκείνης.
И҆ реко́ша є҆мꙋ̀, глаго́люще: нѝ, но то́кмѡ соꙋ́зомъ свѧ́жемъ тѧ̀ и҆ предади́мъ тѧ̀ въ рꙋ́ки и҆́хъ, сме́ртїю же не ᲂу҆мертви́мъ тебѐ. И҆ свѧза́ша є҆го̀ двѣма̀ ᲂу҆́жы но́выми и҆ и҆зведо́ша є҆го̀ ѿ ка́мене тогѡ̀.
When they heard this, though three thousand men had come up, they swore to him that they would make no attempt on his life, only he must submit to be bound, in order that they might formally surrender him, and so keep clear of the crime of which they were accused.
Letter 19: To Vigilius
And they came to Lechi: and the Philistines shouted, and ran to meet him: and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and the ropes that were upon his arms became as tow which is burnt with fire; and his bonds were consumed from off his hands.
καὶ ἦλθον ἕως Σιαγόνος· καὶ οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι ἠλάλαξαν καὶ ἔδραμον εἰς συνάντησιν αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἥλατο ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν πνεῦμα Κυρίου, καὶ ἐγενήθη τὰ καλώδια τὰ ἐπὶ βραχίοσιν αὐτοῦ ὡσεὶ στυππίον, ὃ ἐξεκαύθη ἐν πυρί, καὶ ἐτάκησαν δεσμοὶ αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ χειρῶν αὐτοῦ.
И҆ то́й прїи́де до че́люсти: и҆ноплемє́нницы же воскли́кнꙋша и҆ теко́ша проти́вꙋ є҆мꙋ̀. И҆ сни́де на него̀ дх҃ъ гдⷭ҇ень, и҆ бы́ша ᲂу҆́жѧ на мы́шцахъ є҆гѡ̀ ꙗ҆́кѡ и҆згре́бїе, є҆гда̀ зажже́тсѧ ѻ҆гне́мъ: и҆ разрѣши́шасѧ ᲂу҆́зы є҆гѡ̀ ѿ рꙋкꙋ̀ є҆гѡ̀:
14–15Their word being pledged he came out of the cave, and left his fastness on the rock, and was bound with two ropes. When he saw the mighty men of the Philistines drawing near to seize him, his spirit rose within him, and he brake all his bands, and taking up a jaw bone of an ass that lay near he slew a thousand men, and put to flight the rest by this exploit of valour, whole hosts of armed soldiers giving way to one unarmed man. Thus those who ventured to close with him hand to hand he slew without effort; the others saved themselves by flight. Wherefore to this day the place is called Agon, because there Samson by his great valour achieved a glorious contest.
Letter 19: To Vigilius
And he found the jaw-bone of an ass that had been cast away, and he put forth his hand and took it, and smote with it a thousand men.
καὶ εὗρε σιαγόνα ὄνου ἐξερριμένη καὶ ἐξέτεινε τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔλαβεν αὐτὴν καὶ ἐπάταξεν ἐν αὐτῇ χιλίους ἄνδρας.
и҆ ѡ҆брѣ́те че́люсть ѻ҆́слю пове́рженꙋ, и҆ прострѐ рꙋ́кꙋ свою̀, и҆ взѧ̀ ю҆̀: и҆ и҆збѝ є҆́ю ты́сѧщꙋ мꙋже́й.
15–16Now when Samson destroyed a thousand men with a jawbone from the body of an ass, the Gentiles were prefigured in the ass; for thus Scripture speaks concerning both Jews and Gentiles: "An ox knows its owner, and an ass its master's manger." Before the coming of Christ all the Gentiles were torn to pieces by the devil and lay scattered like dry bones from the ass's body, but when Christ the true Samson came, he seized them all in his holy hands. He restored them by the hands of his power, and with them overcame his and our adversaries. Thus, we who had given our members to the devil before so that he might kill us, were seized by Christ and became instruments of justice unto God.
Sermon 119.4
And Sampson said, With the jaw-bone of an ass I have utterly destroyed them, for with the jaw-bone of an ass I have smitten a thousand men.
καὶ εἶπε Σαμψών· ἐν σιαγόνι ὄνου ἐξαλείφων ἐξήλειψα αὐτούς, ὅτι ἐν τῇ σιαγόνι τοῦ ὄνου ἐπάταξα χιλίους ἄνδρας.
И҆ речѐ самѱѡ́нъ: че́люстїю ѻ҆́слею потреблѧ́ѧ потреби́хъ и҆̀хъ, ꙗ҆́кѡ че́люстїю ѻ҆́слею и҆зби́хъ ты́сѧщꙋ мꙋже́й.
And I would that his moderation in victory had been equal to his courage against the enemy. But as is frequently the case, with mind unused to prosperity, he ascribed to himself the issue of the battle, which was due to the Divine favour and protection, saying, "With the jaw bone of an ass have I slain a thousand men." Nor did he build an altar to God, nor offer a victim, but neglecting sacrifice and assuming to himself the glory, to immortalize his triumph by a memorial name he called the place, The slaying of the jaw bone.
Letter 19: To Vigilius
And it came to pass when he ceased speaking, that he cast the jaw-bone out of his hand; and he called that place the Lifting of the jaw-bone.
καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἐπαύσατο λαλῶν, καὶ ἔρριψε τὴν σιαγόνα ἐκ τῆς χειρὸς αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐκάλεσε τὸν τόπον ἐκεῖνον ᾿Αναίρεσις σιαγόνος.
И҆ бы́сть є҆гда̀ преста̀ глаго́лѧ, и҆ пове́рже че́люсть ѿ рꙋкѝ своеѧ̀: и҆ наречѐ мѣ́сто то́е и҆збїе́нїе че́люстное.
And he was very thirsty, and wept before the Lord, and said, Thou hast been well pleased to grant this great deliverance by the hand of thy servant, and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?
καὶ ἐδίψησε σφόδρα, καὶ ἔκλαυσε πρὸς Κύριον καὶ εἶπε· σὺ εὐδόκησας ἐν χειρὶ δούλου σου τὴν σωτηρίαν τὴν μεγάλην ταύτην, καὶ νῦν ἀποθανοῦμαι τῷ δίψει καὶ ἐμπεσοῦμαι ἐν χειρὶ τῶν ἀπεριτμήτων.
И҆ возжажда̀ ѕѣлѡ̀, и҆ возопѝ ко гдⷭ҇ꙋ, и҆ речѐ: ты̀ бл҃говоли́лъ є҆сѝ въ рꙋ́цѣ раба̀ твоегѡ̀ спасе́нїе вели́кое сїѐ, и҆ нн҃ѣ ᲂу҆мира́ю жа́ждею, и҆ впадꙋ̀ въ рꙋ́ки неѡбрѣ́занныхъ.
18–19And now he began to burn with thirst, and there was no water, and yet he had great need of it. Wherefore perceiving that there is nothing so easy for human strength, as not to be rendered difficult by the absence of Divine aid, he besought God not to lay to his charge that he had ascribed ought to himself, giving Him all the glory of the victory, by the words, "Thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of Thy servant," and now help me, for lo, "I die of thirst", and thirst gives me over into the hand of those over whom Thou hast given me so great a triumph. Wherefore God in His mercy clave a hollow place in the jaw bone which Samson had cast aside, and a stream of water flowed from it, and Samson drank, and his spirit revived, and he called the place 'the invoking of the spring,' because by his suppliant prayers he made amends for his boast of victory, and thus two judgements were opportunely declared, the one that arrogance soon incurs offence, the other that without any offence humility gains reconciliation.
Letter 19: To Vigilius
18–19Although we had been dried up because of lack of the dew of God’s grace, we merited to be changed into fountains and rivers. At that time Samson prayed and a fountain issued from the jawbone. This fact is clearly fulfilled in us, for the Lord himself said, “He who believes in me, from within him there shall flow rivers of living water.”
Sermon 119.4
18–19In the relics of the saints the Lord Christ has provided us with saving fountains which in many ways pour out benefactions and gush with fragrant ointment. And let no one disbelieve. For, if by the will of God water poured out of the precipitous living rock in the desert, and for the thirsty Samson from the jawbone of an ass, is it unbelievable that fragrant ointment should flow from the relics of the martyrs? Certainly not, at least for such as know the power of God and the honor which the saints have from him.
Orthodox Faith 4.15
And God broke open a hollow place in the jaw, and there came thence water, and he drank; and his spirit returned and he revived: therefore the name of the fountain was called ’The well of the invoker,’ which is in Lechi, until this day.
καὶ ἔρρηξεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν λάκκον τὸν ἐν τῇ σιαγόνι, καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἐξ αὐτοῦ ὕδωρ, καὶ ἔπιε, καὶ ἐπέστρεψε τὸ πνεῦμα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔζησε. διὰ τοῦτο ἐκλήθη τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῆς Πηγὴ τοῦ ἐπικαλουμένου, ἥ ἐστιν ἐν Σιαγόνι, ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης.
И҆ разве́рзе бг҃ъ ꙗ҆́звꙋ на че́люсти, и҆ и҆зы́де и҆з̾ неѧ̀ вода̀, и҆ пѝ: и҆ возврати́сѧ дꙋ́хъ є҆гѡ̀, и҆ ѡ҆живѐ: сегѡ̀ ра́ди прозва́сѧ и҆́мѧ є҆́й и҆сто́чникъ призыва́ющагѡ, и҆́же є҆́сть въ че́люсти, да́же до днѐ сегѡ̀.
And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.
καὶ ἔκρινε τὸν ᾿Ισραὴλ ἐν ἡμέραις ἀλλοφύλων εἴκοσιν ἔτη.
И҆ сꙋдѝ і҆и҃лю во дни̑ фѷлїсті́млѧнъ два́десѧть лѣ́тъ.
And it came to pass after a time, in the days of wheat harvest, that Sampson visited his wife with a kid, and said, I will go in to my wife even into the chamber: but her father did not suffer him to go in.
ΚΑΙ ἐγένετο μεθ᾿ ἡμέρας ἐν ἡμέραις θερισμοῦ πυρῶν καὶ ἐπεσκέψατο Σαμψὼν τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ ἐν ἐρίφῳ αἰγῶν καὶ εἶπεν· εἰσελεύσομαι πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκά μου καὶ εἰς τὸ ταμιεῖον· καὶ οὐκ ἔδωκεν αὐτὸν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτῆς εἰσελθεῖν.
И҆ бы́сть по дне́хъ во дни̑ жа́твы пшени́цы, и҆ посѣтѝ самѱѡ́нъ женꙋ̀ свою̀, несы́й ко́злище ѿ ко́зъ, и҆ речѐ: да вни́дꙋ къ женѣ̀ мое́й въ ло́жницꙋ. И҆ не дадѐ є҆мꙋ̀ ѻ҆те́цъ є҆ѧ̀ вни́ти.