Gideon divided his three hundred men into three companies, and put a trumpet in every man’s hand, and gave to each a pitcher with a lamp inside.  Then he said, “Look on me, and do likewise:  when I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of the camp, and say, ’The sword of the Lord and of Gideon.’” Gideon and the hundred men of his company approached the enemy’s camp by night, and the other two companies drew nigh also, so that the Midianites where surrounded.  Then all blew their trumpets, broke their pitchers, held up their lamps (torches), and cried out as they had been commanded.

The Midianites heard the trumpets’ blast and the cry, and saw the lights.  They were thrown into confusion, and one fought against another; then they fled, and were pursued by the Israelites, great numbers of whom gathered together and followed after their flying enemies.  Thus the Midianites were overcome, and Israel had peace during the lifetime of Gideon.

[Illustration:  “The sword of the lord, and of Gideon.”]

THE DEATH OF SAMSON.

Samson’s birth was foretold by an angel.  He was to grow up a Nazarite, forbidden to drink strong drink, neither was his head to be shaved.  His strength was very great; but his marriage was sinful, and his doings with the idolatrous Philistines terrible.  Though an Israelite and a judge, I fear much he sinned greatly against God.  On one occasion he went to Gaza, a city of the Philistines.  The inhabitants tried to take him, but he arose at midnight and carried away the gates of their city.  In our picture though he looks so strong, yet we see chains on his legs, and he is blind!  How came he to lose his sight and be made a prisoner?  I think it was owing to his sin and folly.

He became acquainted with a wicked woman, who enticed him to tell her in what his great strength lay.  Three times he told her falsely, but at last he said that if the flowing locks of his hair were removed his strength would depart.  While he slept these locks were cut off, then the Philistines burst in upon him, and when he arose to resist them, he found that his strength was gone.  Then his eyes were cruelly put out, and he was bound with fetters of brass.

Our artist shows him blind, brought out to make sport at the Philistines’ feast.  He is very sorrowful, and, I think, angry.  He asks the lad beside him to place his hands upon the pillars supporting the house; then, his great strength returning, he bows himself with all his might; the pillars break, the house falls, and Samson, with very many of the Philistines, is crushed amid the ruins.  Was not this a terrible end to what might have been a noble life?

[Illustration:  Samson making sport for the Philistines.]

RUTH AND NAOMI.