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
jaw-bone of an ass that lay down at his feet, fell upon his
enemies, and smiting them with his jaw-bone, slew a thousand of
them, and put the rest to flight and into great disorder.

9. 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 it was out of a dread of
him that some of his enemies fell and the rest ran away upon his
use of the jaw-bone; but when a great thirst came upon him, he
considered that human courage is nothing, and bare his testimony
that all is to be ascribed to God, and besought him that he would
not be angry at any thing 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 whence it was that
Samson called the place the Jaw-bone, (20) and so it is called to
this day.

10. 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