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the judicature of Samson. Samuel, when giving a catalogue 

 of the chosen deliverers of Israel, (Saml. xii. v. 11.) does not, 

 even when his subject would seem to lead him to it, mention 

 Samson, his atchievements or his jurisdiction. Are we to 

 conclude from this, that he was not acquainted with his exist- 

 ence ? Yet the argument would be as just as that produced 

 by Vignoles for supposing an interregnum. However, as 

 Vignoles has given up the point in this case, and as we shall 

 see in the sequel, that it is as clearly contradicted in this pe- 

 riod of Scripture, as in an}-^ other where anarchies have been 

 arbitrarily inserted, we shall proceed to consider his remain- 

 ing arguments for making Eli and Samson exclusively succes- 

 sive. 



1 St. If the slaughter of the Philistine lords had emancipated 

 Israel, according to his first supposition, then Samson Jina Hi/ 

 delivered Israel, instead of commencing their deliverance, 

 contrary to the express language of Scripture. 



2dly. If the Israelites, under the conduct of Eh, took ad- 

 vantage of the death of the Philistine lords, and emancipated 

 themselves, on what principle will he account for the silence 

 of Scripture, that there is no allusion however slight, no 

 mention however casual, of an event so flattering to the na- 

 tional pride, so unlooked for by its vanity ? depressed and 

 humiliated as both must have been by the consciousness of a 

 subjugation of almost half a century, the longest and most 

 severe they ever had experienced. May we not here retort 



VOL. XI. V the 



