But Samson’s wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands.
And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech. And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, together with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel. And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore; And said, O LORD God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be to day one tribe lacking in Israel? And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.
Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand. So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years. And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed: for they saw that evil was come upon them.