The Adoration of the Shepherds by Guido Reni

The entire painting of "The Adoration of the Shepherds" by Guido Reni may be viewed at
the National Gallery in the United Kingdom. Above left, is a close up of his version and
 right, is a portrait of Guido Reni.

       "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them : and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you ; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, Iving in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another. Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger." (from the Gospel of Luke, second chapter)

An engraving inspired by "The Adoration of the Shepherds" by Guido Reni.

       The decree of Caesar was, correctly speaking, "that an enrollment, or census, of the people should be made," and, Cyrenius, " an active soldier and rigid commissioner," was, probably, sent upon this service, so unpleasant to Herod, and so unpopular in Syria. The government of Herod had not given satisfaction to the emperor, who rejected all attempts of the tetrarch to explain his conduct, and even added, "that having hitherto treated him as a friend, he should henceforth treat him as a subject." After this sentence, it was resolved that Syria should be degraded to the rank of a Roman province; a change which took place eleven years after the birth of Christ. Much strictness was observed in taking the Roman census; the returns of age and property were made on oath, and under the penalty of confiscation of goods in case of delinquency. The object of the census was the imposition of a capitation tax, males from fourteen years, and females from twelve, being included within its operation. As the collector was, in all probability, accompanied by a strong armed force, to secure the ready execution of his orders, none ventured to disobey them, and Joseph, knowing the peremptory nature of the decree, not-withstanding Mary's pregnancy, immediately proceeded with her to Bethlehem, "his own city," to be there enrolled.

Samson and Delilah by Henry Singleton

        "But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison-house. Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven. Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars. Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there ; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport. And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, 1 pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars on which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left. And Samson said. Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death, were more than they which he slew in his life." Judges 16 : 21-30

From the original engraving by Henry Singleton.

       Gaza, where Samson was imprisoned, is about sixty miles from Jerusalem, and not more than two from the sea. From the earliest period of history, it is described as a place of importance. Alexander the Great besieged and took it from the Persians, and Alexander Jannseus reduced it to desolation; a misfortune foretold by the prophet Zephaniah. St. Luke calls it "desert;" but Constantino rebuilt it, and named it Constantia in honor of his son. Some remains of ancient Gaza still survive, consisting of pillars of grey granite, columns of marble, and fragments of sculpture. The inhabitants pretend to point out the ruins of the temple in which Samson avenged the injuries he had sustained at the hands of the Philistines; and, at the distance of two miles, they show the hill to which he carried the brazen gates of the city. Ruined walls, two miles in extent, encircle the eminence on which the city stands, while gardens and plantations, interspersed with substantial buildings, adorn its sides and summit.