For 40 years, the hated Philistines have brutally ruled over Israel. Their ruthless armies wield iron weapons, crushing all resistance and hope. Most dreaded of all are the Rephaim, giants of old and forebears of Goliath who take savage delight enforcing Philistine tyranny. But the Lord has heard the cries of his people. And in their darkest days, he raises up a new champion unlike any seen before. Samson is as stubborn as he is strong, rash and fiercely defiant. When the Philistines sabotage his marriage, Samson's reckless vengeance will shatter the life he knows, rousing his enemies to a violent revenge of their own - one that threatens to engulf Israel in a catastrophic, unwinnable war . . . In Rise of Samson, Jeffrey D. Meredith brings the Bible's most famous strongman to life, from his miraculous triumphs to his all-too-human failings. The adventure is told with humor and passion, immersing the reader in the heart of ancient Israel. This is the first book in the three-part Testimony of Samson series.