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In "Gideon's Exploding Pickle Pots," one tale related in this video, Bible storyteller Tony Robinson points to an Israeli valley that was long ago filled with battle-hungry Canaanite soldiers and tries to explain just how full it was. After a couple of attempts, he finally settles for a comparison with a British Christmas dinner "with double potatoes, brandied butter, mince pies, and ... your sister's Black Magic," the last being a type of chocolate. If these Briticisms amuse you so will this video. The contemporarily dressed Robinson wanders through ancient lands recounting Bible tales with extraordinary zest in this BBC-produced series. In "Samson Gets Knotted," he acts out Samson's encounter with an unfortunate lion and does voices for the intellectually challenged dreadlocked giant, his coy Philistine bride-to-be, and the entire would-be wedding party. Whether its miming a vast army accidentally stabbing itself to death or Samson's "word search" obsessed mum, this is Robinson's Bible party and you're invited.
--Kimberly Heinrichs
From the back cover
"Gideon's Exploding Pickle Pots": Gideon has raised a large army--but not nearly as large as the vast Canaanite army. Most of the Israelites decide to go home or are sent packing by Gideon. Far from being dispirited, though, the cunning Gideon sneaks up on the Canaanites in the middle of the night with his tiny army. They frighten the Canaanites into a panic of blundering self-destruction. By morning the Israelites are victorious and completely unscathed. Little do they know that just up the coast another enemy is landing: the Philistines!
"Samson Gets Knotted": Samson is very strong and not too bright. He lives with his mom and dad, who are Israelites. Despite his mother's objections, Samson becomes engaged to a Philistine girl and, in a wild fit of joy, kills a lion. Later, on the way to the wedding, he passes the lion's body and finds that bees have built a nest in the carcass. At the wedding, the Philistines are so abusive to the Israelites that Samson challenges them to find the answer to a riddle. This little game backfires, and Samson completely loses his temper-- much to the Philistine's later regret.
