Samson
From BibleWiki
| Judges of Israel |
|---|
| Othniel |
| Ehud |
| Shamgar |
| Deborah and Barak |
| Gideon |
| Abimelech |
| Tola |
| Jair |
| Jephthah |
| Ibzan |
| Elon |
| Abdon |
| Samson |
| Eli |
| Samuel |
Meaning: of the sun
The son of Manoah, born at Zorah.
The narrative of his life is given in Judges Chapter 13ff.
He was a "Nazarite unto God" from his birth, the first Nazarite mentioned in Scripture (Jdg 13:3ff; comp. Num 6:1ff).
The first recorded event of his life was his marriage with a Philistine woman of Timnath (Jdg 14:1ff). Such a marriage was not forbidden by the law of Moses, as the Philistines did not form one of the seven doomed Canaanite nations (Ex 34:11ff; Deut 7:1ff). It was, however, an ill-assorted and unblessed marriage.
His wife was soon taken from him and given "to his companion" (Jdg 14:20). For this Samson took revenge by burning the "standing corn of the Philistines" (Jdg 15:1ff), who, in their turn, in revenge "burnt her and her father with fire." Her death he terribly avenged (Jdg 15:7ff).
During the twenty years following this he judged Israel; but we have no record of his life. Probably these twenty years may have been simultaneous with the last twenty years of Eli's life.
After this we have an account of his exploits at Gaza (Jdg 16:1ff), and of his infatuation for Delilah, and her treachery (Jdg 16:4ff), and then of his melancholy death (Jdg 16:21ff). He perished in the last terrible destruction he brought upon his enemies. "So the dead which he slew at his death were more [in social and political importance = the elite of the people] than they which he slew in his life."
"Straining all his nerves, he bowed: As with the force of winds and waters pent, When mountains tremble, those two massy pillars With horrible convulsion to and fro He tugged, he shook, till down they came, and drew The whole roof after them, with burst of thunder Upon the heads of all who sat beneath, Lords, ladies, captains, counsellors, or priests, Their choice nobility and flower." - Milton's Samson Agonistes.
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