SAMSON

[Dennis1209]

SAMSON

I use to watch George Reeves as Superman when I was a child, I was fascinated by Superman’s abilities. Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a speeding locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Look, up in the sky, it’s a bird, no it's a plane, no, it’s Superman; with the theme music. That is still ingrained in my mind from a young kid. If only my Bible was so ingrained in my head!

Of course, that was fiction, and now I realize how these super-hero characters that were invented, relate to humanism, being God-like, and worshipping idols. We have a real biblical super-hero, that did real miracles, our Lord and Savior Jesus.  

As a pre-adolescent attending Sunday School, I remember we had lessons about Samson, and I was fascinated. I find the strongest human to ever live intriguing. From before his conception, what the Lord intended Samson to be, his amazing strength and feats, his life and self-will, downfall, and death. Any murder, including self-murder (suicide), is a sin and prohibited in the Bible. We are all imagers of God, so in effigy, we are in effect trying to kill God. Samson did not commit suicide, as I will explain later.

Samson’s name means: Samson (sam’-sun) = A little sun. Splendid sun; i.e., great joy and felicity; like the sun; distinguished; strong; a perfect servant; sun-man.^[1]

Samson was born of godly parents, his fathers' name was Manoah, his name means Manoah (ma-no’-ah) = Rest; i.e., recreation; quiet; consolation of parents.^[2] Manoah and his wife lived in Zorah. Zorah—place of wasps, a town in the low country of Judah, afterwards given to Dan (Josh. 19:41; Judg. 18:2), probably the same as Zoreah (Josh. 15:33). This was Samson’s birthplace (Judg. 13:2, 25), and near there Samson was buried (16:31).^[3]

Like other examples of the patriarch’s wives being barren, Manoah’s wife could not bear a child. Manoah’s wife's name is not mentioned. This is one of the few times an angel appeared to announce a miraculous birth of someone; the appearance of an angel that announced the birth to Elisabeth and Zacharias (John the Baptist); and Mary and Joseph (Jesus). The angel(s) that appeared to the Shepherds to announce the birth of the Messiah. The three that appeared to Abraham, etc. This “angel of the Lord” appearing to Manoah’s wife; is probably the pre-incarnate Christ, a theophany.

 ANGEL OF THE LORD. It is disputed whether the angel of the Lord (Gen 16:7–14; 22:11, 14, 15; Ex 3:2; Jdg 2:1, 4; 5:23; 6:11–24; 13:3) or angel of God (Gen 21:17–19; 31:11–13) is one of the angels or an appearance of God Himself. The fact that the angel speaks not merely in the name of God but as God in the first person singular leaves no doubt that the angel of the Lord is a theophany—a self-manifestation of God (Gen 17:7ff.; 22:11ff.; 31:13) The angel identifies himself with God and claims to exercise the prerogatives of God.

Before birth, Samson was consecrated and consigned to be a Nazarite, the Nazarite vow is very interesting:

Nazarite—(Heb. form Nazirite), the name of such Israelites as took on them the vow prescribed in Num. 6:2–21. The word denotes generally one who is separated from others and consecrated to God. Although there is no mention of any Nazarite before Samson, yet it is evident that they existed before the time of Moses. The vow of a Nazarite involved these three things, (1) abstinence from wine and strong drink, (2) refraining from cutting the hair off the head during the whole period of the continuance of the vow, and (3) the avoidance of contact with the dead.

When the period of the continuance of the vow came to an end, the Nazarite had to present himself at the door of the sanctuary with (1) a he lamb of the first year for a burnt-offering, (2) a ewe lamb of the first year for a sin-offering, and (3) a ram for a peace-offering. After these sacrifices were offered by the priest, the Nazarite cut off his hair at the door and threw it into the fire under the peace offering.

For some reason, probably amid his work at Corinth, Paul took on himself the Nazarite vow. This could only be terminated by his going up to Jerusalem to offer up the hair which till then was to be left uncut. But it seems to have been allowable for persons at a distance to cut the hair, which was to be brought up to Jerusalem, where the ceremony was completed. This Paul did at Cenchrea just before setting out on his voyage into Syria (Acts 18:18).

On another occasion (Acts 21:23–26), at the feast of Pentecost, Paul took on himself again the Nazarite vow. “The ceremonies involved took a longer time than Paul had at his disposal, but the law permitted a man to share the vow if he could find companions who had gone through the prescribed ceremonies, and who permitted him to join their company. This permission was commonly granted if the newcomer paid all the fees required from the whole company (fee to the Levite for cutting the hair and fees for sacrifices), and finished the vow along with the others.

 Four Jewish Christians were performing the vow, and would admit Paul to their company, provided he paid their expenses. Paul consented, paid the charges, and when the last seven days of the vow began, he went with them to live in the temple, giving the usual notice to the priests that he had joined in regular fashion, was a sharer with the four men, and that his vow would end with theirs. Nazarites retired to the temple during the last period of seven days, because they could be secure there against any accidental defilement” (Lindsay’s Acts).

As to the duration of a Nazarite’s vow, everyone was left at liberty to fix his own time. There is mention made in Scripture of only three who were Nazarites for life, Samson, Samuel, and John the Baptist (Judg. 13:4, 5; 1 Sam. 1:11; Luke 1:15). In its ordinary form, however, the Nazarite’s vow lasted only thirty, and at most one hundred, days.

This institution was a symbol of a life devoted to God and separated from all sin, a holy life.^[4]

Samson would have stood out to the Jews like a sore thumb because his hair was never cut. I would suspect by adulthood; his hair would have reached his heals. This would be the identifier of a Nazarite.

In my mind, I pictured Samson as having a physique like Arnold Schwarzenegger; Lou Ferrigno (The Hulk); Charles Atlas; the semi-myth Hercules (a Nephilim); or myself LOL. This could not have been the case; as the Philistines could not figure out how and where his strength came from. If Samson had been built like the aforementioned, there would have been no question where his strength came from. Most likely, he had an ordinary physique and stature. Picture in your mind, a historical five-foot-six-inch Jew, carrying 300 pounds on his shoulders, much less 8,000 pounds, uphill.

 Judges 16:3 And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron.

Biblical archeologists and scholars suspect they have found these gates and posts Samson carried. Their estimated weight is 8,000 pounds, carried on his shoulders for at least two miles uphill. If true, that is incomprehensible and unimaginable! Then again, killing 1,000 Philistines with a jawbone of an ass, remarkable. Pushing away with two arms, two main support pillars of a sturdy megastructure. WOW! A real-life, honest-to-goodness superhero.

As recorded in scripture, Samson violated every Nazarite vow and did his own will. The Israelites lived in the hills and mountains, the uncircumcised Philistines (Sea Peoples) lived in the plains. Israel was not to comingle, associate or intermarry with each other. Samson went down to Timnath to a daughter of the Philistines.

Samson “went into” women several times, a euphemism for sexual intercourse. We all know the story of Delilah. A gambling poker card in the 52 card poker deck was even named after her, black Delilah, the queen of spades. Ask me how I know that?

We remember Samson intentionally touching a dead thing. He reached into the dead rotting carcass of the lion he slew by hand. To retrieve some honey from a bee nest inside of the carcass.

Deception by omission is still a lie:

Judges 14:9 And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion.

Before God granted Israel’s wish and request to have a king like the other nations, a big mistake on Israel’s part, going against what the Lord ordained; they had Judges. Samuel was the very last judge of Israel, and Samuel anointed David as the first king of undivided Israel.

Judges and Their Rule

Judge – Oppressor - Years of Oppression/Rest* - Reference

*"Years rest” includes the entire amount of time that a judge served, though the phrase “and the land rested” only occurs with Othniel, Ehud, Deborah, and Gideon.

(1)   Othniel

Cushan-rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia (also called Aram Naharaim)

8 years oppression/40 years rest

Judg 3:7–11

(2)   Ehud

Eglon, king of Moab

18 years oppression/80 years rest

Judg 3:12–30

(3)   Shamgar

Philistines

Judg 3:31

(4)   Deborah – a heroe of the Bible

Jabin, king of Canaan

20 years oppression/40 years rest

Judg 4:1–5:31

(5)   Gideon

Midianites

7 years oppression/ 40 years rest

Judg 6:1–8:28

(6)   Tola

Abimelech

3 years oppression/23 years rest

Judg 10:1–2

(7)   Jair

22 years rest

Judg 10:3–5

(8)   Jephthah

Philistines, Ammonites

18 years oppression/6 years rest

Judg 10:7–12:7

(9)   Ibzan

7        years rest

Judg 12:8–10

(10) Elon

10    ears rest

Judg 12:11–12

(11) Abdon

8 years rest

Judg 12:13–15

(12) Samson

Philistines

40 years oppression/20 years rest

Judg 13:1–16:31

(13) Eli

40 years rest

1 Sam 4:18

(14) Samuel

1 Sam 7:15–17

We remember Samson killing a thousand Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey, why that weapon of choice?

Their use of iron weapons and the Philistine policy toward Israel of disarmament (cf. 1 Sam. 13:19-23) left Israel at a great disadvantage. They enslaved Israel and didn’t allow the means for Israel’s rebellion. Our U.S Government is using the same playbook on its citizenry, but that’s another topic.

As mentioned earlier, some claim Samson committed suicide, a sin. No, Samson prayed for strength only one more time. To do the will of the Father, in which he was born and consecrated to do; deliver Israel from the Philistines, and for vengeance.

Judges 16:28 And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.

Judges 16:30 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 16:31 Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the burying place of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.

The writer of Hebrews, possibly the apostle Paul, lists and honors Samson among the hall of fame heroes of the O.T. Bible.

Hebrews 11:32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

 

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^[1] Stelman Smith and Judson Cornwall, in The Exhaustive Dictionary of Bible Names (North Brunswick, NJ: Bridge-Logos, 1998), 209.

^[2] Stelman Smith and Judson Cornwall, in The Exhaustive Dictionary of Bible Names (North Brunswick, NJ: Bridge-Logos, 1998), 166.

^[3] M. G. Easton, in Illustrated Bible Dictionary and Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1893), 708.

^[4] M. G. Easton, in Illustrated Bible Dictionary and Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1893), 492.

[Michael37]

34 minutes ago, Dennis1209 said:

As mentioned earlier, some claim Samson committed suicide, a sin. No, Samson prayed for strength only one more time. To do the will of the Father, in which he was born and consecrated to do; deliver Israel from the Philistines, and for vengeance.

Therefore Samson was selected and strengthened to sacrifice himself for the posterity of God's People.

[Jayne]

God did use Samson and used him mightily.  Even though Samson broke the Nazarite vows he was supposed to be under.

As for his hair, I don't it  would have reached his ankles.  It's possible, but once hair reaches a certain length, many times it breaks off and the ends become very brittle.  I've seen a few women with hair down to their calves.  But anything could happen.

Here's all we do know for sure about his hair - it was long and he wore it in seven braids or locks.

Also, I always used to "see" him in my mind as an Arnold Schwarzenegger type, too.  But then I thought a few years ago, if he LOOKED like Mr. Universe - why did everyone want to know where his strength came from?

As for his death, I always felt sorry for him.  He asked God  to strengthen him just one more time.  Why?  So that he could take vengeance on the Philistines for his two eyes.

Samson was a flawed man.  As so we ALL are.  God used him nonetheless.  As he can use us all.