Did Sampson commit suicide?

[EricH]

Sampson set up the situation that would most certainly lead to his death and the death of many Philistines. Can his death be interpreted as a suicide or a willingness to die for the cause of Jehovah?

To me, its more like a soldier who goes into a particular combat scenario, knowing his chances of survial are slim, but he does it anyway, knowing that his actions and sacrifice will help to secure a victory for his comrades.

Agreed

[AnotherTraveler]

Sampson both committed suicide and did so in the line of duty. God assisted him in this effort also.

[Ovedya]

Greater love hath no man than this; that he would lay down his life for his friends

samsom didn't lay his life down for any friend--or country. he laid his life down for revenge. the Word is what it is. "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." that's all he said. no altuism there.

samson was a great man. God put him as judge, and he did some mighty things. but don't make his death out to be a noble act. it wasn't. to do so would be to add to the word of God. not all stories end up good, and with the bad guy turning good--even in the bible. we just know that the Real story with the Real ending is good. for christians anyway.

It absolutely was a noble act. The Bible doesn't have to call it a noble act for it to be so. Jesus' death was most certainly a noble act. Doubtless any believer would say otherwise. However the Bible never says so.

[AnotherTraveler]

Greater love hath no man than this; that he would lay down his life for his friends

samsom didn't lay his life down for any friend--or country. he laid his life down for revenge. the Word is what it is. "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." that's all he said. no altuism there.

samson was a great man. God put him as judge, and he did some mighty things. but don't make his death out to be a noble act. it wasn't. to do so would be to add to the word of God. not all stories end up good, and with the bad guy turning good--even in the bible. we just know that the Real story with the Real ending is good. for christians anyway.

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: 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Heb 11:32-40 (KJV)

And these all, having obtained a good report through faith,

not all stories end up good

Samson obtained a good report, according to the scriptures.

[AnotherTraveler]

Samson obtained a good report, according to the scriptures.

yes, samson did many good things. not arguing that. but that does NOT mean his death was noble and that he repented! and nothing in the scripture you quoted says otherwise.

This thread asks if he committed suicide or died in the line of duty. The noble and repented stuff is a sidetrack, I think.

As I stated before, I think he committed suicide in the line of duty. He is certainly listed in the line of those that did by faith obtain a good report.

[Ovedya]

It absolutely was a noble act. The Bible doesn't have to call it a noble act for it to be so. Jesus' death was most certainly a noble act. Doubtless any believer would say otherwise. However the Bible never says so.

what makes it noble? the fact that he killed the enemy? so if i go in with a machine gun and kill a bunch of muslims, is that noble?

Jesus knew his death would save many--making it noble by the definition of the word. samson knew no such thing. to compare samson's death with Jesus' death is, well, kind of beyond words. how can you do such a thing?

Because by their death both destroyed their enemy.

Do you think that even in Samson's example Christ cannot be seen?

[Guest Biblicist]

I think he did. He knowingly placed his hands on those pilars, and pushed, knowing that those pilars would give way and that the roof would come down on them all.

However, as someone else stated, it's like a soldier giving his life to protect the rest of the troop, and for his country. He knew he had to bring down the Philistines. God gave him the opportunity and he took it. Even if it meant losing his life in the process. Everything that happened in Sampson's life lead him to that very spot. The wife he chose, against God's direction, the secret he told, the arrest, everything.

God allowed what he hated, Sampsons disobedience, selfishness, short-sightedness, to accomplish what He loved, the protection and release of the Israelites.

[Guest]

Samson

Beloved Brother

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:

Hebrews 11:32

And Valiant Warrior

Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

Hebrews 11:33

God's Fighter Of Armies

Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

Hebrews 11:34

Beloved Man Of Faith

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.

And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon 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 16:28-30

Judge Of Israel

And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.

Judges 15:20

Beloved Brother

The JUDGE

The LORD Jesus

Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little.

Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Psalms 2:12

The Author And The Finisher Of Our Salvation

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2

Is Quickly Coming Back

And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Revelation 22:12

To Judge All Mankind

For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

John 5:22

So Flee The Wrath

And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,

In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

2 Thessalonian 1:7-9

Believe God

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already,

because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:17-18

Believe

Be Blessed Beloved Of The KING

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:

The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:

The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.

Numbers 6:24-27

Love, Your Brother Joe

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered:

for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said,

and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call. Joel 2:32

[georgesbluegirl]

If we were to label Samson's actions as suicide, then we would surely have to acuse Jesus of the same. Suicide is a malicious, purposeless ending of one own's life. Samson reached a point of repentance and asked God to use him to judge a wiked people. There is a difference.

Agree that Sampson's act is not strictly suicide -- I draw the distinction in that suicide is taking action to end one's life, while his scenario, like many of the other examples about self-sacrifice put forward, is taking an action which, as an accessory effect, will or may end your life. Think of the soldier falling on the grenade -- he's not choosing to do it specifically to die, but he will die as a result of his heroic effort.

I do disagree that suicide is "malicious," though. In the vast majority of cases, it is not done to hurt other people.

[Guest Butero]

Sampson set up the situation that would most certainly lead to his death and the death of many Philistines. Can his death be interpreted as a suicide or a willingness to die for the cause of Jehovah?

There is no question in my mind that Sampson's intention was not to die, but to bring about a huge victory for Israel. If he could have done that without having to die, I believe he would have. You could ask the same question of those at the Alamo. Did they commit suicide, because they knew they would be defeated? How about Custer? Did he commit suicide? I think the obvious answer in both of those cases is no, and I would say the same thing about Samson.