Samson
Samson is a notable figure from the biblical narratives found in the Book of Judges, specifically chapters 13 to 16. He hails from the Israelite tribe of Dan and is depicted as a physically powerful military hero renowned for his confrontations with the Philistines, a neighboring group. His life is marked by remarkable feats, such as killing a lion and slaying a thousand Philistines using only the jawbone of a donkey. Despite his strength, Samson's personal life is fraught with challenges, particularly in his relationships with Philistine women, which often lead to conflict with his enemies. One of the most famous episodes involves his betrayal by Delilah, who ultimately delivers him to the Philistines, resulting in his blindness. In a final act of vengeance, Samson collapses the pillars of a Philistine temple, causing significant destruction. Samson's story resonates through various artistic interpretations, including Milton's poem "Samson Agonistes" and Saint-Saëns' opera "Samson and Delilah," reflecting the ongoing cultural impact of his narrative. This complex character encapsulates themes of strength, betrayal, and the tension between different peoples in a historically significant context.
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Samson
Major role/position: Warrior
Related civilizations: Israel, Philistines.
Life
According to the biblical witness preserved in narratives spanning Judges 13-16, Samson was an accomplished military hero from the Israelite tribe of Dan. The triumphs of this physically overpowering rogue against neighboring Philistine men, however, were regularly offset by his failures with Philistine women, whose loyalties remained with their own people.
After being informed that her child would be remarkable, Manoah’s wife bore a son. This son, Samson, obtained his parents’ reluctant consent to marry a Philistine maiden. Their wedding feast turned sour when Philistine guests solved Samson’s riddle by snatching the answer from his bride. In revenge, Samson tied blazing torches to three hundred foxes, releasing them in his enemies’ grain fields. Credited with killing one thousand Philistines with the jawbone of an ass and carrying the city gates of Gaza uphill forty miles (sixty-four kilometers) to Hebron, Samson fell victim to the enchanting Delilah, who delivered him to her Philistine cohorts, who blinded him. Ultimately, Samson pulled down the pillars of the Philistine temple of Dagon, thereby killing three thousand worshipers and himself.
Influence
Whereas biblical legend presents Samson as a flawed Israelite Tarzan whose bawdy exploits elude historical verification, its testimony that Philistine-Israelite tensions rapidly escalated during those decades immediately predating the founding of the Israelite monarchy rings true. Samson’s story has evoked two compelling artistic renderings—John Milton’s dramatic poem Samson Agonistes (1671) and Camille Saint-Saëns’ opera Samson and Delilah (1877).
Bibliography
Crenshaw, James L. Samson: A Secret Betrayed, a Vow Ignored. Atlanta, Ga.: John Knox Press, 1978.
Gottwald, Norman K. The Tribes of Yahweh. Sheffield, England: Sheffield Academic Press, 1999.