Samson’s life

Samson, or Shimshon in Hebrew (from the word “sun”), was one of the Judges of Israel and the last of the judges mentioned in the Book Of Judges. In Hebrew he also known as Shimson Ha- Gibor(“Samson the mighty”). Samson judged Israel for 20 years. He had extraordinary strength and was an heroic character in the bible .Samson was a Nazir (”Nazirite”) and therefore could not cut his hair. Samson was unusual Nazir since he was a Nazir from birth ,which means that he was a Nazir for his entire life and couldn’t break his vows towards God.

We can examine Samson’s life from two aspects; first, the popular aspect in which Samson appears as a great hero, a national hero, that fights against the Palistines ,overcome them and saves Israel..The second aspect is the religious aspect that present Samson as the messenger of God that was blessed by God.

The great warrior

Samson was a man of remarkable psychological and spiritual strength. The first thing that indicates his heroism is his physical strength. Samson killed a lion with his bare hands. Judges 14, 5-6:

“וְהִנֵּה כְּפִיר אֲרָיוֹת, שֹׁאֵג לִקְרָאתוֹ.   וַתִּצְלַח עָלָיו רוּחַ יְהוָה, וַיְשַׁסְּעֵהוּ כְּשַׁסַּע הַגְּדִי, וּמְאוּמָה, אֵין בְּיָדוֹ”.

. “And behold, a young lion came toward him roaring. Then the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat”

Later on ,Samson removed the gates of the city of Gaza and also the doorposts (“mezuzah”) and carried them on his shoulders.

When the men of Judah tied Samson with a new rope and took him to the Philistines, Samson easily broke out of the rope, picked up a jawbone of a dead donkey and killed 1000 men of the Philistines.

Despite all, Samson was not a typical hero. In Pirkei Avos 4-1,Ben Zoma says:

“איזהו גיבור?: הכובש את יצרו”

“Who is gibor(“hero”)? He who conquers his evil inclination”.

Well, it’s a known fact that Samson had a weakness for Philistine women,( The woman from Timnath, a harlot from Gaza and Delilah) and he did not conquers his evil inclination…

Samson’s Faith

As a young boy Samson was obedient to his vow and loyal to God. But once he was grown, Samson didn’t share God’s hatred of evil, and he had no desire to see Israel free of Philistine domination.

Despite this, God was willing to hear and to forgive Samson and answered his prayers for the last time : While he was asleep, Samson’s hair was cut off. Losing his strength, he was captured by the Philistines, who blinded him and made him grind grain in prison.
The Philistines stood Samson in the center of Dagon’s temple . Samson was placed between two pillars of the temple and the big crowd made fun of him. Then he calls out God and prays for his strength for one more time .God hared Samson’s prayer and gave him back his power. Then Samson pushed against the pillars and the temple crashed, killing 3,000 Philistines as written in Judges 16,30:

וַיֹּאמֶר שִׁמְשׁוֹן, תָּמוֹת נַפְשִׁי עִם-פְּלִשְׁתִּים, וַיֵּט בְּכֹחַ, וַיִּפֹּל הַבַּיִת עַל-הַסְּרָנִים וְעַל-כָּל-הָעָם אֲשֶׁר-בּוֹ;

וַיִּהְיוּ הַמֵּתִים, אֲשֶׁר הֵמִית בְּמוֹתוֹ, רַבִּים, מֵאֲשֶׁר הֵמִית בְּחַיָּיו.

“Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.”

In summary, although Samson broke his vows and didn’t always make the right thing, he was, and still is, one of the greatest warriors Israel as ever known.

main phrases of the post + transcription + translation

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