Bible Biographies - Samson

SCRIPTURE: Judges 13-16; Hebrews 11:32.

BIOGRAPHY

Samson was a judge of Israel, famous for his strength displayed against the Philistines. He was born towards the end of the Judges, being the last-named judge prior to Eli and Samuel, who under God's guidance turned Israel from a theocracy to a monarchy. The Philistines had been used by God against Israel because of the nation's evil deeds (Judges 13:1). Whilst Samson's mother is unnamed, his father was Manoah of the tribe of Dan, who resided at Zorah (Judges 13:2).

Like a number of other women in the Bible who had notable sons, Samson's mother was barren. When the angel announced to his mother that she was to conceive, he told her that the child was to be a Nazarite. Samson had relations with three women, a Philistine woman (Judges 14:8-18) whom he married; a prostitute of Gaza (Judges 16:1-3); and Delilah of Sorek, with whom he fell in love (Judges 16:4). It was Delilah who finally was able to find the secret for his strength. Samson was bound, blinded (Judges 16:21; cf. 1 Samuel 11:2; 2 Kings 25:7), and set to work like a beast of burden grinding corn.

The Philistines let his hair grow again which gave him his strength sufficiently to bring down the temple of Dagon, killing Samson and a great number of the Philistines. He was buried in his father's tomb between Zorah and Eshtaol, having judged Israel 20 years (Judges 16:31).

EVALUATION

a) Samson was to be dedicated as a Nazarite from birth (Judges 13:5).

b) The Nazarite was not allowed to:

i) Eat or drink of the fruit of the vine (Judges 13:4,7).

ii) Be contaminated by any unclean thing (Judges 13:4,7).

iii) Cut his hair (Judges 13:5,7).

c) The first two items of the Nazarite vow was also to apply to Samson's mother (Judges 13:14).

d) The regulations for a Nazarite are given in Numbers 6:2-21.

e) On one occasion on his visit to his prospective wife at Timnah, Samson stopped at the carcass of the lion which he had killed with his bare hands (Judges 14:5-9) and ate honey from it. This was in direct contravention to Numbers 6:6 and in this he failed to keep from being contaminated.

f) On Samson's fourth visit to Timnah (Judges 14:10-20), he gave a feast (mistell, Heb.) which implies a drinking bout in contravention of the first Nazarite requirement.

g) Through Delilah, the secret of his strength being his uncut hair was discovered. Delilah called a man to cut his hair (Judges 16:19), completing the breaking of the vows of a Nazarite.

h) He became a slave to the Philistines (Judges 16:21).

i) In a pitiful state he finally takes his revenge on the enemies of Israel.

j) His strength was amazing.

i) He killed many Philistines after the burning of his wife (Judges 15:8).

ii) He killed a thousand Philistines with the jawbone of an ass (Judges 15:15,16).

iii) Samson escaped from Gaza carrying the gates to the city of Hebron (the symbol of civic pride) some 60 kilometres away (Judges 16:3).

iv) Samson snapped seven fresh bowstrings (Judges 16:6-9).

v) He broke fresh ropes (Judges 16:10-12).

vi) He removed a whole loom (Judges 16:13,14).

vii) He demolished the temple of Dagon (Judges 16:29,30).

PRINCIPLES

a) Breaking of promises causes great discipline (Ecclesiastes 5:4-6).

b) God never breaks His promises (Hebrews 10:23).

c) Pride and lust cause loss of spirituality (1 Kings 1 1:1-6).

d) Be careful with whom you associate (Psalm 1:1; 1 Corinthians 15:33).

e) A weak character causes problems (Joel 3:10).

f) God can still use you even if you fail repeatedly (1 John 1:9).

g) Failure in the Christian life can cause you to become a slave to sin (Romans 8:5-8).

NAZARITE VOW

1. In (Numbers 6 and 7) where the Nazarite oath is given there are four relationships with the Lord:-

a) separation. (6:1-12)

b) worship. (6:13-21)

c) blessing. (6:22-27)

d) service. (7:1-89)

2. The Nazarite or "separated one" was a person of either sex separated wholly unto the Lord.

3. The Nazarite, as a part of the oath abstained from:-

a) Wine which was the symbol of joy (Psalm 104:15) indicating that the Nazarite's joy was in the Lord (Psalm 87:7; 97:12; Habakkuk 3:18)

b) Cutting his hair, thus giving him long hair which is a reproach to man (1 Corinthians 11:14) and indicated that the person was willing to bear reproach for the Lord's sake.

4. It seems that Samson and John the Baptist had taken Nazarite vows.