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Samson (/ ˈ s æ m s ən /; Hebrew: שִׁמְשׁוֹן Šīmšōn "man of the sun") was the last of the judges of the ancient Israelites mentioned in the Book of Judges (chapters 13 to 16) and one of the last leaders who "judged" Israel before the institution of the monarchy.
Oct 12, 2023 · Samson was a biblical judge and leader of the Israelites who had a Nazarite vow and supernatural strength. He fell in love with a Philistine woman, Delilah, who betrayed him and led to his capture, blinding, and death.
Apr 18, 2024 · Samson, legendary Israelite warrior and judge, or divinely inspired leader, renowned for the prodigious strength that he derived from his uncut hair. He is portrayed in the biblical Book of Judges (chapters 13–16). Learn more about the legend of Samson in this article.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Where in the Bible is Samson described?Samson is described in the Book of Judges (chapters 13–16).
- Who was Samson?Samson was a legendary Israelite warrior and judge, a member of the tribe of Dan, and a Nazirite. His immense physical strength, which he used for...
- How did Samson die?Samson pushed over the pillars of the temple of the Philistine god Dagon, destroying the temple and killing himself and thousands of Philistines.
- Why did Samson tell Delilah?Delilah asked Samson three times the source of his strength, and he gave her three wrong answers. She then “pressed him daily with her words, and u...
- Name. The Biblical account gives no explanation, etymology, or significance to the name Samson. Nevertheless, it derives from shemesh, meaning “sun.” This is not unexpected, since Samson was born only a few m. from Beth-Shemesh, the city whose name means “house of the sun.”
- Historical background. Samson was born during the period of the judges, prob. around the beginning of the 11th cent. b.c. During this period God raised up national heroes to deliver His people from their enemies.
- Birth. The four chs. of Judges (chs. 13-16) devoted to Samson were built on the theme of a broken vow—a time-honored motif in the history of lit. Even before he was born, Samson was designated as a Nazirite, and the writer took a full chapter to emphasize that (Judg 13).
- Life. Samson’s life was the story of his breaking of the three prohibitions of the Nazirite vow. Hebrew storytelling is at its best in describing how Samson violated these prohibitions, climaxing with Delilah cutting his hair.
Jan 4, 2022 · Question. Who was Samson in the Bible? Answer. Samson’s life is one of contradiction. He was a man of great physical strength yet displayed great moral weakness. He was a judge for 20 years and “a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth” ( Judges 13:5 ), yet he continually broke the rules of a Nazirite.
Samson is the biblical Hercules, a man of super-human strength who nonetheless could not escape tragedy. Samson’s story is found in the Book of Judges chapters 13-16. He is the last of the major judges who led the Israelites, but he is hardly an ideal role model or savior.
The mighty Samson ( Shimshon (שמשון), in Hebrew) was a judge who led and rescued the people of Israel from Philistine oppression. A nazarite from birth, Samson was endowed by G‑d with herculean strength, which he used to fight the Philistines who were occupying the Land of Israel.
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