SAMSON

Judges 13-16

"By faith…time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah…" (Hebrews 11:31,32)

Samson a hero of faith?

Edersheim p.381: "Let it be remembered, that it is of Samson’s activity as a Judge, and under the impulse of the Spirit of God, we are writing, and not of every act of his life."

• Samson great physical strength; spiritual/moral weakness – cf: men’s conference
  
• Some things in Samson’s story will lead to a comparison with Gideon…how will he fare
  

Meet the Enemy (tool of God for His purposes with regard to Israel): THE PHILISTINES

(Hebrew: Peleeshteem) WEBSTER: one of 4 ways—schwa or long e in last syllable mixed with either accent first or last syllable.

• Five primary cities of Philistines (see map) each one a commercial center (see Judges 3:1,3)
  
• Border towns with Judah frequently contested (Timnah, Beth Shemesh, Azekel, Ziklag…)
  
• Philistia was originally part of Canaan allotted to Judah and Dan but the Philistines were never completely driven out. Even in the days of David and Solomon the Philistines lived there and paid tribute to Israel.
  
• Descendants of Ham (Genesis ); from Caphtor (Genesis 10:6,14; Deuteronomy 2:23; Amos 9:7 ~ Crete? Egypt?); present at the time of Abraham (Genesis 21:32, 26:1); present in the land at the time of the Exodus and already a warring nation (Exodus 13:17).
  
• "Palestine" originates from "Philistia"
  
• The Philistines oppressed Israel for 40 years before Samson
  

THINGS TO WATCH FOR…

• The "self" factor in Samson’s deeds and motivations
  
• Trace the times when "the Spirit of the Lord" came upon Samson
  
• The gradual move toward forsaking the Lord (Who left whom? Cf: TLH #552 st.6)
  

Oppression (13:1 see also 3:1,3)

Announcement of Samson’s birth (13:2-23)

• Compare this to the birth announcement of John the Baptizer and Jesus

• Samson’s purpose was to "begin to deliver Israel…" (v.5) Here note that the verb "to deliver" is "lehosheeah" ~ root of Joshua/Jesus.
  
• Manoah is a Christian parent (vv. 8, 12) verse 12 is literally: mishpat ~ "judgment"…."what will be the judgment of the boy and his labor"
  
• Compare this experience with the meal and sacrifice to that of Gideon (chapter 6)
  
• The Angel of the Lord’s name is "Wonderful" (v.18) [Isaiah 9:6; see also examples such as Exodus 15:11, Psalm 77:11,14]
  
• Consider verse 23 in the light of the Gospel and Ezekiel 33:11 (cf: TLH #331 st.1)
  

The Vow of a Nazarite: Numbers 6: 1ff ~ See also Amos 2:12 and unbelief’s action toward Nazirites unlike the typical Nazarite vow, Samson’s was birth to death.

The Birth (13:24) "Samson" = "solar; like the sun; sunny"

Samson’s Work Begins (13:25-14:20)

• Although Manoah and his wife had earlier shown obedience to their side of the 4^th commandment, Samson does not do so for his part here.
  
• Samson emphasizes "HER" in v.2 its by doubling with the suffix and pronoun; in v. 3 its position HER get for me.
  
• Samson’s parents point out the sin involved with marrying the Philistine woman. Samson responds, "She is right/upright/just in MY eyes." Same word in verse 7 – she as straight/esteemed in his eyes. LOVE is blind….but NOTICE IN HIS EYES…what Samson saw was not necessarily so.
  
• How could something be "of the Lord" (v.4) when Samson’s desires were in direct conflict with the commandment of the Lord (Exodus 34:16; Deuteronomy 7:3-4)? The commandment still stands. Samson was violating it but God used that. Throughout all of Samson’s story God was using him to bring judgment on the Philistines and Samson apparently was aware of this too (15:18) but it was always personal issues with Samson’s love life that led to the deeds. God’s use of even our sin for His purposes (Romans 8:28) doesn’t excuse sin.
  
• Samson’s return to get his wife (v.8) reflects the customs also evident in Jesus’ parable of the 10 virgins, etc.
  
• The 30 companions for Samson were essentially acting as his friends (v.11)
  
• The 30 linen garments were the undergarments and the 30 changes of clothing the outer
  

Samson’s Revenge for Marriage Lost (15:1-20)

• Goat served as an "offering" for his wife…a peace offering (cf: flowers). A young goat was also the price Judah paid for what he thought were the services of a prostitute (Genesis 38:17,20)
  
• This time…I shall be blameless (v.3)
  
• "attacked them hip and thigh with a great slaughter" hip = leg from knee to foot (literally) thigh is thigh….cut up and stacked up (as per one commentator) -- a thorough slaughter
  
• "fox" is also used to refer to a "jackal" – this could be either one
  

Samson’s Slide Begins (16:1-3)

• The Spirit of the Lord did not move Samson to go to Gaza
  
• This event was completely guided by Samson’s self, yet the Lord allowed him to use his great strength.
  

Samson’s Slide Continues to the Bottom (16:4-22)

• Samson loved Delilah, no marriage
  
• 1100 pieces of silver each. Assuming 5 lords (Judges 3:3) Delilah would receive 5500 pieces of silver. Joseph was sold by his brothers for 20. Delilah was receiving the equivalent of 275 slaves. (cf: Judges 17:10 for a comparison value)
  
• Samson was pridefully playing a game (with sin!): ….if THEY bind me (v.7)….if THEY bind me (v.11)…if YOU weave…(v.12)….if I AM SHAVEN (v.17). Samson KNEW what was going on and still walked headlong into it!!!!! (cf: Adam’s "knowing" sin) PLAYING WITH FIRE!
  
• Delilah’s words in v.15 are the height of irony—who was not loving whom?
  
• Samson said: "If I am shaven…." Reality was: "When the Lord was no longer with him."
  

NOTE THE GRADUAL slide… God even allowed Samson’s strength to continue for a while when Samson was acting in sin, but there finally came the time for the Lord to also take away the strength which was when Samson fully turned away….rejected, compromised his vow to God.

Samson’s End (16:23-31)

• Samson was made a joke in the celebration to Dagon
  
• Dagon was a god with face and hands of a man and body of a fish
  
• Presenting their victories in the temple of Dagon was customary (1 Samuel 31:9); the Ark of the Covenant was taken to Dagon’s temple when it was captured (1 Samuel 5). Based on 2 Samuel 5:21 the Philistines apparently carried god images into battle…Israel learn that from them when they took the Ark?
  
• Did Samson die in the faith? What evidence do you have to support your conclusion?
  
• Samson judged for 20 years…a short time compared to earlier judges.
  

Samson’s repentance is evident by return of God to him and his last deed of faith . Discuss the traditional view of Samson being a type of Christ and why that is not the case. In some ways, closer to a type of John the Baptizer (Nazarite, begin to deliver)

Commentary: "First, whenever Samson consciously subordinated his will and wishes to national and Divine purposes, he acted as a Nazarite, and "by faith;" whenever national and Divine purposes were made subservient to his own lusts, he failed and sinned. Thus we perceive throughout, side by side, two element at work: the Divine and the human; Jehovah and Samson; the supernatural and the natural—intertwining, acting together…" (Edersheim, p.384)

FOR DISCUSSION:

• Consider the final scene of Samson’s life in the temple to Dagon. God’s Judge being mocked in a heathen temple by heathen people celebrating the "conquest" of their false god. Read: Exodus 32:11-12; 2 Samuel 12:14a; Ezekiel 36:19-23; Titus 2:5. Discuss.
  
• Agree or Disagree: "Samson’s strength lay in being a Nazarite; his weakness in yielding to his carnal lusts." Apply either this or a remolded version to selves.
  
• Does it apply? Is Samson’s story one of "what could have been?" just imagine if he had been faithful; if a Gideon would have had Samson’s gifts ~ a fair thought and observation but also remember God gives gifts when, to whom, how, etc. for specific times and reasons "for such a time as this."
  
• Compare: The Philistines found Samson’s strength too strong for them…with God fighting for Samson they could not stand against him/Him, but they were able to exploit Samson by catering to his fleshly weakness. Compare this with Balaam’s counsel to Moab (Numbers 31:16; 25:1-3).
  
• Consider the following quote from an old German Commentary and discuss how this lesson from Samson’s story applies to each of us: "The whole misery of Samson arose from this, that he appropriated to himself what God had done through him. God allows his strength to be destroyed, that in bitter experience he might learn, how without God’s presence he was nothing at all. And so our falls always teach us best" (quoted by Edersheim, p.388).
  

GOD’S TRUTH: What is God saying to me in this section of Scripture?

GOD’S TRUTH IN MY LIFE: How does the truth (listed above) affect my life?

CATECHISM CONNECTION: Can you think of a part or parts of the Catechism for which this section of Scripture would be a good illustration?

--Pastor Wayne C. Eichstadt