Topical Encyclopedia Introduction: Samson is one of the most renowned judges of Israel, whose life and exploits are recorded in the Book of Judges, chapters 13 to 16. He is known for his extraordinary physical strength, which he used to combat the Philistines, Israel's oppressors at the time. Samson's life is marked by his Nazirite vow, his feats of strength, and his complex personal life, which ultimately led to his downfall. Birth and Nazirite Vow: Samson's account begins with a divine announcement of his birth to Manoah and his wife, who were childless. An angel of the LORD appeared to Manoah's wife, instructing her that she would conceive a son who was to be a Nazirite from birth. This vow included abstaining from wine, avoiding contact with dead bodies, and not cutting his hair (Judges 13:3-5). The angel declared, "He will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hand of the Philistines" (Judges 13:5). Feats of Strength: Samson's life is characterized by a series of remarkable feats of strength, which he attributed to the Spirit of the LORD coming upon him. One of his earliest exploits was killing a lion with his bare hands (Judges 14:5-6). Later, he struck down thirty Philistines to settle a wager (Judges 14:19). In another instance, he caught three hundred foxes, tied their tails together with torches, and released them into the Philistines' grain fields, causing widespread destruction (Judges 15:4-5). Samson's most famous act of strength occurred when he was bound by the men of Judah and handed over to the Philistines. The Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him, and he broke free from his bonds, finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, with which he struck down a thousand men (Judges 15:14-15). Personal Life and Downfall: Samson's personal life was tumultuous and marked by relationships with Philistine women, which often led to conflict. His marriage to a Philistine woman from Timnah ended in betrayal and violence (Judges 14-15). Later, he fell in love with Delilah, a woman from the Valley of Sorek. The Philistine rulers bribed Delilah to discover the secret of Samson's strength. After several failed attempts, Samson finally revealed that his strength lay in his uncut hair, a symbol of his Nazirite vow (Judges 16:4-17). Delilah betrayed Samson by having his hair cut while he slept, leading to his capture by the Philistines. They gouged out his eyes and imprisoned him, forcing him to grind grain in a Philistine prison (Judges 16:19-21). Final Act and Death: In his final act, Samson's hair began to grow back, and he prayed to the LORD for strength one last time. During a Philistine celebration in the temple of Dagon, Samson was brought out to entertain the crowd. He positioned himself between the temple's central pillars and, with renewed strength from God, pushed them apart, causing the temple to collapse. This act killed Samson and thousands of Philistines, fulfilling his role as a deliverer of Israel (Judges 16:28-30). Legacy: Samson's life is a testament to the power of God working through flawed individuals. Despite his personal failings, he is remembered as a judge who began the deliverance of Israel from Philistine oppression. His account serves as a reminder of the importance of faithfulness to God's calling and the consequences of straying from His commands. Nave's Topical Index Judges 13:1And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years. Nave's Topical Index Judges 14:1 Judges 15:1 Judges 16:1 Greek 4546. Sampson -- Samson, a judge in Isr. ... 4545, 4546. Sampson. 4547 . Samson, a judge in Isr. ... Word Origin of Hebrew origin Shimshon Definition Samson, a judge in Isr. NASB Word Usage Samson (1). ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4546.htm - 6k Library That ??neas came into Italy when Abdon the Judge Ruled Over the ... Samson the Strong. The Death of Samson. About These Times, Civil War, as we have Said... Samson Conquered Israel's Obstinacy and God's Patience The Judges. But Seeing Now that we must Make Proof of what is Alleged at ... The Kingdom Conquering How Charity Comprehends all the virtues. Resources How does God judge those who were raised in non-Christian cultures and have been taught their entire life that their own religion is correct, and Christianity is wrong? | GotQuestions.orgWhy did God sometimes judge the entire nation for the actions of its king? | GotQuestions.org Why did God judge Edom so harshly in the book of Obadiah? | GotQuestions.org Judge: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Judge: Appointed by the Persians Judge: Character of, and Precepts Relating To Judge: Corrupt: The Judges of Jezreel Judge: Judges (Outstanding Leaders) of Israel: During the Time when the Land Was Ruled by Judges Judge: Kings and Other Rulers As Judge: Samson: Samuel As the Leader (Judge) Judge: Samson: The Sons of Samuel Related Terms |
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