Samson
Israelite / Jew Hebrew, tribe of Dan · Conquest & Judges · Old Testament
- Name means
- Like the sun (commonly given)
- Role
- Nazarite judge of great strength
- When
- The days of the judges
What they did
Set apart as a Nazarite from birth, the Spirit of the LORD came upon him to fight the Philistines. Betrayed by Delilah, he was blinded, but in his death he pulled down the house of Dagon.
Why it matters: the purpose of their role
God used even a flawed man to begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines; in weakness he called on the LORD and was answered. He is named among the faithful (Hebrews 11:32).
And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. Judges 16:28 (KJV)
Bible references
And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him. And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol. Judges 13:24-25 (KJV)
That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother’s womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man. Judges 16:17 (KJV)
And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left. And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life. Judges 16:28-30 (KJV)
And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Hebrews 11:32 (KJV)
Family
- Father
- Manoah
- Spouse(s)
- A Philistine woman of Timnath
Judged Israel twenty years (Judges 16:31).