Judges 16 part 1

[Judges 16:1] THEN WENT SAMSON TO GAZA, AND SAW THERE AN HARLOT, AND WENT
IN UNTO HER.
Until now Samson had more or less let events overtake him and had been
provoked by the Philistines. Samson now continues on the previous path but
the emphasis becomes more of a provocation on his side. He goes to Gaza, to
a public woman, and lets his presence be known. At this stage he must have
been considered public enemy no.1.

[Judges 16:2] AND IT WAS TOLD THE GAZITES, SAYING, SAMSON IS COME HITHER.
AND THEY COMPASSED HIM IN, AND LAID WAIT FOR HIM ALL NIGHT IN THE GATE OF
THE CITY, AND WERE QUIET ALL THE NIGHT, SAYING  IN THE MORNING, WHEN IT IS
DAY, WE SHALL KILL HIM.
[Judges 16:3] AND SAMSON LAY TILL MIDNIGHT, AND AROSE AT MIDNIGHT, AND TOOK
THE DOORS OF THE  GATE OF THE CITY, AND THE TWO POSTS, AND WENT AWAY WITH
THEM, BAR AND ALL, AND PUT THEM UPON HIS SHOULDERS, AND CARRIED THEM UP TO
THE TOP OF AN HILL THAT IS BEFORE HEBRON.
I   would guess from the order of verses that the Philistines laid an
ambush around the house he was spending time in. They waited all night lone
but in the meantime Samson managed to slip away. On his exit from the city
he uprooted the city gates together with their beams and carried them away.
Finally after a journey of ca.50 miles he set this whole edifice up on a
hill overlooking Hebron which was a city of Judah. The Philistines laying
in ambush in Gaza were not aware of what Samson had done and continued
waiting until the morning only to find that Samson had gone off some hours
beforehand and taken the city gates with him.
This brings us to the question of the strength of Samson.
Different people have different physical strengths. These days everybody
tends to be adjusted around a central point or statistical "mean" but in
the past it was not so.
Strength also has a spiritual or psychological dimension. I once read about
a woman in Germany whose son had been run over by a massive truck he was
trapped under the wheel. She picked the truck up with her hands and moved
it. This woman normally may have had difficulty lifting her shopping
baskets but under strong emotional impulse she overcame her natural
limitations.  Similar phenomenon have happened to some of this (on a less
dramatic scale perhaps) at some time in our lives or we are familiar with
events of such a nature.
A Midrash referring to Samson lifting up the gates says that his shoulders
were sixty cubits broad. A Commentary says that this is figurative and
means that Samson had reached the peak of human physical potential
regarding strength. That someone could have the strength of sixty men at
one time in history and carry an enormous weight a great distance is a
possibility. The gates and the posts were bound up with the bar in such a
way that Samson was able to take them off as one unit. Divine Intervention
enabled a miracle to take place and wished that it be done through the body
of Samson. The splitting of the Red Sea was also a miracle. I once worked
out a "physical" explanation of my own as to how the waters could have
split apart and stood up as "walls".  It was rational and to my mind even
convincing but it may not have been correct. The bottom line is that the
splitting of the Red Sea did take place just as Samson carried off the
gates. We do not have to know how this was possible just that if did
happen. On the other hand I personally believe that it is worthwhile
rationalizing all such deeds whereas others prefer a "wondrous" event
beyond our comprehension approach.

Part Two  Judges 16

[Judges 16:4] AND IT CAME TO PASS AFTERWARD, THAT HE LOVED A WOMAN IN THE
VALLEY OF SOREK WHOSE NAME WAS DELILAH.
<<DELILAH>>: This may have been a pagan name. In Hebrew the name is similar
to the root "dalal" or "dalal" meaning "weaken or lessen". It can also mean
shallow or weak and this is where the English word "dull" comes from.  The
Sages said that Delilah was aptly named since she was to progressively
weaken the resistance and strength of Samson.

[Judges 16:5] AND THE LORDS OF THE PHILISTINES CAME UP UNTO HER, AND SAID
UNTO HER, ENTICE HIM, AND SEE WHEREIN HIS GREAT STRENGTH LIETH, AND BY WHAT
MEANS WE MAY PREVAIL AGAINST HIM, THAT WE MAY BIND HIM TO AFFLICT HIM; AND
WE WILL GIVE THEE EVERY ONE OF US ELEVEN HUNDRED PIECES OF  SILVER.
  <<ELEVEN HUNDRED PIECES OF SILVER>> i.e. 550,000 silver pieces (or more)
Probably the equivalent in those days of several million dollars. There
were assumedly five captains or chief leaders of the Philistines (Joshua 13:3).
The Commentary of Yairah Amit ("Sefer Dhoftim") points out that the
motivation of Delilah as described was financial and not national and that
we do not know what her nationality actually was. She may even have been an
Israelite for all we know.
     .
[Judges 16:6] AND DELILAH SAID TO SAMSON, TELL ME, I PRAY THEE, WHEREIN THY
GREAT STRENGTH LIETH, AND WHEREWITH THOU MIGHTEST BE BOUND TO AFFLICT THEE.

[Judges 16:7] AND SAMSON SAID UNTO HER, IF THEY BIND ME WITH SEVEN GREEN
WITHS THAT WERE NEVER DRIED, THEN SHALL I BE WEAK, AND BE AS ANOTHER MAN.
<<WITHS>>Hebrew "Yetherim" and explained to mean thin cords made out of
green saplings.  I am not sure what this English word "with" means or what
its root is but it appears to have the same meaning as the Hebrew "Yether"
used here.  Not for nothing was the Bibkle considered an "English" book.

[Judges 16:8] THEN THE LORDS OF THE PHILISTINES BROUGHT UP TO HER SEVEN
GREEN WITHS WHICH HAD NOT BEEN DRIED AND SHE BOUND HIM WITH THEM.

[Judges 16:9] NOW THERE WERE MEN LYING IN WAIT, ABIDING WITH HER IN THE
CHAMBER. AND SHE SAID UNTO HIM, THE PHILISTINES BE UPON THEE, SAMSON. AND
HE BRAKE THE WITHS, AS A THREAD OF TOW IS      BROKEN WHEN IT TOUCHETH THE
FIRE. SO HIS STRENGTH WAS NOT KNOWN.

[Judges 16:10] AND DELILAH SAID UNTO SAMSON, BEHOLD, THOU HAST MOCKED ME,
AND TOLD ME LIES NOW TELL ME, I PRAY THEE, WHEREWITH THOU MIGHTEST BE BOUND.

[Judges 16:11] AND HE SAID UNTO HER, IF THEY BIND ME FAST WITH NEW ROPES
THAT NEVER WERE OCCUPIED, THEN SHALL I BE WEAK, AND BE AS ANOTHER MAN.

[Judges 16:12] DELILAH THEREFORE TOOK NEW ROPES, AND BOUND HIM THEREWITH,
AND SAID UNTO HIM, THE PHILISTINES BE UPON THEE, SAMSON. AND THERE WERE
LIERS IN WAIT ABIDING IN THE CHAMBER. AND HE BRAKE THEM FROM OFF HIS ARMS
LIKE A THREAD.

[Judges 16:13] AND DELILAH SAID UNTO SAMSON, HITHERTO THOU HAST MOCKED ME,
AND TOLD ME LIES: TELL ME WHEREWITH THOU MIGHTEST BE BOUND. AND HE SAID
UNTO HER, IF THOU WEAVEST THE SEVEN LOCKS OF MY HEAD WITH THE WEB.
.
  [Judges 16:14] AND SHE FASTENED IT WITH THE PIN, AND SAID UNTO HIM, THE
PHILISTINES BE UPON THEE, SAMSON. AND HE AWAKED OUT OF HIS SLEEP, AND WENT
AWAY WITH THE PIN OF THE BEAM, AND WITH THE WEB.

[Judges 16:15] AND SHE SAID UNTO HIM, HOW CANST THOU SAY, I LOVE THEE, WHEN
THINE HEART IS NOT WITH ME? THOU HAST MOCKED ME THESE THREE TIMES, AND HAST
NOT TOLD ME WHEREIN THY GREAT      STRENGTH LIETH..                     .

[Judges 16:16] AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN SHE PRESSED HIM DAILY WITH HER
WORDS, AND URGED HIM, SO THAT HIS SOUL WAS VEXED UNTO DEATH;
Samson had a lifestyle pattern of teaming up with foreign women and then
being nagged "to death" by them. In this respect he was the anti-thesis of
the superhero. There is a kind of poetic irony in all this in that the
greatest physical he-man who ever was could not resist the heckling of his
female consorts.

[Judges 16:17] 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 16:18] AND WHEN DELILAH SAW THAT HE HAD TOLD HER ALL HIS HEART, SHE
SENT AND CALLED FOR THE LORDS OF THE PHILISTINES, SAYING, COME UP THIS
ONCE, FOR HE HATH SHEWED ME ALL HIS HEART. THEN THE LORDS OF THE
PHILISTINES CAME UP UNTO HER, AND BROUGHT MONEY IN THEIR HAND.
When he told the truth she recognized it at once. People can be misled by
falsehood and usually are on a conscious level. Even when someone is misled
Subconsciously there is a conflict and when the truth breaks though the
"soul" of a person feels it.

[Judges 16:19] AND SHE MADE HIM SLEEP UPON HER KNEES; AND SHE CALLED FOR A
MAN, AND SHE CAUSED HIM TO SHAVE OFF THE SEVEN LOCKS OF HIS HEAD; AND SHE
BEGAN TO AFFLICT HIM, AND HIS  STRENGTH WENT FROM HIM..

[Judges 16:20] AND SHE SAID, THE PHILISTINES BE UPON THEE, SAMSON. AND HE
AWOKE OUT OF HIS. SLEEP, AND SAID, I WILL GO OUT AS AT OTHER TIMES BEFORE,
AND SHAKE MYSELF. AND HE WIST NOT THAT     THE LORD WAS DEPARTED FROM
HIM..
He thought that God would help him even though the apparent source of his
strength had been taken away from him. However we judge Samson by modern
standards we should remember that up unto now the LORD had been with him.

[Judges 16:21] BUT THE PHILISTINES TOOK HIM, AND PUT OUT HIS EYES, AND
BROUGHT HIM DOWN TO GAZA, AND BOUND HIM WITH FETTERS OF BRASS; AND HE DID
GRIND IN THE PRISON HOUSE..

[Judges 16:22] HOWBEIT THE HAIR OF HIS HEAD BEGAN TO GROW AGAIN AFTER HE
WAS SHAVEN..

[Judges 16:23] THEN THE LORDS OF THE PHILISTINES GATHERED THEM TOGETHER FOR
TO OFFER A GREAT SACRIFICE UNTO DAGON THEIR GOD, AND TO REJOICE: FOR THEY
SAID, OUR GOD HATH DELIVERED SAMSON OUR ENEMY INTO OUR
HAND..

[Judges 16:24] AND WHEN THE PEOPLE SAW HIM, THEY PRAISED THEIR GOD: FOR
THEY SAID, OUR GOD HATH DELIVERED INTO OUR HANDS OUR ENEMY, AND THE
DESTROYER OF OUR COUNTRY, WHICH SLEW MANY OF US..                     .

[Judges 16:25] AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN THEIR HEARTS WERE MERRY, THAT THEY
SAID, CALL FOR SAMSON, THAT HE MAY MAKE US SPORT. AND THEY CALLED FOR
SAMSON OUT OF THE PRISON HOUSE; AND HE MADE THEM SPORT: AND THEY SET HIM
BETWEEN THE PILLARS..

[Judges 16:26] AND SAMSON SAID UNTO THE LAD THAT HELD HIM BY THE HAND,
SUFFER ME THAT I MAY FEEL THE PILLARS WHEREUPON THE HOUSE STANDETH, THAT I
MAY LEAN UPON THEM.
.
  [Judges 16:27] NOW THE HOUSE WAS FULL OF MEN AND WOMEN; AND ALL THE LORDS
OF THE PHILISTINES WERE THERE; AND THERE WERE UPON THE ROOF ABOUT THREE
THOUSAND MEN AND WOMEN, THAT BEHELD WHILE SAMSON MADE SPORT.
He was an attraction. Even though his strength was supernatural it
doubtless had physical aspects. He probably looked "freakishly" strong, as
indicated by Midrashim. Zeev Jabotinsky (1880-1940) wrote a novel in
Russian about Samson. Some Russian literary experts appreciated this book
very much. I have read it in Hebrew translation. I do not like the work and
in some ways find it abominably incorrect. Nevertheless he has insights of
interest and researched the background. He presents the Philistines as
enjoying a Classical Greek type of civilization (similar to that presented
by Homer) and enjoying plays, skits, riddles, promiscuous sex, and warrior
codes of honor, etc. Samson is depicted as someone who is part of the
Philistine social scene even after his blinding, still popular with the
ladies, and some kind of stand-up-comedian-cum-strongman-philosopher.
Jabotinsky tends in the same direction as some Midrashim. There may be
something in the description. It explains much of the dialogue and fits the
Biblical description.  Despite all this I would be guarded about such
judgments. There is a spiritual aspect to the personality Samson that we
have not touched upon and are not worthy to do so. We should realize that
it exists. For the moment these studies justify themselves even if all they
do is provide us with an enhanced superficial comprehension of the Biblical
story.

[Judges 16:28] 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 16:29] 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.
[Judges 16:30] 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.
<<LET ME DIE WITH THE PHILISTINES>>: He had dedicated his life to fighting
against them all the while mixing in with them to a degree and in the end
he wished to die with them.

[Judges 16:31] THEN HIS BRETHREN AND ALL THE HOUSE OF HIS FATHER CAME DOWN,
AND TOOK HIM, AND BROUGHT HIM UP, AND BURIED HIM BETWEEN ZORAH AND ESHTAOL
IN THE BURYINGPLACE OF MANOAH HIS FATHER. AND HE JUDGED ISRAEL TWENTY
YEARS.

  Ze'ev Jabotinsky
Adapted (with much deletion and one addition) from
http://www.palestineremembered.com/Acre/Famous-Zionist-Quotes/Story640.html

Ze'ev Jabotinsky- 1880-1940

Ze'ev Jabotinsky was born to a liberal Jewish family. He is considered to
be the most important right-wing Revisionist Movement member (which
eventually evolved into the post-1948 Herut Party, and later became the
Likud Party), who provided the ideological map for its future policies. At
an early stage Jabotinsky was involved in organizing a militia to defend
the Jews of Odessa, and in 1903 he went to Kishinev to cover the aftermath
of its infamous pogrom.

Jewish self-defense was at the epicenter of Jabotinsky's socio-political
philosophy, both as a physical imperative and as a wellspring of pride and
self-confidence, capable of "ennobling" the Jewish spirit.

  He worked as a journalist in Rome and Vienna and at an early age began to
devote his outstanding skills as a writer, orator, translator, and
polemicist for the Zionist cause. During WWI, Jabotinsky had promoted the
establishment of Jewish fighting units within the Allied armies and was one
of the founders of the Haganah (the Zionists paramilitary militia-army
before the 1948 war).

Jabotinsky protested the exclusion of Transjordan from British Mandate
Palestine, and in response he established the Revisionist Party in 1925 (so
named because it sought to "revise" the terms of the Mandate, particularly
to provide for the re-inclusion of Transjordan in Mandatory Palestine). He
also set up the party's youth movement, Betar, which was characterized by
militaristic..appearance (dark brown uniforms), activities (parade ground
drill) with firearm exercises, slogans, and a militaristic ideology and
structure. Jabotinsky died in America in 1940 in a car accident on a
mission to organize Jewish participation in the Allied war effort.
  1934:
"I devote my life to the rebirth of the Jewish State, with a Jewish
majority, on both sides of the Jordan." (Israel: A History, p. 76)

  Jabotinsky stated in a letter dated November 1939:
"There is no choice: the Arabs must make room for the Jews of Eretz Israel.
If it was possible to transfer the Baltic peoples, it is also possible to
move the Palestinian Arabs." (Expulsion Of The Palestinians, p. 29)

See also:
http://www.mfa.gov.il



http://www.britam.org

Judges Index