| 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 |