SAMSON

The son of Manoah, of the tribe of Dan, a deliverer and judge of the southern tribes of the Hebrews for twenty years, Jud 13:1; 16:31. His birth was miraculously foretold; he was a Nazarite from infancy and the strongest of men; and was equally celebrated for his fearless and wonderful exploits, for his moral infirmities, and for his tragical end. His exploits were not wrought without special divine aid; "the Spirit of God came mightily upon him," Jud 13:25 14:6,19 15:14 16:20,28. The providence of God was signally displayed in overruling for good the hasty passions of Samson, the cowardice of his friends, and the malice of his enemies. The sins of Samson brought him in great disgrace and misery; but grace and faith triumphed in the end, Heb 11:32. His story forcibly illustrates how treacherous and merciless are sin and sinners, and the watchful care of Christ over his people in every age. Compare Jud 13:22 Mt 23:37.

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Samson. Samson
Of the sun, the son of Manoah, born at Zorah. The narrative of his life is given in Judg. 13-16. He was a “Nazarite unto God” from his birth, the first Nazarite mentioned in Scripture (Judg. 13:3-5; comp. Num. 6:1-21). The first recorded event of his life was his marriage with a Philistine woman of Timnath (Judg. 14:1-5). Such a marriage was not forbidden by the law of Moses, as the Philistines did not form one of the seven doomed Canaanite nations (Ex. 34:11-16; Deut. 7:1-4). It was, however, an ill-assorted and unblessed marriage. His wife was soon taken from him and given “to his companion” (Judg. 14:20). For this Samson took revenge by burning the “standing corn of the Philistines” (15:1-8), who, in their turn, in revenge “burnt her and her father with fire.” Her death he terribly avenged (15:7-19). During the twenty years following this he judged Israel; but we have no record of his life. Probably these twenty years may have been simultaneous with the last twenty years of Eli’s life. After this we have an account of his exploits at Gaza (16:1-3), and of his infatuation for Delilah, and her treachery (16:4-20), and then of his melancholy death (16:21-31). He perished in the last terrible destruction he brought upon his enemies. “So the dead which he slew at his death were more [in social and political importance=the elite of the people] than they which he slew in his life.”

“Straining all his nerves, he bowed: As with the force of winds and waters pent, When mountains tremble, those two massy pillars With horrible convulsion to and fro He tugged, he shook, till down they came, and drew The whole roof after them, with burst of thunder Upon the heads of all who sat beneath, Lords, ladies, captains, counsellors, or priests, Their choice nobility and flower.” Milton’s Samson Agonistes.

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Samson. his sun; his service; there the second time

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SAMSON. → A judge (leader, hero) of Israel Jud 16:31 → A Danite, son of Manoah; miraculous birth of; a Nazarite from his mother' s womb; the mother forbidden to drink wine or strong drink, or to eat any ceremonially unclean thing during gestation Jud 13:2-7,24,25 → Desires a Philistine woman for his wife; kills a lion Jud 14:1-7 → His marriage feast and the riddle propounded Jud 14:8-19 → Kills thirty Philistines Jud 14:19 → Wife of, estranged Jud 14:20; 15:1,2 → Is avenged for the estrangement of his wife Jud 15:3-8 → His great strength Jud 15:7-14; Heb 11:32 → Kills one-thousand Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey Jud 15:13-17 → Miraculously supplied with water Jud 15:18,19 → Cohabits with Delilah, a prostitute; her machinations with the Philistines to overcome him Jud 16:1-20 → Is blinded by the Philistines and confined to hard labor in prison; pulls down the pillars of the temple, meets his death, and kills a multitude of his enemies Jud 16:21-31; Heb 11:32

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son of Manoah, of the Judges Jud 13:24; 14:1; 15:7; 16:20,30 ---"A life of Contrasts" Separated as a Nazarite Jud 13:5; 16:17 --yet tampering with evil associations Jud 14:1-3 Spiritual at times Jud 13:25; 15:14 --yet under the power of carnal appetites Jud 16:1-4 Childish in his plans Jud 15:4 --yet courageous in battle Jud 15:11-14 Mighty in physical strength Jud 16:3,9,12,14 --yet weak in resisting temptation Jud 16:15-17 His sad end Jud 16:30

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Sam″son (?), n. An Israelite of Bible record (see Judges xiii.), distinguished for his great strength; hence, a man of extraordinary physical strength. Samson post. (a) (Naut.) A strong post resting on the keelson, and supporting a beam of the deck; also, a temporary or movable pillar carrying a leading block or pulley for various purposes. Brande & C. (b) In deep-well boring, the post which supports the walking beam of the apparatus.