Samson, whose name means “man of the sun” or “strong man”) was a judge of Israel, described in the Hebrew Bible in the Book of Judges, chapters 13-16. He is known for his exceptional strength and his eventual downfall due to his relationship with Delilah, a Philistine woman. Samson was born to his parents, Manoah and his wife, in the tribe of Dan, circa 1100 BCE.
Early Life of Samson
Samson was born to Manoah and his wife, who had been barren until an angel appeared to her and prophesied that she would give birth to a son (Judges 13:2-5). The angel instructed her to abstain from alcohol and to avoid any unclean food, as Samson was to be a Nazirite from birth. As a Nazirite, he was consecrated to God, and it was forbidden for him to cut his hair or touch dead bodies.
Biblical Timeline
Birth of Samson and Nazirite Vow
An angel appeared to Samson’s mother, who had been barren, and prophesied that she would give birth to a son who would begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines. The angel instructed her to abstain from alcohol and unclean food during her pregnancy, as Samson was to be a Nazirite, consecrated to God from birth (Judges 13:2-5).
Samson’s Marriage and the Riddle
Samson fell in love with a Philistine woman from Timnah (Judges 14:1-2). On their way to arrange the marriage, Samson killed a lion with his bare hands (Judges 14:5-6). Later, when he passed by the lion’s carcass, he found bees and honey inside it. At the wedding feast, Samson posed a riddle to the Philistine guests, promising them a reward if they could solve it within seven days (Judges 14:12-14). Unable to find the answer, the Philistines pressured Samson’s wife into discovering the solution. When Samson learned of their deception, he killed 30 Philistines to fulfill his promise and left his wife behind, who was then given to another man (Judges 14:19-20).
The Burning of the Philistine Fields
Angered by his wife’s betrayal, Samson sought revenge by catching 300 foxes, tying their tails together with torches, and releasing them into the Philistine fields, burning their crops (Judges 15:1-5). The Philistines retaliated by burning Samson’s wife and her family, leading Samson to kill many of them in revenge (Judges 15:6-8).
Samson Defeats the Philistines at Lehi
After his attack on the Philistines, Samson sought refuge in the cleft of the rock of Etam (Judges 15:8). The Philistines demanded that the Israelites hand Samson over to them (Judges 15:9-12). The Israelites bound Samson and delivered him to the Philistines at Lehi. Upon seeing the Philistines, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson, and he broke free from his bonds. He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey and used it to kill 1,000 Philistines (Judges 15:13-17).
Samson’s Thirst and the Spring at Lehi
After his victory at Lehi, which means “jawbone” in Hebrew, Samson was thirsty and called upon the Lord for help. God miraculously provided a spring of water at a place he called En Hakkore (meaning “the spring of the one who called”), located in Lehi. Samson drank from the spring and was revived (Judges 15:18-19).
Delilah and Samson’s Downfall
Samson fell in love with Delilah, a Philistine woman (Judges 16:4). The Philistine rulers offered her a bribe to discover the secret of Samson’s strength. After several unsuccessful attempts, Delilah finally persuaded Samson to reveal that his power came from his uncut hair (Judges 16:17). While he slept, Delilah cut his hair, and the Philistines captured him, blinded him, and imprisoned him in Gaza (Judges 16:18-21).
Death of Samson
While imprisoned, Samson’s hair began to grow back. The Philistines gathered in their temple to celebrate and offer a sacrifice to their god Dagon, crediting him with Samson’s capture. They brought Samson out to entertain them, and he was placed between the two central pillars of the temple (Judges 16:23-25). In a final act of strength, Samson prayed to God for the return of his power, and he pushed against the pillars, causing the temple to collapse, killing himself and approximately 3,000 Philistines (Judges 16:28-30).
Additional Notes
Samson’s story highlights the consequences of succumbing to temptation and the importance of remaining faithful to God. Despite his flaws, he is still considered a hero of the faith and is mentioned in the New Testament as an example of faith and perseverance (Hebrews 11:32-34).
Extrabiblical References to Samson
While there is no conclusive archaeological evidence directly linked to Samson, some scholars believe that the ancient city of Beth Shemesh, mentioned in the Bible as a place where Samson’s body was buried (Judges 16:31), has been identified in modern-day Israel.
There is also archaeological evidence related to the architectural design of Philistine temples. Excavations of Philistine temples, such as those at Tell Qasile and Tel Miqne (ancient Ekron), have revealed that these structures were typically supported by two central wooden pillars. This finding lends credibility to the biblical account of Samson pushing the two central pillars of the Philistine temple, causing it to collapse (Judges 16:23-30).