Samson: Of the sun, the son of Manoah, born at Zorah. The narrative of his
life is given in Judges 13-16. He was a "Nazarite unto God" from his
birth, the first Nazarite mentioned in Scripture
(Judges 13:3-5) comp.
(Numbers 6:1-21) The first recorded event of his life was his marriage with
a Philistine woman of Timnath
(Judges 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
(Exodus 34:11-16; Deuteronomy 7:1-4) It was,
however, an ill-assorted and unblessed marriage. His wife was soon
taken from him and given "to his companion"
(Judges 14:20) For this
Samson took revenge by burning the "standing corn of the Philistines"
(Judges 15:1-8) who, in their turn, in revenge "burnt her and her father
with fire." Her death he terribly avenged
(Judges 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
(Judges 16:1-3) and of his infatuation
for Delilah, and her treachery
(Judges 16:4-20) and then of his
melancholy death
(Judges 16:21-31) He perished in the last terrible
destruction he brought upon his enemies. "The Song of Solomon 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.
