THE OF SAMSON

JUDGES 13 & 16

Dr. Warren A. Gage

Read the Passage

Judges 13:1-5

1 Again the children of Israel did evil in the sight of , and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years. 2Now there was a certain man from Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose 3 name was Manoah; and his wife was barren and had no children. And the of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, “Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. 4Now therefore, please be careful not to drink wine or similar drink, and not to eat anything unclean. 5For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.”

Judges 16:18-31

18When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up once more, for he has told me all his heart.” So the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hand. 19Then she lulled him to sleep on her knees, and called for a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him. 20And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” So he awoke from his sleep, and said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him. 21Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison. 22However, the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaven. 23Now the lords of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god, and to rejoice. And they said: “Our god has delivered into our hands Samson our enemy!” 24When the people saw him, they praised their god; for they said: “Our god has delivered into our hands our enemy, the destroyer of our land,and the one who multiplied our dead.” 25So it happened, when their hearts were merry, that they said, “Call for Samson, that he “The Death of Samson” may perform for us.” So they called for Samson from the by Gustave Dore prison, and he performed for them. And they stationed him

between the pillars. 26Then Samson said to the lad who held him by the hand, “Let me feel the pillars which support the temple, so that I can lean on them.” 27Now the temple was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there—about three thousand men and women on the roof watching while Samson 28 performed. Then Samson called to the LORD, saying, “O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!” 29And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars which supported the temple, and he braced himself against them, one on his right and the other on his left. 30Then Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life. 31And his brothers and all his father’s household came down and took him, and brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of his father Manoah. He had judged Israel twenty years.

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Gospel Preview in the Text

Samson is regarded by the apostle as a hero of the faith (Heb 11:32). His record is frankly set forth by the sacred chronicler in Judges, and his moral lapses, which are several, challenge us to see his role redemptively or comedically. Samson is most like in his birth and death narratives.

It is not hard to imagine the Lord in heaven laughing at the attempts of the Philistines to fetter his hero (cf. Psa 2:1-6). Yet Samson’s failures set the triumphs of Jesus, the True Samson, in a brighter light. Once again we see that there truly is only One Hero in .

The picture of a cruciform Samson between the two pillars is a recurring iconic image. We see it with Moses between Aaron and Hur. We see it with the High Priest Joshua between Satan and the Angel of the Lord. We see it again in the Transfiguration, with Jesus between Moses and Elijah and with Peter in prison, chained between two guards. Of course the fundamental image is Jesus on the cross in the midst between the two thieves.

SAMSON IN BIRTH & DEATH JESUS IN BIRTH & DEATH

1. The Angel of the Lord announces to 1. The Angel Gabriel announces to Mary, Manoah’s wife (Samson’s mother) that she Joseph’s wife, that she will conceive and will conceive and bear a son who will bear a Son; his name will be called Jesus (Heb begin to save (Heb yasha’) Israel from the ’) for he will save his people from their Philistines (Judg 13:3-5). sins (Luke 1:26-27, 31; Matt 1:20-21).

2. Samson is shorn of his hair, betrayed, and 2. Jesus is betrayed and delivered over to delivered over to his enemies for silver (Judg his enemies for silver (Matt 26:14-16). He is 16:18). He is taken away in bonds (Judg 16:21). taken away in bonds (:12). The The Lord had forsaken him (Judg 16:20). Lord was to forsake him (Matt 27:46).

3. Samson is blinded (Judg 16:21). He is 3. Jesus is blindfolded and mocked before mocked before his enemies (Judg 16:25). the chief priests and the Council, who seek He would soon die before his captors. But to kill him (:65). But his name is the Samson’s hair had begun to sprout (Heb Branch (Heb zemach), the sprout out of the zemach) (Judg 16:22). root of Jesse (Zech 3:8; Isa 11:1).

4. Samson is placed cruciform between the 4. Jesus is crucified with outstretched arms two pillars upon which the temple structure between the two thieves, one to his right rests. He stretches out his arms, one to the and one to his left (Luke 23:33). Jesus right and one to the left (Judg 16:29). prays that the Lord would not avenge him Samson prays that the Lord would avenge in death, but forgive them (Luke 23:34). him in his death (Judg 16:28).

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5. Samson collapses the pillars, and the 5. Upon his death, the veil in the temple is temple falls (Judg 16:30) as he dies. rent in two (Matt 27:51). But on Pentecost, Three thousand of the Philistines will die three thousand of the people will be saved (Judg 16:30). (Acts 2:41).

6. Samson’s greatest victory over the 6. Jesus’ greatest victory over sin and death Philistines is celebrated in his death will be celebrated in his resurrection (1 (Judg 16:30). Cor 15:4, 54-57).

7. Samson’s loved ones collect his body 7. , who loved Jesus, and lovingly bury him with his father collects his body and lovingly buries him Manoah (Judg 16:31). in his own tomb (Luke 23:50-53; Matt 27:60).

The Prophetic Narrative of the Gospel in the Text

1. Samson is part of a small community of biblical characters whose birth is announced before his conception by an angel. Isaac, , and Jesus are the others. Moreover, Samson is a Nazirite set apart from birth. The only other Nazirite from birth is John the Baptist. His is a remarkable narrative!

Samson’s mother is barren, making her conception a miracle. Jesus’ mother, of course, is the virgin Mary. Her conception is more miraculous.

The prophetic word about Samson is that he would begin to save his people from the Philistines. The prophetic word about Jesus is that he would save his people from their sins, which is a far greater deliverance.

2. In his disgrace, Samson is shorn of his hair, the source of his strength (Judg 16:18). Jesus will likewise suffer the indignity of having his beard plucked out (Isa 50:6). Samson was betrayed for silver and delivered up to his enemies who took him away in bonds (Judg 16:18-21). In all of this he anticipates the betrayal and arrest of Jesus, likewise betrayed by one who ate his bread (Psa 41:9), yet sold him for silver (Matt 26:14-16). Samson was unaware upon awakening that the Lord had left him (Judg 16:20). Jesus cried out, asking why his Father had forsaken him (Matt 27:46).

3. Samson, whose name means “sun,” was blinded. The sun of course, was understood in Scripture to be an image of Jesus (Psa 19:1-5; Mal 4:2; cf. Matt 17:2; Rev 1:16).

The image of the “darkened” sun (the blinded Samson) ironically portending the fall of the idol temple is an unmistakable expression of the cosmological battle underlying the whole history of redemption. There is a blindness that accompanies each of the cosmic battles in Scripture. 4

We recall the blindness striking Egypt (Ra, the sun god was darkened for three days) in the judgment of the Lord (Exod 10:21-22). The collapse of the apostate priestly house of Eli, who was blind, occurred during the judgment against Israel’s idolatry at Aphek (1 Sam 4:15). Jeremiah 4:23 describes the darkening of the sun before the Temple of Solomon was destroyed (cf. Amos 8:9). Isaiah 13:9-22 foretells the sun being darkened in the day of judgment against Babylon (cf. Ezek 32:7-8). Likewise Matthew 24:29 anticipates the spiritual blindness that would accompany the destruction of the Temple of Herod. The most significant darkening of the sun, however, occurs during the three hours of darkness that fall upon Jerusalem when the temple of ’s body is destroyed (Matt 27:45, cf. John 2:19, 21).

The resurrection power of the dynastic tree of David is described with the word “sprout” in Isaiah 11:1 (cf. Isa 53:1). Samson’s hair, the source of his power, was shorn upon his capture. But it began to grow again, to “sprout” in Hebrew (Judg 16:22). Ironically Samson’s power is “resurrected” on the day of his death. The root of the word “sprout” in Hebrew is the word rendered “Branch” (cf. Zech 3:8). But Jesus’ great power will be displayed in his resurrection, when he “sprouts” to revive the dynastic mercies of David.

4-5. In the day of his death, Samson is found in a cruciform pattern, arms stretched out to columns on his right and on his left. He prays an imprecation, that the Lord would avenge his two eyes on the Philistines (Judg 16:28-30). His death has a shocking effect on the Philistine temple, destroying it along with three thousand Philistines (Judg 16:30).

Jesus too is in a cruciform pattern on the day of his death, arms stretched out to the other crosses on his right and on his left (Luke 23:33). Jesus prays for mercy, that the Lord would forgive those who crucified him (Luke 23:34). His death has a shocking effect on the Temple of Herod. The rending of the veil desacralizes the temple (Matt 27:51, cf. also Mark 14:63), which is thereby juxtaposed to the idolatrous temple of the Philistines. Likewise, in contrast to Samson’s triumph in his death with the loss of three thousand souls, after Jesus’ death, three thousand souls are saved (Acts 2:41, cf. Exod 32:28).

6-7. The chronicler celebrates the victory of Samson in his death (Judg 16:30). Jesus’ death likewise destroys the power of darkness, but it is his resurrection that is celebrated as his greatest victory! (1 Cor 15:54-57).

Samson is given a loving burial by his family, an appropriate conclusion to his life and death and the tremendous faith he showed in his death (Judg 16:31). Jesus was likewise given a loving burial by his friends (Matt 27:60), but God had something better as a reward for the Savior’s faith, for Jesus is greater than Samson!

Gospel Takeaways from the Text

1. As mighty as Samson was, Jesus is mightier yet! Samson began to deliver Israel. Jesus finished the deliverance of Israel! Samson saved the people from the Philistines. Jesus delivered the

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people from sin and death! Samson prayed in death for vengeance. Jesus prayed in death for mercy! Samson’s greatest victory was in his death. Jesus’ greatest victory was in his resurrection! What a Savior!

2. Samson’s checkered moral history mars his memory. But he is still reckoned among the righteous because of his faith (Heb 11:32), those who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, and escaped the edge of the sword (Heb 11:33). How can this be? Clearly Samson’s justification, as with us, is by faith alone!

Interestingly, with but one exception,1 the sins of the heroes in the Hebrew Bible are not counted against them by the apostles. Faithful Abraham (Heb 11:8-10), Noah, the heir of righteousness (Heb 11:7), and righteous Lot (2 Pet 2:7-8) are remembered in the Bible better than they knew in life, along with faithful Samson (Heb 11:32-33)! Certainly this gracious remembrance of the patriarchs is a preview of heaven and of God’s amazing grace and saving work!

1 (Rahab the harlot, Heb 11:31; James 2:25). Rahab’s notorious sin highlights her redemption and demonstrates the measureless scope of God’s mercy. 6 Please Help us keep our material free!

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Every blessing in Christ,

Dr. Warren A. Gage President of the Alexandrian Forum

THE GOSPEL OF SAMSON Dr. Warren A. Gage

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