Judges 13-15

The story of Samson

Here, the cycle of Judges continues, with 1 unmentioned element

1. Israel does evil (13:1a)
2. Lord delivers them into eyes of Philistines (13:1b)
3. NO MENTION OF CRY FOR HELP
4. Lord raises up a deliverer (13:2-5)

Like so many heroes of the Bible, this deliver comes through an interesting birth narrative. His father (Manoah) and mother had been unable to have children. The angel of the Lord, however, appeared to the mother and said she would, indeed, conceive. She was told to drink no wine and to refrain from unclean food. Her son was to be a Nazarite (no haircuts, fermented drink, unclean stuff), set apart to God from birth. The angel of the Lord said that the boy would "begin the deliverance" of Israel from the Philistines. This phrase is interesting in light of the fact that Samson doesn't actually seemed to have accomplished much in these regards. Most of his actions did involve the destruction of Philistines, but usually for personal vengeance.

The mother told Manoah about the visit (not understanding that it was the Angel of the Lord. Manoah prayed that the man would return to give further instruction on how to raise the boy. The man appeared again to the woman. She went and got Manoah. But the angel of the Lord gave no further information. He simply repeated His previous revelation. Upon further discussion, the Angel revealed something more of His true identity (saying His name was 'beyond understanding' or 'wonderful'). His departure, through a flame toward the heavens, made sure that this was a heavenly messenger and not a merely human prophet. Manoah was afraid (b/c they have seen God), but his wife calmed his fears, recognizing that God would not have appeared to them and made these statements if His intention was simply to kill them. She later gave birth to Samson and the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him.

It is difficult to determine why we are told the story of Samson. He doesn't seem to be a role model (even still, he IS mentioned in Hebrews 11). He doesn't even seem to truly help his people. But I do think there is an important lesson that he learned from God through the events of these chapters. If Samson was going to accomplish his mission from God, he'd first have to have the same distaste for God's enemies that God had. In this light, the story we're given in chapter 14 comes to light.

Samson wanted to marry a Philistine woman (he literally wanted to sleep with the enemy!). His parents (probably in light of the previous revelation) were displeased by this. But Samson insisted. Verse 4 is intriguing, stating that this desire of Samson's was from the Lord. On the way to Timnah (where the woman lived), the Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson so that he could kill an attacking lion. Later, Samson found bees & honey in the carcass of the lion, and ate. He used this event to give the people of Timnah a riddle while awaiting the wedding day.

When the people could not solve the riddle, they convinced the bride to get the answer out of Samson. Her persistence paid off and Samson gave her the answer. He lost the bet and had to fulfill his end of the terms: 30 sets of clothes for the 30 men he'd made the bet with. But, in anger, Samson killed 30 Philistines and took their clothes (instead of getting them at his own expense) to give to the men. He then left Timnah in anger. Now Samson is angry with the Philistines.

But Samson's anger against God's enemies subsided and he returned to claim his bride. But the woman's father had given the bride to another man, thinking that Samson would not return. The father offered another daughter, but Samson's anger re-emerged. He caught 300 foxes, tied them tail to tail, set them on fire, and burned the fields of his enemies. When the Philistines realized Samson's reason for doing this, they put the woman and her father to death. But this simply made Samson more upset! He attacked and slaughtered many of them. He then went to live in a cave.

But now the Philistines were mad and wanted to arrest Samson. The Israelites agreed to deliver Samson into their hands, but the Spirit of the Lord came upon him in power and he broke the restraints, found a jawbone of a donkey, and struck down a thousand men with it. God provided him with water after the victory.

This gruesome storyline, then, reveals the rising conflict b/w the Philistines and Samson. What started out as a friendly relationship (inter-marriage) ends in intense antagonism.