Samson, the Judge and Strong Man

[muman613]

The character of Samson is a very difficult one to understand from a Jewish perspective. It is essential to understand why this story is included in the Jewish scriptures (TaNaK). Nothing in the Jewish bible is superfluous, and everything we should need can be found in it's wisdom.

Samson was a gift from Hashem, his birth was prophesied by an angel of Hashem. He was, from birth, dedicated to the service of Hashem. While his character traits were 'curious' and not something which we hold up as a model Jew, but even his faults are recorded so that we can understand he was as 'HUMAN' as all of us and every Yid has the potential to rise to great strength.

Samson possessed great physical strength, he was able to wrestle with lions and bears and dominate them, he was able to easily kill thousands of philistines. But one of Samsons most debilitating weaknesses was his desire to be with non-Jewish women. Even his philistine wives used him to try to destroy the Jewish nation.

In a discussion with a friend recently I recalled a perek of Pirkie Avot (Chapter 4 Mishnah 1) :

http://www.torah.org/learning/pirkei-avos/chapter4-1b.html

"Ben (the son of) Zoma said: Who is wise? He who learns from all people, as it is said: 'From all those who taught me I gained understanding' (Psalms 119:99). Who is strong? He who conquers his evil inclination, as it is said: 'Better is one slow to anger than a strong man, and one who rules over his spirit than a conqueror of a city' (Proverbs 16:32). Who is rich? He who is satisfied with his lot, as it is said: 'When you eat the toil of your hands you are fortunate and it is good for you' (Psalms 128:2). 'You are fortunate' -- in this world; 'and it is good for you' -- in the World to Come. Who is honored? He who honors others, as it is said: 'For those who honor Me will I honor, and those who scorn Me will be degraded' (I Samuel 2:30)."

A strong man is a man who has control over his evil inclination. If only Samson, the man with incredible physical strength, had the spiritual strength to resist his evil inclination, Samson would have been a candidate for Moshiach, and nothing would have been able to stop him.

[muman613]

Some lessons on the Book of Shimshon..

[muman613]

[muman613]

Good Morning,

I am presently about to leave for work but wanted to share the following lessons from the Talmud concerning the great Samson, judge and protector of the nation of Israel.

There has been much on my mind, bordering on depression, concerning the events of the last week. I hope to find some time this afternoon to share my concerns.

Meanwhile...

http://www.webshas.org/torah/bichtav/tanach/shoftim.htm

Samson [Shimshon], and his Family

Jacob's prophecy about Samson, in his blessing to Samson's ancestor, Dan: Sotah 9b
Samson was also known as "Bedan", because he came from the tribe of Dan: Rosh HaShanah 25a
Criticism of Manoach for walking behind his wife, which is considered immodest: Eruvin 18b
Manoach as an unlearned layperson: Eruvin 18b
Manoach following his wife's advice: Eruvin 18b
The angel's warning that Samson's mother should not consume items which a Nazir may not consume, while she was pregnant: Sotah 9b
Gideon, Yiftach and Samson are known as the 3 "world lightweights," but their judicial power for their generation is compared to that of Moshe, Aharon and Samuel, the "world heavyweights": Rosh HaShanah 25a-b
Samson's name was like a description of Gd [Shemesh], because he defended the Jewish people as Gd does: Sotah 10a
Samson judged the nation "in the manner of Gd": Sotah 10a
Gd used to escort Samson on his way: Sotah 9b
Gd blessed Samson in his fertility: Sotah 10a
The breadth of Samson's shoulders: Sotah 10a
The breadth of the gates of Azah, which Samson uprooted: Sotah 10a
Samson was so strong that he uprooted the mountains Tzarah and Eshtaol, and ground them together: Sotah 9b
Samson's strength was modeled on the Divine in that it surpassed the physical norm, and this was the area in which he ultimately was hurt: Sotah 10a
Samson began to save the Jews from the Philistines; in his time Avimelech's descendants broke his oath to Abraham that his descendants wouldn't harm the Jews. Therefore, Samson used foxes in attacking them; the fox is wily in its retreat, too: Sotah 9b-10a
Samson was lame in both legs: Sotah 10a
Samson was disgraced in Timnah, and so he is described as descending to Timnah; Yehudah was elevated in Timnah, and so he is described as ascending to Timnah. Alternatively, there are topographical explanations for the descriptions: Sotah 10a
Samson followed his eyes, and so he was blinded: Sotah 9b [2x]
Gd wanted Samson to become enamored of Delilah, but Samson did so on his own, and so he was punished: Sotah 9b
Samson began to err in Azah, and so this was where he was punished: Sotah 9b
Had Samson's wife's name not been Delilah, it would have been appropriate to call her this, as she uprooted [Dildilah] his heart, his strength and his deeds, distancing him from Gd: Sotah 9b
Delilah knew Samson was telling her the truth because one can always recognize sincerity, or because he invoked Gd's Name: Sotah 9b
One of Delilah's tactics to get to Samson was to separate from him at the climactic moment of sexual relations: Sotah 9b
Samson had to depend on drinking from a donkey's jawbone to survive, because he had lusted for impurity, Delilah: Sotah 9b
The Philistines brought Samson their wives to impregnate, while he was in prison: Sotah 10a
Samson prayed that Gd help him against the Philistines as a reward for the fact that in twenty years of judging Israel, Samson had never requested the smallest favor from anyone: Sotah 10a

[Debbie Shafer]

We certainly see throughout the ages mans weaknesses...Samson's weakness for Philistine women did bring him grief and eventually death.  His Philistine Bride cheated when she told the Philistines his riddle,  and was given to his best man. the meaning of his riddle.....  "What is sweeter than honey?  And what is stronger than a lion?" She nagged him for the answer for seven days while the feast lasted.  And on the seventh day he told her because she pressed him so much.  He had to pay the 30 linen garmets plus loosing his bride, because she betrayed him.  "If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle!"  She was trouble from the beginning. God blesses the one who had been wronged. Samson's anger was legitimate..righteous in indignation against deceit..The battle with the men at Ashkelon was part of the war between Israel and Philistia.  The Father really did not want his daughter marrying his enemy. 

[muman613]

We certainly see throughout the ages mans weaknesses...Samson's weakness for Philistine women did bring him grief and eventually death.  His Philistine Bride cheated when she told the Philistines his riddle,  and was given to his best man. the meaning of his riddle.....  "What is sweeter than honey?  And what is stronger than a lion?" She nagged him for the answer for seven days while the feast lasted.  And on the seventh day he told her because she pressed him so much.  He had to pay the 30 linen garmets plus loosing his bride, because she betrayed him.  "If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle!"  She was trouble from the beginning. God blesses the one who had been wronged. Samson's anger was legitimate..righteous in indignation against deceit..The battle with the men at Ashkelon was part of the war between Israel and Philistia.  The Father really did not want his daughter marrying his enemy.

I noticed that the father in the cartoon I posted did not look happy at the wedding...