Samson Pt. 2

The second major part of the Samson story deals with Samson's marriage to a Philistine, a repulsive thing for an Israelite to do.  However, God used the incident as an opportunity for Samson to wage war on the Philistines.  This part of Samson's narrative has Samson disobeying God in marrying a Philistine and disobeying his Nazirite oath in eating honey from the carcass of the slain lion.

Additionally, this section reveals Samson's fatal flaw: his lusting for untrustworthy women.  In this case, he marries a Philistine woman who betrays him to her Philistine brethren.  Basically, Samson tries to trick the Philistines into giving him some clothing and other resources by asking them a riddle that they cannot solve.  His new wife, having been threatened by the other Philistines, betrays Samson.

Samson responds to his wife's betrayal by killing everyone and then leaves the area, apparently leaving his wife behind.  When he goes back to retrieve his wife he finds out that she has been given to other men.  Samson responds by tying 300 foxes into 150 pairs, ties a lit torch to their bound tails, and releases them into the Philistine camp.  Needless to say, the whole camp is utterly consumed in fire.

Finally, the Philistines encircle the Judeans, in which the Judeans respond by finding Samson hidden in the cleft of a rock, they ask him to deliver them from the Philistines and he refuses.  In a turn of events, the Judeans bind Samson and deliver him over to the Philistines themselves.  This shows just how little the Israelites thought of Samson.  However, upon Samson's arriving at the Philistine camp, the Spirit of the Lord descends upon him and he kills 1,000 men with the jawbone of a donkey.

This brings us to the famous story of Delilah and Samson's fatal end, to be discussed tomorrow.  However, up to this point Samson is clearly to be seen as a despicable man who, in spite of his putrid character and complete disregard for the things of the Lord, was used by God to deliver the Israelites.  But to be sure, he is not to be emulated for his flaws.  Rather, God is to be exalted and praised for His unyielding faithfulness to His people and His covenant promises.