29 - Samson Defeats the Philistines

Judges 13:1 – 16:31

Yet again:  "The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and theLord gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years."

Michelangelo - Samson kills two Philistines.

Samson was one of the last of the judges - the non-hereditary officials chosen to rescue Israel from its periods of apostasy, which occurred in regular cycles.  During those times Israel was overcome by its neighbors.

He was also dedicated to God as a Nazarite, described in Numbers 6:1-21.  As part of his vows, his hair has not been cut.  And he was immensely strong.  Unlike Deborah/Barak or Gideon, he does not lead an army against the Philistines.  In fact he is very involved with them, especially their women.  Much of the conflict he is involved with seems personal, not national.

In his last act, he brings down the temple as an act of revenge for the Philistines blinding him.  He asks God for the strength he had previously had when he had all his hair.  God gives him the strength.