The Story of Samson
Samson holds supernatural strength that surpasses the strength of any other man. His secret lies in his seven long braids of hair that have never been shaved since his birth. In the biblical story of Samson and Delilah he is betrayed by the woman he loves and the Philistines. However in the end God returns to Samson and he exacts revenge on the Philistines one last time.
Delilah is paid by the rulers of the Philistines to bind Samson and subdue his strength. After lying to Delilah three times Samson becomes annoyed and finally tells her the true source of his strength. That night Delilah removes Samson's hair and allows him to be tortured and enslaved by the Philistines. Samson has his eyes gouged out and is forced to work the grain mill.
One night Samson is forced to perform at a party for the Philistine leaders. He asks a servant to guide him to the pillars of the temple so that he may lean on them. Samson then asks God to give him strength one last time. The Lord grants him his strength and Samson pulls down the pillars of the temple. Samson makes one last sacrifice and destroys the Philistines with his last act of life.
Delilah is paid by the rulers of the Philistines to bind Samson and subdue his strength. After lying to Delilah three times Samson becomes annoyed and finally tells her the true source of his strength. That night Delilah removes Samson's hair and allows him to be tortured and enslaved by the Philistines. Samson has his eyes gouged out and is forced to work the grain mill.
One night Samson is forced to perform at a party for the Philistine leaders. He asks a servant to guide him to the pillars of the temple so that he may lean on them. Samson then asks God to give him strength one last time. The Lord grants him his strength and Samson pulls down the pillars of the temple. Samson makes one last sacrifice and destroys the Philistines with his last act of life.
SAmson and Hercules
Samson and Hercules are very similar, both having god like strength and both being mortal, but they were also very different. Samson had a weakness, which was his hair. Once his hair was cut off, he lost all his strength. Hercules has no known weakness, except for accounts of him being too confident and lustful.
The story of Samson could have been based in truth. Samson definitely could have been a very devout man. He also could have grown out his hair very long. Although Samson probably did not have such supernatural strength as the Bible accounts he could have been a very large, strong, imposing man. Many of the men in that age worked hard every day to make a living and that would have made him very likely to have built a lot of muscle.
Samson's strength could have been great. However it is very unlikely that he could pull down a building or rip open a city gate. The story of Samson destroying the temple could have been a natural disaster like an earthquake. In that time buildings could have easily been destroyed by small tremors.
The story of Samson is used today to teach a religious moral. It can also be an non-religious lesson to us all. Samson had great faith in God for all his life. However he turned his back when he revealed the secret of his strength to Delilah. At the end of his life Samson redeems himself by showing great faith in sacrificing himself. God grants him his strength one last time and Samson dies redeemed. In modern day this story seems to tell the Church a story of God's forgiveness and opportunity for redemption. Less religiously it teaches us to be loyal and dedicated.
The story of Samson could have been based in truth. Samson definitely could have been a very devout man. He also could have grown out his hair very long. Although Samson probably did not have such supernatural strength as the Bible accounts he could have been a very large, strong, imposing man. Many of the men in that age worked hard every day to make a living and that would have made him very likely to have built a lot of muscle.
Samson's strength could have been great. However it is very unlikely that he could pull down a building or rip open a city gate. The story of Samson destroying the temple could have been a natural disaster like an earthquake. In that time buildings could have easily been destroyed by small tremors.
The story of Samson is used today to teach a religious moral. It can also be an non-religious lesson to us all. Samson had great faith in God for all his life. However he turned his back when he revealed the secret of his strength to Delilah. At the end of his life Samson redeems himself by showing great faith in sacrificing himself. God grants him his strength one last time and Samson dies redeemed. In modern day this story seems to tell the Church a story of God's forgiveness and opportunity for redemption. Less religiously it teaches us to be loyal and dedicated.