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The Samson story : love, seduction, betrayal, violence, riddles, myth / Shaul Bar.

By: Material type: TextTextPublisher: Eugene, OR : Wipf & Stock, [2018]Copyright date: ©2018Description: 1 online resource (xxiv, 139 pages)Content type:
Media type:
Carrier type:
ISBN:
  • 9781532646515
  • 1532646518
Subject(s): Genre/Form: Additional physical formats: Print version:: No titleDDC classification:
  • 222/.3207 23
LOC classification:
  • BS580.S15 B27 2018eb
  • BS1305.53 .B27 2018eb
Other classification:
  • online - EBSCO
Online resources:
Contents:
Intro; Title Page; Acknowledgment; Abbreviations; Introduction; Chapter 1: The Birth of Samson; Samson's Parents; Manoah's Wife and the Messenger; Manoah's Wife Report; The Angel's Second Appearance; The Purpose of the Story; Conclusion; Chapter 2: Nazirite; Law of the Nazirite; Samson in Light of the Biblical Law; Samuel in Light of the Biblical Law; Samson's Mother; Hannah, Samuel's mother; Nazir in the Bible; Origin of Nazirite Law; Conclusion; Chapter 3: Literary Structure; The Birth of Samson; A Broken Vow; Chapters 14-15; The Downfall; Samson and the Book of Samuel; Conclusion
Chapter 4: Women in the Samson StoryThe Timnite Woman; Pressuring Samson's Wife; The Harlot from Gaza; Samson and Delilah; Conclusion; Chapter 5: Samson's Riddle; Riddles in the Hebrew Bible; Samson's Riddle; The Philistines' Riddle; Samson's Reply; Conclusion; Chapter 6: Mythical Elements in the Samson Story; Samson Kills a Lion; Jawbone of an Ass; The Gates of Gaza; Samson and the Foxes; Solar Myth; Sun Worship; Conclusion; Chapter 7: Philistines; The People and Their Origin; Philistines and the Tribe of Dan; The First Clashes with the Philistines
The Philistines During the Reign of David and SalomonThe Culture of the Philistines; Conclusion; Chapter 8: The Death of Samson; The Philistines' Jubilation; Samson's Revenge; The Burial of Samson; Conclusion; Conclusion; Bibliography
Summary: Love, seduction, betrayal, violence, riddles, and myth all find their place in the biblical story of Samson. Samson is the last of the judges, with 20 percent of the book devoted to him--more than any other judge. From the beginning, Samson is unlike any other judge, which the author suggests when narrating Samson's birth. Samson is destined, even before his birth, to deliver Israel. He doesn't lead his people into battle, he acts alone; his battles are personal vendettas. Samson fights with a lion, defeats the Philistines with the jawbone of an ass, captures foxes, sets Philistine fields on fire, and carries the Gates of Gaza on his shoulders. So what stands behind these stories? Was Samson a mythological hero like Hercules and Gilgamesh? Like other men in the Hebrew Bible, Samson can't resist foreign women. Time after time, he follows Philistine women who eventually betray him. Samson is defeated not by physical strength, but by the powers of seduction, making this story a tragedy. Who were these women and how did they defeat Samson? Readers of this volume will rediscover Samson and better understand his achievements and failures. This study will afford a provocative and useful insight into the character of Samson.

Includes bibliographical references.

Print version record.

Intro; Title Page; Acknowledgment; Abbreviations; Introduction; Chapter 1: The Birth of Samson; Samson's Parents; Manoah's Wife and the Messenger; Manoah's Wife Report; The Angel's Second Appearance; The Purpose of the Story; Conclusion; Chapter 2: Nazirite; Law of the Nazirite; Samson in Light of the Biblical Law; Samuel in Light of the Biblical Law; Samson's Mother; Hannah, Samuel's mother; Nazir in the Bible; Origin of Nazirite Law; Conclusion; Chapter 3: Literary Structure; The Birth of Samson; A Broken Vow; Chapters 14-15; The Downfall; Samson and the Book of Samuel; Conclusion

Chapter 4: Women in the Samson StoryThe Timnite Woman; Pressuring Samson's Wife; The Harlot from Gaza; Samson and Delilah; Conclusion; Chapter 5: Samson's Riddle; Riddles in the Hebrew Bible; Samson's Riddle; The Philistines' Riddle; Samson's Reply; Conclusion; Chapter 6: Mythical Elements in the Samson Story; Samson Kills a Lion; Jawbone of an Ass; The Gates of Gaza; Samson and the Foxes; Solar Myth; Sun Worship; Conclusion; Chapter 7: Philistines; The People and Their Origin; Philistines and the Tribe of Dan; The First Clashes with the Philistines

The Philistines During the Reign of David and SalomonThe Culture of the Philistines; Conclusion; Chapter 8: The Death of Samson; The Philistines' Jubilation; Samson's Revenge; The Burial of Samson; Conclusion; Conclusion; Bibliography

Love, seduction, betrayal, violence, riddles, and myth all find their place in the biblical story of Samson. Samson is the last of the judges, with 20 percent of the book devoted to him--more than any other judge. From the beginning, Samson is unlike any other judge, which the author suggests when narrating Samson's birth. Samson is destined, even before his birth, to deliver Israel. He doesn't lead his people into battle, he acts alone; his battles are personal vendettas. Samson fights with a lion, defeats the Philistines with the jawbone of an ass, captures foxes, sets Philistine fields on fire, and carries the Gates of Gaza on his shoulders. So what stands behind these stories? Was Samson a mythological hero like Hercules and Gilgamesh? Like other men in the Hebrew Bible, Samson can't resist foreign women. Time after time, he follows Philistine women who eventually betray him. Samson is defeated not by physical strength, but by the powers of seduction, making this story a tragedy. Who were these women and how did they defeat Samson? Readers of this volume will rediscover Samson and better understand his achievements and failures. This study will afford a provocative and useful insight into the character of Samson.