Samson: Hero or Fool?: The Many Faces of Samson (Themes in Biblical Narrative)

Samson: Hero or Fool?: The Many Faces of Samson (Themes in Biblical Narrative)

Language: English

Pages: 244

ISBN: 9004262172

Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub


Samson is a peculiar character. He is the most powerful of the Israelite judges and three whole chapters in the book of Judges are allocated to him. Yet he demonstrates many weaknesses, not least for the charms of women. In the international conference Samson: Hero or Fool? organised at the University of Nijmegen in April, 2008, the texts of Judges 16-18 were studied from different perspectives, investigating how the complex character of this (anti)hero lived on in various ways in the later traditions about him. The contributions discuss also the reception history of the Samson traditions in later Jewish, Christian and Islamic literature, as well as his representation in figurative and performing arts"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

leave to others to answer. What follows is the story of Samson’s conception, which is unique in the book of Judges. Also unique, even in the Hebrew Bible, is the fact that his mother has to live according to Nazirite rules, so that the boy will be a nazirite from his mother’s womb. A new kind of leader is introduced. God starts something new: “Maybe someone who was dedicated to me from his mother’s womb will be able to lead his people in a better way. Maybe this one is able to lead the people

also in other ways. Special attention is given, not to the character of Samson’s and Delilah’s final meeting, but to Delilah’s robbing of the locks of the sleeping Samson. In that context now and then it is narrated that Delilah let Samson fall asleep, but even that fact is not always mentioned. With regard to Samson’s and Delilah’s posture, following up the translations, it is sometimes narrated that Samson was ‘on the knees’ of Delilah, which now and then is explicitly understood as ‘on her

Nikolsky, R., ‘God Tempted Moses for Seven Days: The Bush Revelation in Rabbinic Literature’, in: The Revelation of the Name in the series Themes in Biblical Narrative, 89–104, Leiden 2006. ——, ‘Gog in Two Rabbinic Narratives’, in: W. J. van Bekkum & J. W. Drijvers & A. C. Klugkist (eds), Syriac Polemics: Studies in Honour of Gerrit Jan Reinink (Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta), 21–40, Leuven 2007. Rosen-Zvi, I., 2006, ‘Measure for Measure as a Hermeneutical Tool in Early Rabbinic Literature; The

developed about Samson’s demise, in which it was blamed partly on his drunken state, and which both Josephus and Pseudo-Philo knew.20 The fact is, Josephus and Pseudo-Philo not only agree on the angel’s message, but also on the story of Delilah’s betrayal. Josephus says that Delilah plied Samson with drink when she repeatedly 18   AJ 1.256, 246; 2.198–200; 4.327–331; 7:390–391. See also Mason, xxxii. 19   One of his means to do that is changing/adjusting prayers, see Jonquière, 277. 20 Another

Camille Saint-Saëns (1835–1921). One of only a few French composers, Saint-Saëns concentrated on instrumental, especially orchestral, music. While French music was dominated by opera, SaintSaëns wrote symphonies, symphonic poems, solo concertos, sonatas and other chamber music. In opera he was less active and none too successful. Ultimately only one of his operas kept the stage, and that was Samson et Dalila (1877). Although regarded as a genuine Romantic and at times sensual opera, the polarity

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