38- Samson the mystery Nazirite

Samson destroys the temple.

Samson destroying the temple


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What does Nazirite mean? what is the source of the power of Samson? How could he lose his power? How could he restore it? Why he killed in his death more than in his life? what was the lad catching him denote to?

The Birth

(Now there was a certain man from Zorah whose name was Manoah, and his wife was barren. And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son.) (JUDGES 13:2,3)

The parents of Samson were living in Zorah, meaning, the hit. Manoah meaning the comfort and his wife were, feeling humility but were longing for comfortability from, pains.

The woman was barren which was at this time a sign for the anger of God in the eyes of the people of Israel and, a shame. But sometimes God the Lord examines our faith and our patience until we wait for Him and His graces, even if they have been delayed and that distorted our image in the eyes of the people.

Yes, the woman was a shame in the eyes of the people, but in the eyes of the Lord, she deserved that God, sends an angel to her to announce to her the birth of her son as a fruit of, her patience!

(And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to deliver Israel.) (JUDGES13:5)

The Nazirite generally was a symbol for the Christ and since He represents the head of the church, so the hair should not be taken off, but the believers should be united and live through.

(‘Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. Now drink no wine or similar drink, nor eat anything unclean, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’) (JUDGES 13:7)

So, the Lord was preparing Samson in a holy environment still, a fetus inside the womb of his mother!

(So, the woman bore a son and called him Samson; and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him. And the Spirit of the Lord began to move upon him at Mahane Dan.) (JUDGES 13:24,25)

Saint Jerome sees that his name is derived from Sun and on meaning, the power of the Sun.

His Wife

(Now Samson went down to Timnah and saw a woman of the daughters of Philistines. So, he went up and told his father and mother saying, Get her for me as a wife. But his father and mother did not know that it was from the Lord-that He was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines.) (JUDGES 14:1,2,4)

Hence, Samson went down from Zorah to Timnah, where he liked a Philistine woman so, he returned to Zorah to tell his parents to engage her as a tradition followed at the most societies. 

This step was against the Law of Moses concerning not contacting or making affinity with strangers till that may result in, participating them in their pagan worship.

But, in fact that was guided by the Lord to move him against Philistines who were dominating in Israel at this time. So, God permitted for his mistake to discipline them.

(So, Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother and came to the vineyards of Timnah. Now to his surprise, a young lion came roaring against him. And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he tore the lion apart as one would have apart a young goat, though he had nothing in his hand, but he did not tell his father or his mother.) (JUDGES 14:5,6) 

(After some time, he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion, and behold, a swarm of bees and honey were in. He took some of it in his hands and went along, eating. when he came to his father and mother, he gave some to them.) (JUDGES 14:8,9)

(Then Samson said to them, “out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet.”) (JUDGES 14:12,14)

(Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon him mightily, and he went down to Ashkelon and killed thirty of their men.) (JUDGES 14:19)

Saint Augustin says, “Dear beloved ones the power of Samson came from the grace of God not from a natural force, since, it has departed away from him when, he had his hair cut as the Holy Bible said: (“The Spirit of God began to move upon him.”) (JUDGES 13:25)

Killing The One Thousand

(Then three thousand men of Judah went down and said to Samson, “Do you know that the Philistines rule over us? What’s this you have done to us?” So, they spoke to him. “We will tie you securely and deliver you into their hand, but we surely will not kill you.”) (JUDGES 15:11,13)

So, do not make the fear moves you to betray God or to do the wrong toward, his servants like the clan of Judah by delivering Samson but when the fear comes to you face it by, asking help from God so that, He will protect you and the servants of God.

(When he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting against him. Then the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him. He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, reached out his hand and took it, and killed a thousand men with it.) (JUDGES 15:14,15)

Hence, Samson could defeat the one thousand while his hands were tied, as it seems that he defeated them by the grace prevailing in him.

Samson and Delilah

(Now Samson went to Gaza and saw a harlot there and went into her. And Samson lay low till midnight, then he arose at midnight, took hold of the doors, of the gate of the city and the two gateposts, pulled them up, bar and all, put them on his shoulders, and carried them.) (JUDGES 16:1,3)

(Afterward it happened that he loved a woman whose name was Delilah. And the lords of the philistines came up to her and said to her, “Entice him, and find out where his great strength lies.) (JUDGES 16:4,5)

(And it came to pass when she pestered him daily with her words, so that his soul was vexed to death, that he told her all his heart and said to her, “No razor has ever come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God. If I’m shaven then my strength will leave me.) (JUDGES 16;16,17)

(And she said, “The Philistines are upon you! Samson.” So, he awoke and said, “I will go out as before, at other times.” But he did not know that the Lord had parted from him.) (JUDGES 16:20)

(Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes. And he became a grinder in the prison. However, the hair of his head began to grow again.) (JUDGES 16:21)

So, when his hair began to grow, he could understand that his power had begun, to be restored.

(Then Samson said to the lad who held him by the hand. “Let me feel the pillars which support the temple. Then Samson called to the Lord, saying, “O Lord God, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance. And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars. Then Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!”) (JUDGES 16:26,28,29,30)

Saint Irenaeus sees, “The lad who led Samson referring to John the Baptism who revealed to the people, the faith of the Christ.”

(And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So, the dead he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life.) (JUDGES 16:30) 

Any way Samson Prayed to the Lord and the Lord forgave him and responded to him and worked in his death, more than in his life. Thus, Samson died as a martyr in the faith of the Lord sacrificing his life, to his God and to his people.

Tawfik, S. (2023). Samson the mystery Nazirite. www.orthodox-beliefs.com
Source is THE HOLY BIBLE NKJV. Arabic New van Dyck text C. The Bible Society of Egypt. Fifth Edition Third print2019. ISBN 978-1-84364-188-9. Printed in China.
References: -1- Book Judges for the Egyptian Fathe Priest Tadros Jakob Malti printed in Arabic. 2- The church Encyclopedia- Fourth Part- Joshua, Judges and Ruth- For the priests of Saint Mark Church. Printed in Arabic.

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