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THREAD: The Samson narrative has a brilliant false ending at Judges 15:20--then the story continues for another chapter:
'And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines 20 years'.
It's the happy ending to the Samson story, wherein he gets away with doing what he likes.
'And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines 20 years'.
It's the happy ending to the Samson story, wherein he gets away with doing what he likes.
To support this false ending, we have a progression of numbers from 30 men killed (14:19) to 300 foxes caught (15:4) to 3,000 men of Judah who come to him (15:11).
Conflict has escalated from a party riddle gone wrong, to destruction of crops, burning a family, and then battle.
Conflict has escalated from a party riddle gone wrong, to destruction of crops, burning a family, and then battle.
In all this, Samson pursues pure self-interest, and follows his eyes (14:1, 2, 3, 7, 8).
He breaks the Nazirite rules and seems to suffer no consequences on himself (though disaster falls on those close to him).
He breaks the Nazirite rules and seems to suffer no consequences on himself (though disaster falls on those close to him).
But just when we think the story has finished, in 15:20, it starts up again.
He 'sees' a prostitute (16:1) and gets together with her.
Surrounded, he breaks out.
Finally, for the first time, he actually 'loves' a woman (16:4). What could go wrong?
He 'sees' a prostitute (16:1) and gets together with her.
Surrounded, he breaks out.
Finally, for the first time, he actually 'loves' a woman (16:4). What could go wrong?
The narrative has built towards a Big Déjà Vu Combo in the scene with Delilah. Everything we've seen before comes back:
Inability to keep a secret (14:17)
Philistine ambush (16:2)
Binding by 'friends' (15:13)
A lover's betrayal (14:17)
But this time it doesn't work out.
Inability to keep a secret (14:17)
Philistine ambush (16:2)
Binding by 'friends' (15:13)
A lover's betrayal (14:17)
But this time it doesn't work out.
The eyes he'd followed were put out by the Philistines.
His actions had consequences, but so did theirs.
The sequence 30 Philistines, 300 foxes, 3,000 Judaeans is a false literary trail. The last group should not be his allies, but his enemies.
His actions had consequences, but so did theirs.
The sequence 30 Philistines, 300 foxes, 3,000 Judaeans is a false literary trail. The last group should not be his allies, but his enemies.
The true ending comes when we count the 3,000 Philistines on the roof of the temple Samson destroyed (16:27).
His story ends properly: 'He had judged Israel twenty years' (16:31).
As the angel predicted: 'He shall *begin* to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.' (13:5)
His story ends properly: 'He had judged Israel twenty years' (16:31).
As the angel predicted: 'He shall *begin* to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.' (13:5)
Which causes me to imagine yet another ending: the one in which Samson had fully delivered Israel, judged for a full 40 years, and his work wasn't undermined by his own failures.
Or even better, what about a perfect leader who brought life rather than destruction by his death?
Or even better, what about a perfect leader who brought life rather than destruction by his death?
