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File:Lucas_Cranach_d.Ä._-_Simson_bezwingt_den_Löwen.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

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Samson

Also known as Shimshon‎

Samson (; ) was the last of the judges of the ancient Israelites mentioned in the Book of Judges (chapters 13 to 16) and one of the last leaders who "judged" the twelve tribes of Israel before the institution of the monarchy. He is sometimes regarded as an Israelite version of the popular Near Eastern folk hero archetype also embodied by the Sumerian Gilgamesh and Enkidu, as well as the Greek Heracles. Samson was given superhuman powers by God in the form of extreme strength.

AI overview

Samson was the last judge of ancient Israel, a leader of the twelve tribes described in the Book of Judges who possessed superhuman strength granted by God. He is significant as an Israelite example of a widespread Near Eastern folk hero archetype, similar to figures like the Sumerian Gilgamesh and the Greek Heracles.

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Key facts

Person.name: Samson
Person.image: File:Lucas Cranach d.Ä. - Simson bezwingt den Löwen.jpg
Person.caption: ''Samson's Fight with the Lion'' (1525) by Lucas Cranach the Elder
Person.native_name_lang: he
Person.predecessor: Abdon
Person.successor: Eli
Person.partner: Delilah
Person.father: Manoah
Person.mother: not named
Person.restingplace: Zorah, Nahal Sorek

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Image: Sansón, de Joaquín Espalter (Museo del Prado).jpg

Show 6 more facts

date of death: 1078-00-00
Commons category: Samson
date of birth: 1118-00-00
name in native language: שמשון
last words: תָּמוֹת נַפְשִׁי עִם פְּלִשְׁתִּים
P8168: Begrüßungsgeld

Sources (9)

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~38 min read

Article

41 sections

Contents

Biblical narrative
Birth
Marriage to a Philistine
Delilah
Death
Interpretations
Archaeology
Rabbinic literature
Christian interpretations
Islamic literature
Scholarly
Comparison with other religious and mythological figures
Traditional views
Religious and moral meaning or lack of it
Death by suicide {{ anchor |Suicide| suicide}}
Samson did not commit suicide {{ anchor |Not suicide}}
Samson's death was a suicide attack {{ anchor |suicide attack|Suicide attack|Suicide operation|Martyrdom operation}}
Cultural influences
Cultural traditions
References to Samson in media and the arts
Political and military news and commentary {{ anchor |Political references to Samson|Political references to Shimshon}}
Military and militant references to Samson {{ anchor |Military|military|Militant|militant}}
The Samson Option nuclear strategy
Militant suicide operations
Operation Samson
1947 Operation Samson
1967 Operation Samson
Rejected name for ''Operation Gideon's Chariots''
Military units named after Samson (Shimshon)
Samson's Foxes
Shualey Shimshon
Samson Unit
Shimshon Battalion 92nd Infantry Battalion of the Kfir Brigade
Military hardware
Samson Remote Controlled Weapon Station
FV106 Samson
Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules
Explanatory notes
References
Sources
External links

The biblical account states that Samson was a Nazirite and that he was given immense strength to aid him against his enemies and allow him to perform superhuman feats, including slaying a lion with his bare hands and massacring a Philistine army with a donkey's jawbone. The cutting of Samson's long hair would violate his Nazirite vow and nullify his ability.