Samson and the Lesson (August 21, 2006)

Another discussion with my brother.

He writes:

I hope all is well.

Regarding Judeo-Christian values, you probably should know about Samson. His story is in the book of Judges. What do you think of his suicide?

Cheers,

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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 on the Philistines for my two eyes!” And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars which supported the temple, and he braced himself against them, one on his right and the other on his left. Then Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” 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 that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life.

-- Judges chapter 16 verses 28-30

On Aug 6, 2006, at 12:32 PM, Sue Harris wrote:

Took writing course 25 years ago. Had to pass English and did. I have been printed many times, but in the Letters to the Editor section and a poem in college. My writing forays don't count in the bowling life I used to lead.

I never meant to write as much as I did last night. Didn't even consider looking at the length until I pasted it to my blog...that is when I realized I'd gone too far without my usual revision methods which generally get the piece down to a third of what you saw. But, heh, you are family and I rarely ever put anything in print anywhere else I haven't rewritten many times.

The name I would ascribe, if I were to do such a thing and I really don't, would be "traditionalists", i.e., those who hold the Judeo-Christian values to heart, having nothing to do with religion.

What I sent you was completely raw, straight out of my head. I will compare yours and mine. I'll let you know

See? I am already doing it again. 'Nuff said.

I respond further:

I need more context to answer your question fully. However, consider that there were Islamofascists whose death would end this cancer in our world, then I too would do what Samson did. I will get Debi's bible and read about Samson, I only have a recollection from decades ago.

My next response:

Context, history is context. It seems to me that the Jews had a very difficult time following their God's commandments choosing material things over piety. Samson was spoiled, selfish and obsessed with women (sex?). He choose badly in most cases and had to suffer the consequences. Samson was not what I would call a caring, intelligent human being. Samson's belief in his strength caused heartache and death. Could it have ended any other way but as it did? Even in the end, he choose death. Suicide? I feel it was more vengeance against what he perceived happened to him. Is he not, in many way, a personification of Jews and humans in general: whine and do bad when things have not gone your way. That's my take.

Love, Sue

He responds:

You have a good perspective.

As you know, the people of Israel have been oppressed over the millennia, over and over again. Yet they have continually been saved by super heros such as Samson, with his great strength to overcome oppressors. Moses is another prototypical super hero who overcomes the great Egyptian oppressors, including countless Egyptian civilians, woman and elderly included and especially children, with genocidal scale plagues. Another is King David, who as a young boy, single handedly defeated the greatest Philistine warrior of all, Goliath. The list goes on and on.

In fundamental ways, the tiny nation of Israel has not changed. You can see Samon's strength in Israel today. Today it is again a world superpower (certainly the regional superpower) since it possesses nuclear weapons in its arsenal. Today too it remains under assault by its modern day Philistine enemies--a legacy of the ancient revelry between Cain and Abel.

The question I asked about Samson's death, should have been framed more sharply: Do you see him as the first vengeful "suicide bomber" killing thousands of civilians, woman and children and the elderly included, wreaking the divine wrath of the Lord to save Israel?

Me: No. What more can I say? My take is that he didn't do with hate but with vengeance, but not for his People, but because of the shame and the loss of his sight.