Shoftim Chapter 14 | Shimshon the Nazarite

Shimshon is unique among the heroes of the Tanakh and could easily find a place in Greek mythology: he’s known for physical strength and military prowess, spends his time at feasts and in relationships with women, is vengeful, and has an "Achilles' heel."

What biblical message can we learn from such a hero?

In a lecture from Herzog’s Yemei Iyun B’Tanakh, Dr. Yoshi Fargeon shows that the key lies in Shimshon’s opponent — the Philistines. Archaeologically, the Philistines are identified with the "Sea Peoples," a nation that came from the Greek lands, settled in the area of Israel, and took over the region with their great strength. Shimshon reflects a character emerging from their culture, trying to confront the Philistines using their own methods — strength.

However, this attempt fails. In the chapters we'll study tomorrow, we'll see that Shimshon is the first judge to fail in fulfilling his role. He fails in delivering Israel, follows his own desires, and settles for killing Philistines while praying for an honorable death. Shimshon was so mighty that he became a Philistine himself.

Shimshon will be replaced by a different type of hero, a man consecrated from birth who receives spiritual strength instead of physical strength: the prophet Shmuel, who will lead Israel and defeat the Philistines on the battlefield. Yet Shmuel, too, will fail. Not because he loses to the Philistines but because the people will reject him and demand a king like other nations have.

In the final stage, we encounter a new hero: he also faces a lion, he also defeats a mighty enemy on his own, and he also conquers the Philistines. David, who is both a lion-slaying warrior and a spiritual hero, goes to battle in the name of God and composes the Book of Tehillim. He is the ultimate hero, and he is the one who will bring the Philistines to total defeat.

You can find Dr. Fargeon's lecture here >>.