Tuesday, December 4, 2007

The story of Samson and Delilah

Samson was born to born to the Judge Jephthah and was raised as a Nazirite, or a person who symbolizes their devotion to God by not cutting their hair. Samson was a very powerful man who got his strength from God. Samson was planning to marry a Philistine woman which his parents were not pleased with, but when he came to receive his knew wife, she was already promised to another man by the Philistines. Samson was so angry that he burnt down their fields. The Philistines came after Samson and the Israelites had him over. The Philistines chain Samson, but he can not be held and he breaks out of the chains killing 1000 Philistines.
Samson falls in love with another Philistine woman named Delilah. The Philistines urge Delilah to find out where Samson gets his strength. She asks Samson 3 times what is his secret, but Samson lies to her and the officials cannot subdue him. Finally, Samson tells Delilah that his strength is his hair. Delilah tells the Philistine officials and that night the officials cut off Samson's hair and gauge his eyes out. Samson is put in prison and his hair slowly grows bringing back his strength.
The blind Samson is brought out for a Philistine religious festival to entertain the crowds. Samson is brought and tied to a pillar of the arena and asking God for strength, pulls down the pillars killing the Philistine rulers and himself. The Israelites become even more corrupt without their judge, Samson, but soon find the way back to God.

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