Editing Samson (section)

{{Short description|Figure in the Book of Judges}}
{{About|the biblical figure|other uses}}
{{Distinguish|Sampson (disambiguation){{!}}Sampson|Sanson (disambiguation){{!}}Sanson|Samsun|Son of Sam}}
{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Samson
| image              = File:Lucas Cranach d.Ä. - Simson bezwingt den Löwen.jpg
| caption            = ''Samson's Fight with the Lion'' (1525) by [[Lucas Cranach the Elder]]
| native_name_lang   = he
| predecessor        = [[Abdon (Judges)|Abdon]]
| successor          = [[Eli (biblical figure)|Eli]]
| partner             = [[Delilah]]
| father             = [[Manoah]]
| mother             = [[Manoah's wife|not named]]
| birth_place        =
| death_place        =
| restingplace       = [[Zorah]], [[Nahal Sorek]]
}}
{{Judges}}

'''Samson''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|æ|m|s|ən}}; {{Langx|he|שִׁמְשׁוֹן}} ''Šimšōn'' "man of the sun")<ref name= VanderToorn>{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=yCkRz5pfxz0C |author1-last = Van der Toorn |author1-first= Karel|author2-last= Pecking |author2-first=Tom|author3-last=van der Horst |author3-first=Peter Willem|title= Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible |page=404|location=Grand Rapids, Michigan |publisher=William B. Eerdmans |year= 1999|isbn= 978-0802824912}}</ref>{{efn |{{langx|el|Σαμψών|translit=Sampsṓn}}}} was the last of the [[Hebrew Bible judges|judges]] of the ancient [[Israelites]] mentioned in the [[Book of Judges]] (chapters 13 to 16) and one of the last leaders who "judged" [[Twelve Tribes of Israel|the tribes of Israel]] before the institution of the [[Kingdom of Israel (united monarchy)|monarchy]]. He is sometimes considered as an Israelite version of the popular [[Near East]]ern [[folk hero]] also embodied by the Sumerian [[Gilgamesh]] and [[Enkidu]], as well as the Greek [[Heracles]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last= Margalith |first= Othniel|date= January 1987 |title=The Legends of Samson/Heracles |url= https://brill.com/view/journals/vt/37/1-4/article-p63_7.xml |journal= Vetus Testamentum |volume= 37|issue= 1–4|pages= 63–70|doi= 10.1163/156853387X00077|url-access= subscription}}</ref> Samson was given [[superhuman]] powers by [[God]] in the form of extreme strength.

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,<ref>{{wwbible|Old Testament, 316–317}}</ref> including slaying a lion with his bare hands and massacring a [[Philistines|Philistine]] army with a [[donkey]]'s jawbone. The cutting of Samson's [[long hair]] would violate his Nazirite vow and nullify his ability.<ref>{{bibleverse||Judges|16:17|HE}}</ref>

Samson is betrayed by his lover [[Delilah]], who, sent by Philistine officials to entice him,<ref>{{bibleverse||Judges|16:5|HE}}</ref> orders a servant to cut his hair while he is sleeping and turns him over to the Philistines, who gouge out his eyes and force him to mill grain at [[Gaza City]]. While there, his hair begins to grow again. When the Philistines take Samson into their temple of [[Dagon]], Samson asks to rest against one of the support pillars. After being granted permission, he prays to God and miraculously recovers his strength, allowing him to bring down the columns{{Snd}}collapsing the temple and killing both himself and the Philistines. In some [[Jews|Jewish traditions]], Samson is believed to have been buried in [[Zorah]] in Israel overlooking the [[Nahal Sorek|Sorek valley]] (also considered his birthplace).<ref>Judges 13:2</ref> 

Samson has been the subject of [[Samson in rabbinic literature|rabbinic]], [[Christianity|Christian]], and [[Islam]]ic commentary, with some Christians viewing him as a [[Typology (theology)|type]] of [[Jesus]], based on similarities between their lives. Notable depictions of Samson include [[John Milton]]'s [[closet drama]] ''[[Samson Agonistes]]'' and [[Cecil B. DeMille]]'s 1949 Hollywood film ''[[Samson and Delilah (1949 film)|Samson and Delilah]]''. Samson also plays a major role in [[Art of Europe|Western art]] and traditions.