This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting December 7 to study Judges 16. This is the famous ending of the Samson Saga, a tale of foolishness and faith.
Read through this chapter slowly. This is real familiar stuff, more so than the previous chapters, and it's real easy to gloss over things we should think about critically. Use different translations, read it out loud, put yourself in the mud-brick house with he and Delilah, think about what isn't explicit in the narrative, and think through whether it's missing or didn't actually happen.
Once you your own notes and questions, read through a commentary or two. Use resources on Blue Letter Bible. Revise your notes and questions accordingly. Then go back through with the questions below:
•Samson goes to Gaza. Look at a map of Canaan. How far is Timnah from Gaza? Why do you think he goes all the way down there?
•It literally says, “And he saw a woman prostitute and went into to her.” Why might this not be why he went to Gaza?
•There seems to be some missing element between the end of verse 1 and the beginning of verse 2. We're missing who told the Gazitites. We have the “to” part, but not the “from” part, as it were. Who do you think told the “towns folk”?
•There seems to be some missing element between the end of verse 1 and the beginning of verse 2. We're missing who told the Gazitites. We have the “to” part, but not the “from” part, as it were. Who do you think told the “towns folk”?
•This has to be the worst ambush in human history. The people lay in ambush all night at the gate. Their plan is to kill him as he leaves in the morning, he's trapped in the city behind a closed city gate. It seems like a sound plan, but isn't anyone watching the gate? Why do you think the people of Gaza want to wait until morning anyway? Why not ambush while he's “busy”?
•Samson gets up at midnight, goes to the closed gate, and here, the narrative becomes incredibly specific. He grabs the gate “wings”, doorposts, and the bars keeping them “locked”. He puts all of that on his shoulders, and walks up the tallest hill around (you can see Hebron from there?). How do you think Samson can do this without the “ambush” people hearing anything? Aren't there gate guards, watchmen, old lady's with mill stones, or anyone else at the gate at night?
•The prince’s of the Philistines bribe Delilah with 100,000 silver, and she does it. She knows they will bind and humiliate Samson, so, why do you think she's so disloyal?
•Thus begins the game between Samson and Delilah. She begs to know the secret of his strength, he lies, she tries it, it fails, lather, rinse, repeat. The first time, there is an ambush in her “inner room”. Since we already know this tactic isn’t a Philistine specialty, what do you think happens when Samson wakes and snaps the cords? Do the Philistines pop out to be killed? What do you think happens?
•We do it again, she pleads, he lies, she tries it, it fails. The second time, there’s another ambush in the house. Now what do you think happens? Do they pop out to their deaths?
•The third time, weaving his hair into a loom (seriously?), there’s no mention of an ambush. What do think happened this time?
•Finally, Delilah plays the “you-don't-love-me” card. If there has been Philistines popping out of her bedroom every time she tries to take away his strength, how much sense does such an appeal actually make? Keep in mind, Samson's not stupid, he's selfish, or, at least self-indulgent.
•Eventually Delilah wears Samson down. Literally, “his soul was shortened to death”. Why do you think the author puts it that way, why mention “to death”? How much do you think Samson knows about what will happen to him if he tells her the truth?
•Samson reveals his whole heart (lit. “...all his heart.”). From what he tells her, how aware of his obligations as a Nazarite do you think he was?
•Delilah knows Samson has told her “all his heart”. How do you think she knows?
•Delilah summons the Philistines again, and this time they bring money...and a barber. When they shave the seven braids, it literally says she profaned him, which means to take something holy and make it common. Why do you think nothing he's done so far has done that?
•His strength turned aside from him. What do you think that means? Why personify his strength? (See the next verse, perhaps?)
•Delilah cries out that the Philistines are upon him (conveniently leaving out they came from her bedroom). Samson springs up, but doesn't notice the unusual draft across his head. He thinks he will shake himself free, but free from what?
•The Philistines seize him, put out his eyes, and make him grind grain in prison. But the hair begins to grow again. Why do you think they didn't consider keeping him bald?
•This next section is in great detail again. This is clearly important to the author. The setting is a national feast for Dagon, the Philistine god. They refer to him as “elohim”, which is odd for several reasons. They celebrate their victory over Samson, and hold a party in what must have been a huge temple to Dagon. Why do you think they wait until a festival to celebrate Samson's demise?
•During the party they bring blind Samson out to gloat over. He stands between the two pillars supporting the temple. How smart is it to 1) support a huge stone building with only two pillars, and 2) put the strongest man in history between them? What do you think they are thinking to do such a genius thing?
•Samson asks the boy leading him around by the hand to put his Hans on the pillars to rest. Why do you think the boy sees nothing wrong with this? Why do you think none of the others saw a problem with it?
•Samson prays, acknowledging Yahweh, and asking for vengeance for his eyes. What clearly indicates Samson's faith?
•There are 3,000 on the roof of this place. There are probably more on the floor inside. And two pillars supporting the temple. It's huge. Samson pushes the pillars asking to die with them. Why do you think Samson asks for that? Considering there probably weren't survivors near him, how did the author know he even said that? So, why is it in there?
•The author points out that Samson kills more in death than he did in life. Why do you think that's important? What point does that make for the author as a summary of Samson's life?
•Samson's family shows up to bury him. Why do you think this important? What does this say about Samson's end?
That should more than occupy us for two hours. Remember to think through how this account reveals how God might be wanting to work through you?
