Shimshon

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The Naziriteship of Shimshon
Haftarot: Naso
Rabbi Mosheh Lichtenstein
Manoah and his wife appear to be passive characters, which don't even pray to God to resolve their infertility. On the other hand, Shimshon is a described as energetic, passionate, and impulsive. His nazirite is meant to channel these qualities to a positive place. Parashat Naso presents the nazirite as a mitzvah that leads to kedusha, while the haftara emphasizes the problems that stem from becoming a nazir.
Shimshon, David and Boaz: Passion and Restraint
Part 6
Dr. Yael Ziegler |
David, the royal progeny of Ruth, and Shimshon, the last shofet in Shoftim, have some striking similarities. Comparing the two, and examining the critical differences separating the king from the failed tribal champion, highlights the importance of Ruth and Boaz in serving as an antidote to the problematic period of Shoftim.
Boaz's Extraordinary Restraint
Dr. Yael Ziegler
Boaz demonstrates the ability to avoid temptation, in contrast with Shimshon, who succumbs to temptation. Shimshon squanders the opportunity to save the nation in the era of the Judges. Boaz's restraint leads the nation out of the darkness of the Era of the Judges, enabling the establishment of the House Of David.
Ehud and Shamgar
Rabbi Michael Hattin
The geographical context of the kingdoms to the East of the Jordan River is presented as the background to the heroics of Ehud ben Gera.

Shamgar ben Anat is described in one brief verse like Shimshon - a hero who fights the Philistines. A suggestion is raised that he is from the Tribe of Shimon. Did every tribe provide at least one judge? An attempt to reconcile a contradiction between the words of Rabbi Eliezer in the Talmud and the Yalkut Shimoni regarding this question is presented.
The Birth of Shimshon the Nazirite
Rabbi Michael Hattin
Once again, in the Book's final gasp, the sorry cycle of Israelite treachery and Divine counter-wrath is stated, but this time the oppressors have a new identity. Gone are the Canaanites, Moavites, Midianites and Ammonites of earlier cycles, now replaced by a foe far more menacing and more fierce: the Philistines.

The character of Shimshon is introduced as a Nazir from birth which demands an in depth investigation of the laws of the Nazir.
Considering the Naziritehood of Shimshon of Dan
Rabbi Michael Hattin
Shimshon's nazirite status is unique and peculiar. The nazir is by definition a person who is profoundly driven towards an encounter with the Divine. Shimshon's status is imposed upon him by Divine command from birth and not by choice. Just like the Hazal describe the Nazir as a reaction to the Sotah - the breakdown of the relationship between a husband and wife - so too God's command of coerced Nazirite status upon Shimshon is a reaction to the complete adoption of the immoral Cannanite lifestyle by the nation by the end of the Book of Judges.
Minor Figures, Major Transformations - the Subtle Revolution in Sefer Shoftim
Rabbi Mosheh Lichtenstein
תאריך פרסום: תשע"ד | |
The leaders at the beginning of the book of Shoftim seem to be successful and exemplary, but as the book goes on, the leaders seem to be increasingly problematic. And why are there only two leaders- - both of whom do both great and reprehensible things- discussed in the second half of the book? To respond to these questions, we turn to Haza”l who provide interesting directions as we consider the context of the times, the structure and the chronology of the book.
Mother Without a Name: The Story of Samson's Birth
Dr. Yael Ziegler
תאריך פרסום: תשע"ד | |
Why is Shimshon the last major shofet in the book of Shoftim before a state of apparent anarchy? His story, which spans several chapters, begins with a detailed and wondrous tale of the announcement of his impending birth by a malakh. A close reading of this first chapter in the “Shimshon saga”, with comparisons to similar “barren women” stories, sheds light onto why and how great potential was wasted.
Mirror Characters in the Bible: The Case of Samson and David
Dr. Yael Ziegler | Hour and 8 minutes
There is a phenomenon of "mirror characters" in Tanakh - characters with many similar actions, personality traits, and characteristics, and often the Tanakh will go out of its way to use similar linguistic styles in order to highlight these similarities. Often examining these similarities also serves to highlight the differences between the two characters- including their successes and failures. This shiur focuses on the characters of David and Shimshon, highlighting the major similarities between them, and the similar choices they make, but also the crucial differences. By examining these differences we learn about the importance of channeling one's powers and strengths only towards productive, meaningful actions and national goals.
What Is the Story of Shimshon Doing in Sefer Shoftim?
Rabbi Ezra Bick |
Why does the Shimshon story exist? None of the other stories in the book of Shoftim have extended birth stories and such long accounts.The story of Shimshon does not seem to fit into the usual pattern. What messages can we glean from the story? The Tanakh is interested in portraying the raw power of unrestrained freedom, but Shimshon's extreme lack of control leads the story - and his power- to spiral into chaos. Shimshon's task is to arouse the spirit of freedom in Bnei Yisrael. He neglects the onus of curbing his power and channeling it within constraints. The spirit of freedom is a good thing, but everyone has the responsibility of restraint while cultivating freedom and power.
Ehud and Shamgar
Rabbi Michael Hattin
The geographical context of the kingdoms to the East of the Jordan River is presented as the background to the heroics of Ehud ben Gera.

Shamgar ben Anat is described in one brief verse like Shimshon - a hero who fights the Philistines. A suggestion is raised that he is from the Tribe of Shimon. Did every tribe provide at least one judge? An attempt to reconcile a contradiction between the words of Rabbi Eliezer in the Talmud and the Yalkut Shimoni regarding this question is presented.
Shoftim 13-14
Matan Al Haperek
Matan Al HaPerek - Neta Shapira
Perek 13 describes the tidings of the miraculous birth of Shimshon, a Nazirite from the time of conception. The tempestuous and enigmatic figure of Shimshon is revealed in all its power in Perek 14.
Shoftim 15-16
Matan Al Haperek
Matan Al HaPerek - Neta Shapira
The turbulent character of Shimshon is revealed to us in these perakim through tales of wars, women, and entrapments that accompany the last judge to his tragic end.
Sefer Shofetim: Archaeology
Nachliel Selavan | 30 minutes
Sefer Shofetim deals with Iron Age I - the ~200 year transitional period between entering the Land (and the collapse of the Late Bronze Age) - and the first Kingdom in Israel.

This episode features an overview of the Sefer, and highlights the Battle of Sisera and the important locations around it, as well as a relevant winery. It also covers Shimson (Samson) and the Philistines, and another relevant winery.

The Philistines are an important topic, and Nachliel has been on some of the excavations to Biblical Gath (Tell es-Safi), where he participated for a few days in the dig, and also interviewed Prof. Aren Maeir of Bar Ilan University, Prof. Jill Katz of Stern College - Yeshiva University, and a few other archaeologists. He also transcribed those interviews and visited the Museum of Philistine Culture.

Archaeology Snapshot is a discussion on the location, timeline, main characters and highlights from history and archaeology, for each Sefer in Tanach.