[10][15] At the urgent and tearful imploring of his bride, Samson gives her the solution, and she passes it on to the thirty groomsmen.[9][10]. 28Then Samson prayed to the Lord,(F) Sovereign Lord, remember me. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. Rick Moranis Rachel Moranis, Genetic abnormalities, which cause heart issues in humans, might contribute to the high rate of cardiac events. How old was Isaac when Abraham took him to Mount Moriah? Live Edge Cedar Slabs For Sale, His immense physical strength, which he used for 20 years against the Philistines, derived from his uncut hair. Samson Kitur was born on February 25, 1966 and died on April 25, 2003. They named Samson's story has also garnered commentary from a Following this trend, more recent Christian commentators have viewed Samson as a In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, some An interpretation far more popular among current scholars holds that Samson is a Hebrew variant of the same international Near Eastern These views are disputed by traditional and conservative biblical scholars who consider Samson to be a literal historical figure and thus reject any connections to mythological heroes.Some academic writers have interpreted Samson as a As an important biblical character, Samson has been referred to in popular culture and depicted in a vast array of films, artwork, and popular literature. But with Meena on the prowl, will he make it? In rabbinical tradition, Isaac was 37 years old at the time of his bound, which contrasts with popular depictions of Isaac as a kid. [9] Many Talmudic commentaries, however, explain that this is not to be taken literally, for a person that size could not live normally in society; rather, it means that he had the ability to carry a burden 60 cubits wide (approximately 30 meters) on his shoulders. Today, animals in zoos must be bred in captivity, because of the 1973 Endangered Species Act signed by President Nixon. Samson was a judge he was suppose to uphold what was right and free the Israelite's from oppression, but when he died the Israelites was still oppressed WebAnswer (1 of 8): 1059 B.C. After his death, Samson was stored in a freezer for three years, received what LaMalfa refers to as severe "freezer burn" and could not be taxidermied like Sambo. [10] The thirty groomsmen tell Samson's new wife that they will burn her and her father's household if she did not discover the answer to the riddle and tell it to them. How old is Samson of the Bible when he died? Some time later, the Bible says, Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah from the Valley of Sorek. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [26] A tomb structure which some attribute to Samson and his father stands on the top of the mountain in Tel Tzora. The child was to be dedicated from the womb as a Nazirite, which entailed restrictions on his diet, which the angel spelled out in detail. [9][33], Jewish legend records that Samson's shoulders were sixty cubits broad. After his death, Samson was stored in a freezer for three years, received what LaMalfa refers to as severe "freezer burn" and could not be taxidermied like Sambo. Beehler rushed to the scene, performed CPR and a tracheotomy on Samson, but he had suffered a massive heart attack and died. He was captured, blinded, and enslaved by the Philistines, but in the end God granted Samson his revenge; through the return of his old strength, he demolished the great Philistine temple of the god Dagon, at Gaza, destroying his captors and himself (Judges 16:430). Samson had a life of contrasts: Separated as a Nazarite yet tampering with evil associations, spiritual at times yet under the power of carnal appetites, childish in his plans yet courageous in battle, mighty in physical strength yet weak in resisting temptation, had a sad yet . The late Eric Samson, who passed away last week, is one of the unsung heroes of the Jewish people who may not live in Israel but work tirelessly to support the Jewish state. It's like a kindergarten teacher who sees all of her students as individuals," says LaMalfa. "Samson - Judge and Nazirite." They named Hazzelelponi as his mother in Numbers Rabbah Naso 10 and in Bava Batra 91a and stated that he had a sister named "Nishyan" or "Nashyan". He is the author "Hope for Hurting Singles: A Christian Guide to Overcoming Life's Challenges.". This is such dramatic evidence of the nature of the Messenger that Manoah fears for his life, since it was said that no one could live after seeing God. This shows that the author of Genesis measured dates from the beginning of the flood. What do the words "long as I stood" mean in the poem "The Road Not Taken?"? Anne Samson died on November 29, 2004 at the age of 113. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). 28 Then Samson cried out to the LORD, Lord GOD, please remember me. Samson went on to live When is the best time to make an appointment? She loves books, movies, and all things literary. The Old Testament", "Intermarriage and the Jews: What Would the Early Israelites Say? In fact, the binding of Isaac is mentioned by name only in a single passage (Genesis 22:9), while the rest of the book tells us only that Abraham sacrificed him as an offering. Nonsense Songs Of The 40s, As a result, the dead whom This is one of the reasons why modern zoos do not house gorillas in isolated spaces and instead allow them to live in groups so they can mingle and find the right mate. For other uses, see According to the biblical narrative, Samson died when he grasped two pillars of the Temple of Dagon and "bowed himself with all his might" (Judges 16:30, Ben Yehoyada and Maharal, in commentary to Talmud, tractate "sotah" 10a. This has made the name Delilah an abomination and no woman would like that name but some of them are modern-day Delilahs. It is advisable for every woman who is like this to change. [9][40] When he pulled down the temple of Dagon and killed himself and the Philistines, the structure fell backward so that he was not crushed, his family being thus enabled to find his body and to bury it in the tomb of his father. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1597166322662-mid-article-1'); }); "He had his share of highs and lows, like anyone, and sometimes he would get upset when he'd get teased, but he was pounding on the glass to get an audience response. [34] He was lame in both feet[35] but, when the spirit of God came upon him, he could step with one stride from Zorah to Eshtaol, while the hairs of his head arose and clashed against one another so that they could be heard for a like distance. Quick Answer: What Is The Meaning Of Hosanna In The Bible? From a biblical perspective, there is no reason why someone could not serve as both father and mother to their children. [32] These solar theorists also pointed out that the legend of Samson is set within the general vicinity of Beth Shemesh, a village whose name means "Temple of the Sun". [60][61][62], In August 2012, archaeologists from Tel Aviv University announced the discovery of a circular stone seal, approximately 15mm (0.59in) in diameter, which was found on the floor of a house at Beth Shemesh and appears to depict a long-haired man slaying a lion. Sausage Party Google Drive, [9][42], In the Talmudic period, some seem to have denied that Samson was a historical figure, regarding him instead as a purely mythological personage. Joshua Gods warrior and the fall of Jericho, The two scouts or spies were Joshuas eyes, Barak the commander of the army, under Deborah the fourth Judge of Israel, Gideon, the fifth Judge of Israel, with Gods help gets 300 men, Ruth, the great-grandmother of King David, Eli the high priest and 9th Judge of Israel, Jephthah the Gileadite the 10th Judge of Israel, The only daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite, the 10th Judge of Israel, Delilah New Ropes, Samson the 14th Judge of Israel, Delilah seeks, Samson the 14th Judge of Israel, Samson sleeps, Samson the 14th Judge of Israel, Death of Samson, the 14th Judge of Israel, Samuel the fifteenth Judge of Israel anoints two kings, Samuel the 15th Judge of Israel and also a Prophet, Background Information Joshua and Judges of Israel, Next Module Three Kings Saul, David & Solomon . When early Christians were not showing Christ as heavenly ruler, they showed Jesus as an actual man like any other: beardless and shorthaired. you would not have solved my riddle. "He protected me," he says. Bratz The Movie Full Movie 123. The Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him. Heart problems with gorillas in captivity is an issue currently being researched by groups of scientists. The rabbis also believed that Sarah's death was caused by the knowledge of Isaac's planned sacrifice. Samson went out, gathered 300 foxes, and tied them together in pairs by their tails. [43] Ambrose, following the portrayal of Josephus and Pseudo-Philo,[44] represents Delilah as a Philistine prostitute,[44] and declares that "men should avoid marriage with those outside the faith, lest, instead of love of one's spouse, there be treachery. Slate Chips For Landscaping Near Me, Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/samson-judge-and-nazirite-701177. Samson had a life of contrasts: Separated as a Nazarite yet tampering with evil associations, spiritual at times yet under the power of carnal appetites, childish in his plans yet courageous in battle, mighty in physical strength yet weak in resisting temptation, had a sad yet triumphant end. The first instance of this is seen when Samson is on his way to ask for the Philistine woman's hand in marriage, when he is attacked by a lion. The text does not say how long it took Abraham to build the altar, but based on the number of stones used in its construction and their size, scholars estimate that it took about three months. What Does It Mean When A Capuchin Sticks His Tongue Out, Chaparral 264 Sunesta For Sale, Judah Betrayed Samson Everybody remembers Delilah and how she betrayed He had a lady friend called Delilah whose name means: Removed southwest gates of Gaza, and pushed out the pillars of the house of Dagon killing those there and himself.Samson kept breaking Gods rules and so he kept on paying the price.Samson had a life of contrasts: Separated as a Nazarite yet tampering with evil associations, spiritual at times yet under the power of carnal appetites, childish in his plans yet courageous in battle, mighty in physical strength yet weak in resisting temptation, had a sad yet triumphant end. If I entered, there's a good chance he would block the door and I'd be eating bananas and peanuts for the rest of my life and my wife and kids would have to visit me on the other side of the glass," says LaMalfa, joking but not joking. After a long time of grinding grain, Samson was put on display during a feast to the Philistine god Dagon. "Samson could be very possessive." Samson kept breaking Gods rules and so he kept on paying the price. "I was his big yellow banana," says LaMalfa. He was the strongest man in the Bible and was Israels 14th Judge. Like humans, gorillas have to be attracted to a mate, they can't be matched and expected to act amorous. In modern terms, this would make Isaac approximately 15 or 16 years old. On Nov. 27, 1981, Dr. Bruce Beehler, the deputy zoo director, received word that Samson was possibly choking. [45] Samson defeated a lion; Jesus defeated Satan, whom the First Epistle of Peter describes as a "roaring lion looking for someone to devour". They said that even if someone is willing to sacrifice himself for another, still he could be used by God as a tool against that person's will. Hideaway Pizza Nutrition Menu, [74] The tradition, which was first documented in 1635,[74] was entered into the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Austria in 2010. Some scholars believe that the story of Samson is based on real people and events but changed over time to fit the needs of the writer/s of the book. [29], After his death, Samson's family recovered his body from the rubble and buried him near the tomb of his father Manoah. Enter your email address to subscribe & receive notifications of new posts by email. It also means that he must have been extremely young when he first started fighting back then he would have had no physical strength or size advantage over his opponents. His mother was barren, but an angel appeared to her and said she would give birth to a son. (NIV), Judges 15:14-15As he approached Lehi, the Philistines came toward him shouting. [18][21], Delilah, however, persists and Samson finally capitulates and tells Delilah that God supplies his power because of his consecration to God as a Nazirite, symbolized by the fact that a razor has never touched his head, and that if his hair is cut off he will lose his strength. Biewer Terrier For Sale Oregon, It is true that the Bible says that we should show compassion to those who are older or younger than ourselves. Samson's disinterest in mating with Terra, according to LaMalfa, was probably also the result of his lack of socialization due to isolation but also from a lack of chemistry. Updates? And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines! And he bent with all his might so that the house fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. [74] During the parade, a young bachelor from the community carries a massive figure made of wood or aluminum said to represent Samson. He was from the tribe of Dan. [18][21], He then falls in love with Delilah in the valley of Sorek. The first was the woman from Timnah whom he married, the second was the whore from Gaza, and the third was the only woman mentioned by name, Delilah, with whom Samson fell in love.. Divorce was considered immoral in those days. Used Yeti Sb100 For Sale, For 15 years, Dr. Victoria Clyde, a veterinarian at the zoo, performed ultrasounds on bonobos, orangutans and gorillas to find out more about the cause of the heart attacks. "He had been alone for 16 years. As a result, the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he killed during his lifetime. Judges 16:21-31. BibleGateway+ is less than $5/mo. Why Did Gas Monkey Stop Using Sue, The Philistines then seized him, cut off his hair, gouged out his eyes, and made Samson a slave. It is beyond understanding. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1597166322662-mid-article-2'); }); "He had been alone for 16 years. [55][32][1] Heracles and Samson both slew a lion bare-handed (the former killed the Nemean lion). [73], Samson is the emblem of Lungau, Salzburg,[74] and parades in his honor are held annually in ten villages of the Lungau and two villages in the north-west Styria (Austria). Construction Simulator 3 Money Cheat Xbox One, This makes him one of the most lethal warriors in history. Samson. He finally fell victim to his foes through love of Delilah, who beguiled him into revealing the secret of his strength: his long Nazirite hair. As he slept, Delilah had his hair cut and betrayed him. He was captured, blinded, and enslaved by the Philistines, but in the end God granted Samson his revenge; through the return Samson went on to live alone for 16 years before he was presented with a female roommate, Terra. If you had not plowed with my heifer, Abraham believed that God would provide a solution to their problem, so he waited patiently until he saw an opportunity when someone was sacrificing cattle on the edge of the land. This shows that even though we may have different opinions about what happened at Mount Moriah, that doesn't mean the Bible gives us no information about it at all. Samson judged Israel for 20 years, 1069BC-1049BC. Landau Lifshitz Volume 10 Pdf, [68], The 1949 biblical drama Samson and Delilah, directed by Cecil B. DeMille and starring Victor Mature and Hedy Lamarr in the titular roles, was widely praised by critics for its cinematography, lead performances, costumes, sets, and innovative special effects. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other, 30Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines! Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. The iconic ape fascinated and terrified zoo-goers with his erratic behavior that ranged from what appeared to be extreme boredom to pounding against the glass window of his "cage.". Who are his parents? Nazirite, (from Hebrew nazar, to abstain from, or to consecrate oneself to), among the ancient Hebrews, a sacred person whose separation was most commonly marked by his uncut hair and his abstinence from wine. Beehler rushed to the scene, performed CPR and a tracheotomy on Samson, but he had suffered a massive heart attack and died. For example, some think that there was once a powerful warrior named Samson who lived in the region of Palestine and led a group of men in battles against their enemies. We will not kill you.. [9][10] The riddle is a veiled account of two encounters with the lion, at which only he was present:[10][15], Out of the eater came something to eat. Samson in Hebrew means: Distinguished, strong. 5. 37. (Judges 16:17, NIV). Clyde also determined the apes' food pellets contained more sodium than indicated in the analysis and got the manufacturer to reduce the amount of salt in the pellets. However, while in prison his hair had begun to grow again. Samson, Hebrew Shimshon, legendary Israelite warrior and judge, or divinely inspired leader, renowned for the prodigious strength that he derived from his uncut hair. What is the moral lesson of the story Samson and Delilah? Judges 16:21-31. The Woman from Gaza. Paul Samson was born on June 4, 1953 and died on August 9, 2002. [2], 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,[3] including slaying a lion with his bare hands and massacring an entire army of Philistines using only the jawbone of a donkey. Samson has been the subject of rabbinic and Christian commentary, with some Christians viewing him as a type of Jesus, based on similarities between their lives. He married a Philistine woman from the pagan conquerors of Israel. Used Husqvarna Te 150 For Sale, In 1971, Samson weighed 652 pounds. How old was Samson when he was with Delilah? Study Guides . ", Sam LaMalfa was Samson's caregiver and best buddy from 1973 until 1981. Greenworks 15 In Pressure Washer Surface Cleaner, Then the Philistines grabbed him, gouged out his eyes, brought him down to Gaza, tied him up in bronze chains, and made him grind grain in their prison. Samson's trip to Gaza, as explained in the book of Judges, is clearly a martyrdom operation. "[44] Caesarius of Arles interpreted Samson's death as prefiguring the crucifixion of Jesus,[44] remarking: "Notice here an image of the cross. Judaism teaches that every human being is valued and worthy of respect regardless of age or physical appearance. Hair and beard. The Last Kingdom Cast Season 1, Chop Kiss Meaning, I would say that he would have been no older than twenty, according to my understanding of marriage customs of the time, plus the fact of his later being able to The Judgement of Solomon is a story from the Hebrew Bible in which King Solomon of Israel ruled between two women both claiming to be the mother of a child. Most likely, Samson was not disappointed with his surroundings. Meet Isaac in the Bible: Abraham's Miracle Son, Biography of King Solomon: The Wisest Man Who Ever Lived, Meet Jonathan in the Bible: Eldest Son of King Saul, M.A., English Composition, Illinois State University, B.S., English Literature, Illinois State University. [68] In 1877, Camille Saint-Sans composed the opera Samson and Delilah with a libretto by Ferdinand Lemaire in which the entire story of Samson and Delilah is retold. In Samson and Delilah, Delilah is the sister of Samsons wife, and repents cutting off his hair. [6] Manoah was an Israelite from Zorah, descended from the Danites,[7] and his wife had been unable to conceive. Instead of honoring his vow to God, Samson found a prostitute. [20][21][22], Later, Samson travels to Gaza, where he sees a harlot and visits her. 24 When the people saw Samson, they praised their god, claiming: Our god has given our enemy into our control; 25 Because they all got good and drunk, they ordered, Go get Samson, so he can entertain us. So they called for Samson from the prison, and he entertained them while they made him stand between the pillars. [55] Samson also strongly resembles Shamgar,[32] another hero mentioned in the Book of Judges,[32] who, in Judges 3:31, is described as having slain 600 Philistines with an ox-goad. Samson suffered from an ailment similar to Alzheimers disease, eye problems and kidney failure. When Samson was eighteen he met a young Philistine named Delilah. 25While they were in high spirits,(D) they shouted, Bring out Samson to entertain us. So they called Samson out of the prison, and he performed for them. 3 months ago. WebThus he killed many more when he died than while he lived. [9][36] Samson was said to be so strong that he could uplift two mountains and rub them together like two clods of earth,[36][37] yet his superhuman strength, like Goliath's, brought woe upon its possessor. This article examines the story of Samson's death. So the Question: How Many Prophets Are In The Bible? He was to be a Nazirite all his life. We will only tie you up and hand you over to them. [68] In the libretto, Delilah is portrayed as a seductive femme fatale,[68] but the music played during her parts invokes sympathy for her. Character mentioned in the Book of Judges, This article is about the biblical figure. "Samson could be very possessive.". New International Version (NIV). WebThe fictional History of Joseph the Carpenter reports that Joseph died when he was 111. Remarkably, he is listed in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11, honored alongside Gideon, David, and Samuel. She wanted to protect Joes murderous secrets, and in the heat of the moment believed that killing Delilah was the only way to do that. (NIV). The Bible does not say how long Isaac lived after this incident, but since Abraham also lived for another 20 years, this would have made Isaac about 35 years old. [28] He prays for strength and God gives him strength to break the pillars, causing the temple to collapse, killing him and the people inside. It's like a kindergarten teacher who sees all of her students as individuals," says LaMalfa. Omissions? Royal Hearts Full Movie 123movies, The seal is dated to the 12th century BCE. Pagani Huayra Interior Seat Hole, [18][21] She weaves them into a loom, but he simply destroys the entire loom and carries it off when he wakes. Back then there were not veterinarians on site to consult with the zoo has two full-time veterinarians today but LaMalfa knew Samson was overweight and slowly started to reduce his intake by a "banana here, a slice of bread there" until the gorilla lost about 100 pounds. Required fields are marked *. Other remarkable deeds follow. LaMalfa says Samson's living space, a tile-floored room with a glass front for viewing, was at the time considered state-of-the-art because it didn't have bars and wasn't a traditional cage. WebHe answered, I merely did to them what they did to me.. Learn Religions, Aug. 25, 2020, learnreligions.com/samson-judge-and-nazirite-701177. After this, they reported that God made a covenant with Abraham that He would continue to bless all of his descendants forever. Share. Because of this, they stated that God in His mercy decided not to destroy all of humanity, but only Abraham's son Isaac. (NIV), Judges 16:19After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him. He was about a year old at the time and arrived with another young gorilla, Sambo, who died exactly one month after arriving in Milwaukee. Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn. Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee. He first broke his religious obligation by feasting with a woman from the neighbouring town of Timnah, who was also a Philistine, one of Israels mortal enemies. What Do Wild Frogs Eat, In the Old Testament, there are two main texts where information about widows is given: the Book of Proverbs and the Book of Deuteronomy. The more we study them and the life of the prophet Samuel the more confused we seem to become. [31] The name "Samson" is derived from the Hebrew word eme, which means "sun",[9][1][32] so that Samson bore the name of God, who is called "a sun and shield" in Psalms 84:11;[9] and as God protected Israel, so did Samson watch over it in his generation, judging the people even as did God. Milwaukee Zoo announces birth of three Siberian cubs. Samson, Hebrew Shimshon, legendary Israelite warrior and judge, or divinely inspired leader, renowned for the prodigious strength that he derived from his uncut hair. [72], Samson has been especially honored in Russian artwork[73] because the Russians defeated the Swedes in the Battle of Poltava on the feast day of St. Sampson, whose name is homophonous with Samson's. When the Philistines take Samson into their temple of Dagon, Samson asks to rest against one of the support pillars. [49], Academics have interpreted Samson as a demigod (such as Heracles or Enkidu) enfolded into Jewish folklore,[50] or as an archetypical folk hero. WebAccording to rabbinical tradition, Isaac was 37 years old at the time of his bound, which contrasts with popular depictions of Isaac as a kid. [32], In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, some comparative mythologists interpreted Samson as a euhemerized solar deity,[51][52][53][32] arguing that Samson's name is derived from Hebrew: eme, meaning "Sun",[32][1] and that his long hair might represent the Sun's rays. The mention of his burial and its location links The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands. She was 84 years old, according to several Bibles and ancient commentators. Sick Emoji Png, 24When the people saw him, they praised their god,(B) saying, Our god has delivered our enemyinto our hands,(C)the one who laid waste our landand multiplied our slain.. Although Abraham was 100 years old at the time of Isaac's birth, he probably did not live more than 175 years because Moses was born around 1400 B.C. In due time, their son Samson is born, and he is raised according to the angel's instructions. And because of this, they stated that God gave every generation its own task that needs to be done in order to fulfill God's promise to Abraham. They brought him back and buried him As he stood in the crowded temple, Samson positioned himself between two key pillars. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Samson, who died of a heart attack in 1981, continues to be Milwaukee's most celebrated zoo resident of all time. LaMalfa believes, because Samson was so young when he came to the zoo that he did not remember his time in the wild. [18][21] She does so while he sleeps, but when he wakes up he snaps the strings. Diamond Dave Ninja Net Worth, [67], In 1735, George Frideric Handel wrote the oratorio Samson,[68] with a libretto by Newburgh Hamilton, based on Samson Agonistes. How did Delilah die in the Bible? Samson was selfish. [21][26] They summon Samson so that people can watch him perform for them. The last twenty years The biblical narrative only refers to Samson's "twenty years" of activity as a judge in a few passages, which are mostly focused with the beginning and conclusion of his activity. Recognizing his weakness for women, the Philistine rulers convinced Delilah to seduce Samson and learn the secret of his great strength. Web30 Then Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines! He strained with all his strength until the building collapsed on the officials and every person in it. Before his conception, his mother, a peasant of the tribe of Dan at Zorah, near Jerusalem, was visited by an angel who told her that her son was to be a lifelong Naziritei.e., one dedicated to the special service of God, usually through a vow of abstinence from strong drink, from shaving or cutting the hair, and from contact with a dead body. Out of the strong came something sweet. On his way, Samson sees that bees have nested in the carcass of the lion and made honey. After several failed attempts to trap Samson, he eventually gave in to Delilah's nagging and told her everything: "No razor has ever been used on my head," he said, "because I have been a Nazirite dedicated to God from my mothers womb. "It might also be due to stress," says Beehler. Moral: The story of Samson tells us about how dangerous and unfaithful women could be. Samson's incredible physical strength allowed him to fight Israel's enemies throughout his life. You like beer gardens in the Parks? [56] Joan Comay, co-author of Who's Who in the Bible: The Old Testament and the Apocrypha, The New Testament, believes that the biblical story of Samson is so specific concerning time and place that Samson was undoubtedly a real person who pitted his great strength against the oppressors of Israel.