Study Questions for Stump, “The Story of Samson: Self-Destroying Evil”
Note: Read Judges 13-16.
1. In what ways does Samson suffer? (232-234)
Samson is not only exiled, but also imprisoned and set to work at hard and demeaning
labor, grinding grain like a beast for his enemies. Samson’s blindness is also more
destructive for Samson’s life than Oedipus’s blindness was for him. Samson was born to
be a warrior for the liberation of his people, but hand-to-hand combat requires sight.
Samson is disgraced at home and a pariah to the community around him in his exile. But
there is an extra measure of humiliation for Samson, because he is forced to use his
strength, which was meant to be employed in the liberation of his people, to give food to
their enemies; and his enemies exult over him in this condition.
2. What does the story reveal about Samson’s relationship to God? (234-236)
That there was such a relationship, that it was direct and powerful, and that Samson
trusted in it as a regular part of his life is shown by the episode of the battle at Lehi.
Samson was very thirsty. And so, the text says: ‘‘Samson called to the Lord and said, ‘It
was you who gave this great deliverance by the hand of your servant. And now I am
dying of thirst, and I will fall into the hands of the uncircumcised’’. And, the story says,
God provided water for Samson by breaking open a place in Lehi, from which water
flowed. Samson not only thought to call on God when he needed a drink but that he
called on God in such a familiar way. There is no worshipful address in his prayer. By
way of contrast, compare, for example, the way in which Daniel begins his prayer to
God: ‘‘Oh Lord, great and dread God, you who keep the covenant and give loving-
kindness to those who love you and who keep your commandments’
3. Samson does not get angry when he finds that Delilah has betrayed him. Why not? How
is his relationship to Delilah shaped by his past experiences with women? (236-238)
Samson has some experience of the suffering that comes from having his secrets betrayed
by a woman he loves. Samson’s earlier marriage to a Philistine woman at Timnath ended
abruptly at the wedding when his bride treacherously revealed the secret, she had
wheedled out of him and Samson exploded in wrath, wreaking devastation on the
Philistines before going home, without is bride. And so Samson, who is as capable of
drawing inferences from bitter experience as other people, does not tell Delilah his secret
when she tries to get it out of him. Rather he lies to her instead. He tells her something in
order to stop her entreaties, but he does not tell her the truth.
4. There are several episodes in which Samson demonstrates his great strength. When does
the spirit of the LORD come on Samson? Which episodes make no mention of the spirit
coming on Samson? (239-242)
The episodes asterisked in the list make no mention of the spirit of the Lord coming on
Samson, and it is worth comparing those episodes with the others. It is helpful to begin
by looking at those episodes in which the Lord’s spirit does come on Samson. Except for
the first, all of the episodes involving Samson’s demonstration of prodigious strength
have to do with the Philistines; and even the first could be understood as involving the
Philistines indirectly.
Note: Read Judges 13-16.
1. In what ways does Samson suffer? (232-234)
Samson is not only exiled, but also imprisoned and set to work at hard and demeaning
labor, grinding grain like a beast for his enemies. Samson’s blindness is also more
destructive for Samson’s life than Oedipus’s blindness was for him. Samson was born to
be a warrior for the liberation of his people, but hand-to-hand combat requires sight.
Samson is disgraced at home and a pariah to the community around him in his exile. But
there is an extra measure of humiliation for Samson, because he is forced to use his
strength, which was meant to be employed in the liberation of his people, to give food to
their enemies; and his enemies exult over him in this condition.
2. What does the story reveal about Samson’s relationship to God? (234-236)
That there was such a relationship, that it was direct and powerful, and that Samson
trusted in it as a regular part of his life is shown by the episode of the battle at Lehi.
Samson was very thirsty. And so, the text says: ‘‘Samson called to the Lord and said, ‘It
was you who gave this great deliverance by the hand of your servant. And now I am
dying of thirst, and I will fall into the hands of the uncircumcised’’. And, the story says,
God provided water for Samson by breaking open a place in Lehi, from which water
flowed. Samson not only thought to call on God when he needed a drink but that he
called on God in such a familiar way. There is no worshipful address in his prayer. By
way of contrast, compare, for example, the way in which Daniel begins his prayer to
God: ‘‘Oh Lord, great and dread God, you who keep the covenant and give loving-
kindness to those who love you and who keep your commandments’
3. Samson does not get angry when he finds that Delilah has betrayed him. Why not? How
is his relationship to Delilah shaped by his past experiences with women? (236-238)
Samson has some experience of the suffering that comes from having his secrets betrayed
by a woman he loves. Samson’s earlier marriage to a Philistine woman at Timnath ended
abruptly at the wedding when his bride treacherously revealed the secret, she had
wheedled out of him and Samson exploded in wrath, wreaking devastation on the
Philistines before going home, without is bride. And so Samson, who is as capable of
drawing inferences from bitter experience as other people, does not tell Delilah his secret
when she tries to get it out of him. Rather he lies to her instead. He tells her something in
order to stop her entreaties, but he does not tell her the truth.
4. There are several episodes in which Samson demonstrates his great strength. When does
the spirit of the LORD come on Samson? Which episodes make no mention of the spirit
coming on Samson? (239-242)
The episodes asterisked in the list make no mention of the spirit of the Lord coming on
Samson, and it is worth comparing those episodes with the others. It is helpful to begin
by looking at those episodes in which the Lord’s spirit does come on Samson. Except for
the first, all of the episodes involving Samson’s demonstration of prodigious strength
have to do with the Philistines; and even the first could be understood as involving the
Philistines indirectly.
