Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

Judges 13 through 16 tells the history of the most famous of the judges.  Samson was born to a family from Dan.  Chapter thirteen explains that he was to be a Nazarite from birth.  That is why his hair was never cut.  God ties his obedience to the strength he is known for.

A messenger from Yahweh announces the coming pregnancy.  Samson’s father did not believe his wife, but the messenger returned and proved who he was by rising into the sky in the flame from a burnt offering.  When the baby is born, his mother and father follow the instructions they were given.

Samson’s problems with the Philistines that are ruling over Israel begins in Judges 14 with his wife.  God allows him to marry a Philistine to cause discord that will develop into an open war.  During the wedding feast, his thirty philistine groomsmen force his bride to trick the answer to a riddle from him.  The joke is on them because he kills thirty Philistines to give them their prize.

Afterward, he leaves and his wife is given to another man.  This begins the war between Samson and the Philistines.

The story continues in Judges 15 when Samson returns to his wife.  After finding she has married another man, he burns their fields.  When they find out why it happened, they burn the woman and her father.  After killing many of them, he hides in a cave.  The Israelites come to turn him over to the Philistines.

Three thousand soldiers came to kill him. He broke the ropes holding him and slaughtered one-third of them with a donkey’s jawbone.  For twenty years he led the Jews against Philistia.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger