Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 178:712 (Oct 2021)
Article: Samson: An Anti-Moses Deliverer
Author: Gary E. Yates

BSac 178:712 (October-December 2021) p. 415

Samson: An Anti-Moses Deliverer

Gary E. Yates

and

Jillian L. Ross

Gary E. Yates is Professor of Old Testament Studies and Jillian L. Ross is Associate Professor of Biblical Studies at Liberty University’s School of Divinity, Lynchburg, Virginia.

Abstract

The Samson cycle in Judges parallels the life of Moses, the archetypal national deliverer, demonstrating Samson’s deficiencies as a deliverer for Israel. The parallels are most clearly seen in the water incident at Lehi (Judg 15:9–19), which serves as the trigger for the larger typology. Ironically, Samson is more similar to the people of Israel wandering in the wilderness than to Moses.

Introduction

“There has never arisen a deliverer like Samson in Israel” could have served as the ironic closing to the Samson cycle in Judges (cf. Deut 34:10). He represents the nadir of judgeship and epitomizes failed leadership in this period. Amit has persuasively argued that the (final) author of Judges selected material spanning Samson’s entire life to show breadth; yet at the same time, he omitted stories evidencing Samson’s leadership in order to denote failure.1 The prevalence of signs at Samson’s birth coupled with the dearth of acts of deliverance serves the author’s purpose to present Samson as an antileader.2 The author goes a step further in our estimation: not only is Samson an antileader, he is an anti-Moses. He is the antithesis of the great deliverer.

Echoes of the Moses story appear in the Samson narratives, but they are muted because Samson is far removed from the ideal

BSac 178:712 (October-December 2021) p. 416

of what the new Moses should be.3 Still, several features suggest Samson’s career as a deliverer is patterned after Moses: (1) a preponderance of scenes that employ similar sequences, tropes, and motifs that relate to Moses’s career; (2) the presence of a strong type scene (the water coming out of a rock); and (3) rare shared language. Furthermore, Moses-like qualities are evident in other deliverers in Judges. Ironically, the figure who most closely resembles Moses is Deborah;4 but any real hope of a Moses-like deliverer ultimately collapses in the book. Gideon experiences a Moses-like call (Judg 6) but falls short of the ideal.You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
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