In Judges 13-16, a story about a strong man named Samson was born to the barren wife of Manoah, a man of the Danites tribe. Through the angel of the Lord, their son was said to become a Nazarite, a special person with certain restrictions and irrefutable duties to attain. A burnt offering and a grain offering was prepared in return of the Lord’s gift of a child to them. As Samson grew up, he was given superhuman strength and had tremendous potential. However, he violated his restrictions out of selfish needs. Samson eventually became controlled by the thought of pleasing himself, which lead to a his tragic end.

Samson first broke his vow and married outside of the people of Israel. On the way to marry a Philistine woman, Samson discovered his strengths (Judges 14:6). With his strengths discovered, Samson took revenge on the Philistines, for he was not given the wife he claimed. Samson’s love took over and he became weak with women, exposing his secrets to satisfy the next woman he fell in love with, Delilah. Samson was caught in her trap and was seen as a failure as he was captured. He was then blinded, and imprisoned.

The lords of the Philistine people praised their god, Dagon, in retrieving Samson their said enemy (Judges 16:23). While imprisoned, Samson realized his importance and prayed to God to restore his strength. Despite the wrongdoing of Samson and disobeying God’s command, God gave him strength. Before Samson’s last breath, he was able to offer God and Israel his Nazirite vow. Samson sacrificed his life destroying the temple of Dagon that killed thousands of Philistine.