Israeli scholars claim possible evidence of Samson
Scholars in Israel say they may have uncovered the first archaeological evidence of Samson, the Biblical slayer of Philistines whose might was undone by his lust for the temptress Delilah.
Archaeologists excavating the tell of Beit
Shemesh in the Judaean Hills near Jerusalem disclosed they had
discovered an ancient stone seal that appeared to depict the Old
Testament story of Samson's fight with a lion.
The tiny seal, less than an inch in diameter, shows a large animal with a feline tail attacking a human figure.
The
seal was discovered at a level of excavation that dates it to roughly
the 11th century BC, when Israelite tribes had moved into the area after
Joshua's conquest of Canaan. It was a time when the Jews were led by ad
hoc leaders known as judges, one of whom was Samson.
The
location of the find, close to the River Sorek that marked the boundary
between the Israelites and their Philistine foes, also indicates that
the figure on the seal could represent Samson, according to Israeli
archaeologists.
Alternatively, it
suggests that tales of a hero strong enough to fight a lion circulated
at the time of the judges, one that then morphed into the story of
Samson.
One of the most compelling characters in the Old
Testament, Samson discovered his strength when he was accosted by a lion
on his way to propose to a Philistine woman, killing it with his bare
hands.
Though he was fond of their women, Samson was less enamoured of Philistine men, at one point slaying 1,000 of them with the jawbone of an ass.
Emasculated after his lover Delilah snipped off his strength-giving locks as he slept, he was transported in triumph by the Philistines to Gaza.
There he was blinded and imprisoned, winning redemption only in death when he regained his strength one final time to bring the Temple of Dagon down on his tormentors.
Though he was fond of their women, Samson was less enamoured of Philistine men, at one point slaying 1,000 of them with the jawbone of an ass.
Emasculated after his lover Delilah snipped off his strength-giving locks as he slept, he was transported in triumph by the Philistines to Gaza.
There he was blinded and imprisoned, winning redemption only in death when he regained his strength one final time to bring the Temple of Dagon down on his tormentors.
The depiction on the seal itself appears too crude to identify with a specific individual. While the animal does bear resemblance to contemporary depictions of lions, the lack of a weapon in the figure’s hand challenges the notion that this is a violent scene. In an article in Ha’aretz, the excavation directors suggest that “a story was being told at the time of a hero who fought a lion, and that the story eventually found its way into the Biblical text and onto the seal.”* ATelegraph article titled “Israeli Scholars Claim Possible Evidence of Samson” draws a closer tie between the seal and the Biblical figure. Both associations between the Samson narrative and the Beth Shemesh seal rely on an implicit understanding that this is, in fact, a man fighting a lion. If this can be proven, then the seal, discovered near Samson’s hometown during the time of Judges, may very well be linked to Samson or a related hero figure.
Update: The first comment on this blog (written by “Dale”) is from Dale W. Manor, Field Director of Beth-Shemesh excavations. He says: “The discussion above notes that the person on the seal has no weapon in his hand. While there is a question of whether there is a direct connection of this seal with the episode in Judges, the Judges narrative implies that Samson killed the lion with his bare hands (see Judges 14:6). Hence, if there is a connection the lack of weapon would dovetail nicely with the narrative.” (see below)
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