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The Conversation
The Conversation
Tanner Ethan Walker, Assistant Professor of Religion, Wesleyan University

Beyond brute strength: A fresh look at Samson’s search for intimacy in the Hebrew Bible

'Samson and Delilah,' by Anthony van Dyck, 1599-1641. DeAgostini/Getty Images

The biblical figure of Samson has long been understood as a man of brute strength, a warrior on the margins of society whose story is often defined by violence and destruction. Yet alongside his strength, Samson is known for his entanglements with women.

Samson’s story is told in the Book of Judges, Chapters 13-16. In the biblical context, judges were not legal authorities but leaders meant to rescue the Israelites from oppression. Samson is one such judge, chosen by the deity before birth to deliver the Israelites from Philistine rule.

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