Sunday, June 27, 2010

Samson in Gaza

As it is Sunday, it is time for Bible study.  

Bill Maher has called the Bible "The Big Book of Jewish Fairy Tales" and he may be right, but what is certainly true is that the tales are terrific. Not until Shakespeare and Scheherazade would there be a collection of stories nearly as rich.

Gaza having been much in the news recently caused us to think of the story of Samson, the strongman of Israel, and Delilah, the seductive Philistine spy who brought him down.  After his capture, Samson was taken to Gaza, the main Philistine city, and it was here that Samson had his ultimate revenge.  Check it out:  Judges, chapters 13-16.

A great tale, the basis of epic poems, opera and film (Victor Mature as Samson, Hedy Lamarr as Delilah).  

And what lesson can we draw from this 3,000-year-old story, class? Probably that it is prudent to steer clear of hair stylists named Delilah.  

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