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About Rev C.Brian Ross
Expertise
I am happy to offer answers to anyone with a question that refers to the Christian Faith in its widest possible sense. I believe that the Bible is the living Word of God, and seek to base all of my life on its teaching. I also have some knowledge of some of the cults, and of Islam and Judaism. Of course, my answers are just one man's thoughts, and I would always advise a questioner to check with others, and with the Word of God.

Experience
Served as a full-time parish minister in Scotland for about six years, and then spent the last thirty as a teacher (now 'retired') of Religious Education in Secondary Comprehensive schools (ages 11-17) while continuing my own preaching and teaching ministry. I also believe that learning is a life-time process, and have recently completed a Master's degree in Divinity.

Organizations
Former Presenter on Revival FM - a local Christian, community radio station, broadcasting in west central Scotland, and online at revival.fm Involved with a number of organisations that support Christians who are currently suffering persecution in some 70 countries around the world.

Publications
Various articles in Christian magazines. I also have two blogsites - www.crazyrev.blogspot.com and (with audio messages) www.revcbross.blogspot.com

Education/Credentials
Diploma of The Bible Training Institute, Glasgow; Licentiate in Theology of the University of Glasgow; Associateship of The Philosophical Society of England; Bachelor of Arts Degree (Hons) in History from The Open University; Post-grad Certificate of Education - Religious Education and History; Post-grad Cetificate in Learning and Teaching; Post-grad Diploma in Management and Learning in Education; Master of Science Degree from the University of Strathclyde; Master of Divinity Degree (Hons) from Trinity College and Seminary (accredited by the University of Liverpool)

You are here: Experts > Religion/Spirituality > Theology > Bible Studies > Samson

Bible Studies - Samson

Expert: Rev C.Brian Ross - 11/7/2009

Question
Hello, Reverend---I do not participate in religon, but I find many facets of the Bible fascinating. I am familiar with a good deal of it and have a decent understanding of Christianity. I have read in Judges about the story of Samsom and how he took a Nazarite vow which prohibited him from doing several things including drinking strong wine, touching dead animals, and of course--cutting his hair. The book of Judges has some detail regarding this, but a more thorough explanation(of the Nazarite vow) is found in one of the earlier books(maybe Leviticus?). It is my understanding that Samson broke this vow several times throughout his life, but it wasn't until his hair was cut that he was "penalized" so-to-speak when his strength left him(because the Spirit of God did not come over him to free him from capture). So that leads me to wonder---why wasn't Samson "penalized" for the other incidents when he broke his vow? He returned later to the body of ther lion he had slain to retrieve honey from its carcass....yet he wasn't to touch dead animals. When he picked up the jawbone of a donkey and slew 1000 Phillistines with it, the Spirit of God had come upon him to allow him to accomplish this feat. But wasn't he touching a dead animal? Wasn't that a transgression of his vow? Why did God empower him while he was, at the same time, breaking one of his vows? Was the hair-cutting stipulation more important than the others? I have always wondered about this but I have yet to unearth any answers regarding it. Any answers to give me a better understanding of this would be greatly appreciated!

Best wishes always!---Brad

Answer
Hi Brad!
Thank you for your very interesting question – one which, I must confess, I have never before considered! I trust that the thoughts that I share will be of some help to you.

First of all, and for your future study, let me point out that the regulations for the Nazarite (or, more accurately, Nazirite) vow are given in Numbers 6:1-21.

With regard to your specific question with regard to Samson – whom no-one would claim to have been a perfect man (like the rest of us, he had his strengths, and also his weaknesses) – I would suggest two possible lines of thought, each of which is not only possible, but also perfectly plausible.

(a)   Your reference to Samson having apparently kept two of the three vows is, of course, correct. With regard to the third one – the touching of a corpse – I have to point out that the rule did not refer to “touching dead animals” (as per your question), but states that “… they must not go near a dead body …” (Numbers 6:6). My suggestion that this could, quite easily, be interpreted as referring only to a dead human body, is strengthened when, in the following verse, specific reference is made only to “… father, mother, brother, or sister, …”; in v.9, where the reference is to “… someONE …” (a word that usually refers to a human being); and by the fact that the Nazirite is not prohibited from eating meat.

Even then, of course, one has to deal with the situations in which human beings are involved. However, I would suggest that it would have been perfectly possible to have killed even the numbers recorded, without having made direct contact with any of their physical bodies after death. The record in Judges 14:19-20 could be explained by pointing out that the loose clothing of the age and culture would have been easily removed, again without any direct contact with a dead body.

(b)   The other possibility is that, in accordance with Numbers 6:9-12, Samson cleansed himself each time he became defiled, and that God he Holy Spirit, when inspiring the writer, did not see fit to have such cleansings recorded.

Whatever the answer, surely the important lesson to be taken out of the history of Samuel is that, at the end, he was shown to have learned his lesson, and that YHWH was seen to have forgiven him. He was often selfish and, as I have mentioned above, he was certainly not perfect. However, he performed the function God had for him using the strength God had granted, and “… judged Israel for twenty years.” (Judges 16:31)..You state that you “…do not participate in religon, but [I] find many facets of the Bible fascinating.”   It would be my sincere prayer that you would avoid ’religion’, but that you would find, in the Lord Jesus, One Whom you can trust with your very life. He is the One Who said “I have come that you might have life – life that is rich and satisfying.” (John 10:10). I commend Him to you.

Kind regards

C. Brian Ross (Rev.)

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