Samson pulls down the temple in Judges 16:28-30

Samson said, “O Lord, strengthen me once more so that with one vengeful blow I may pay back the Philistines for my two eyes.” Samson reached out for the two central pillars supporting the temple. Bracing himself against them with his right hand on one pillar and his left hand on the other, Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” When he pushed, the temple fell on the people in it. In his death he killed more than he had killed in his life.

The passage is about vengeance--making others pay if one must suffer. Adolf Hitler was a kind of Samson. When Germany was losing the war, he knew he was going to die, so he gave orders to destroy his own country--if he had to go, the whole country likewise must go down with him.

The infamous Nero Decree (in German, it is "Nerobefehl") was issued by Hitler on March 19, 1945. It ordered the destruction of German infrastructure. On one level is makes military sense to prevent highways and water systems to be used by Allied forces as they penetrated deep within Germany. But it is essentially national suicide--a better leader is needed.

Samson is a good symbol for what happens sometimes in life.

When a petty leader throws a tantrum that hurts his own country, we call him a Samson figure who is pulling down the temple. Samson is a useful reference when if any leader childishly harms himself and the country as a whole when that leader lashes out due to a violent impulse.

Vengeance is not what Jesus taught. Instead, Jesus taught the opposite when Jesus said to turn the other cheek. But Samson lived long before Jesus. Samson might not have lived at all. Whether Samson lived or not, he represents a type of personality that we've all come across.







Samson pulls down temple (Judges 16:28-30) symbol for failed leaders who sabotage their own nations?