The death of Samson by Gustave Doré, Judges 16:23-31, Bible.Gallery
The death of Samson created and it was drawn with engraving style.
Artwork Description
In one aspect, Samson embodied unparalleled physical strength, yet in another, he revealed profound moral frailty. His physical and moral attributes seemed to exist in an inverse relationship. While he possessed the capacity to singlehandedly carry city gates or defeat a thousand adversaries using nothing but an ass's jawbone, he proved utterly susceptible to the allure of women. His life's narrative intricately interweaves a series of captivating encounters, often with unconventional women who were not of Israelite descent.
It began with the Philistine maiden from Timnath, whom he married and ultimately lost, marking the commencement of his conflicts with national adversaries. This was followed by his enigmatic association with a courtesan from Gaza, leading to the astonishing feat of uprooting the city's gates. Finally, there was the infamous Delilah from the Sorek Valley, whose involvement precipitated his downfall.
Delilah, it appears, possessed great beauty but was undeniably mercenary. Samson's involvement with her leaves no room for justification. He was no longer in his youth and should have been immune to the common snares of sensuality. Yet, in matters of the heart, he proved remarkably naive, pursuing Delilah as an ox heads unwittingly to the slaughter, heedless of the perilous folly and sin surrounding him. Despite repeated displays of her treachery, he remained entrapped within her grasp until her success was assured.
The primary objective of the Philistines was to unravel the mystery of Samson's strength. Samson was no towering giant like the mythic Cyclops, and his extraordinary strength perplexed them. They likely believed that some arcane, magical charm underpinned his remarkable feats and were determined to discover it, rendering him powerless. They offered Delilah a substantial sum—equivalent to a considerable fortune in contemporary terms—to ascertain this secret, thereby providing them with the means to subdue their formidable adversary. Delilah accepted their proposal and embarked on a mission to win over her lover. Samson initially toyed with her efforts, playfully suggesting methods he knew would be futile. Delilah's relentless entreaties vexed him, and she persisted "almost to death" before finally achieving success.
The illustration portrays this pivotal moment in the narrative. Delilah, the seductress, stands by Samson, radiating her personal allure, with folded hands and an air of quiet anticipation. Samson gazes upon her, clutching in one hand the source of his extraordinary prowess—not through incantation or charm, but as a symbol of his profound consecration to God.