22 But before long, his hair began to grow back.
Samson’s Final Victory
23 The Philistine rulers held a great festival, offering sacrifices and praising their god, Dagon. They said, “Our god has given us victory over our enemy Samson!”
24 When the people saw him, they praised their god, saying, “Our god has delivered our enemy to us! The one who killed so many of us is now in our power!”
25 Half drunk by now, the people demanded, “Bring out Samson so he can amuse us!” So he was brought from the prison to amuse them, and they had him stand between the pillars supporting the roof.
26 Samson said to the young servant who was leading him by the hand, “Place my hands against the pillars that hold up the temple. I want to rest against them.” 27 Now the temple was completely filled with people. All the Philistine rulers were there, and there were about 3,000 men and women on the roof who were watching as Samson amused them.
28 Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me again. O God, please strengthen me just one more time. With one blow let me pay back the Philistines for the loss of my two eyes.” 29 Then Samson put his hands on the two center pillars that held up the temple. Pushing against them with both hands, 30 he prayed, “Let me die with the Philistines.” And the temple crashed down on the Philistine rulers and all the people. So he killed more people when he died than he had during his entire lifetime.
31 Later his brothers and other relatives went down to get his body. They took him back home and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol, where his father, Manoah, was buried. Samson had judged Israel for twenty years.
And the story of Samson comes to a close. The word that stands out to me in this text is "amuse".
“Bring out Samson so he can amuse us!”
All the Philistine rulers were there, and there were about 3,000 men and women on the roof who were watching as Samson amused them.
Other versions of the text translate the word to perform (NIV), made sport (KJV), performed (NRSV), and put on a show/performance (the Message). So I went back to the original Hebrew and sure enough, the words there mean that he was expected to make sport, to perform for the people, to give them a show that would surely amuse them.
I wonder how amused they were when it was all said and done? A legend in his own right, but I am not sure I would add the word "amuser", "performer", "showman", or "great sports hero" to his tombstone. A judge to Israel that paralleled his own life in so many ways. Emotionally driven, getting into trouble each time he loved the wrong one, and ultimately going down with his enemies. And for some reason we lift him (and other amusers, performers, showmen, and great sportsmen) as a hero of our faith to our children. And why is that??
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