Difference between revisions of "Shimshon and Shemuel/0"
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− | <td>  | + | <td> ב<b>שורת הולדת שמשון (שופטים יג)</b></td> |
− | <td> בשורת הולדת שמואל (ספר שמואל א')</td> | + | <td> <b>בשורת הולדת שמואל (ספר שמואל א' א-ב)</b></td> |
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<li><b>Degree of similarity</b> – All of the above phrases have a very high level of linguistic similarity, with the entire clause being identical, word for word.</li> | <li><b>Degree of similarity</b> – All of the above phrases have a very high level of linguistic similarity, with the entire clause being identical, word for word.</li> | ||
− | <li><b>Distinctive phrases</b> – Both of the phrases "וּמוֹרָה לֹא יַעֲלֶה עַל רֹאשׁוֹ" and "וַיִּגְדַּל הַנַּעַר" appear in | + | <li><b>Distinctive phrases</b> – Both of the phrases ""וּמוֹרָה לֹא יַעֲלֶה עַל רֹאשׁו‏‎<fn>By the laws of the nazirite the verse writes, "תַּעַר לֹא יַעֲבֹר עַל רֹאשׁוֹ"</fn> and "וַיִּגְדַּל הַנַּעַר" appear only in these two stories.</li> |
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− | <li><b><span style="color: #008000;">Nazir-like Status</span></b> | + | <li><b><span style="color: #008000;">Nazir-like Status</span></b> – Shimshon is commanded to be a fuller Nazirite than Shemuel. He is also prohibited from wine while Shemuel is under no such constraints.</li> |
− | <li><b><span style="color: #008000;">Philistines</span></b> | + | <li><b><span style="color: #008000;">Philistines</span></b> – Hashem says that Shimshon will merely "<b>begin</b> to save the nation from the Philistines". By Shemuel, in contrast, we are told that the Philistines surrendered and "<b>did not continue</b> to come into the border of Israel".</li> |
− | <li><span style="color: #008000;"><b>Leadership</b></span> | + | <li><span style="color: #008000;"><b>Leadership</b></span> </li> |
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− | <li>While Shimshon is disconnected from the | + | <li>While Shimshon is disconnected from the people, abandoning them to live amidst the Philistines, Shemuel actively makes rounds amongst the nation, interacting with his flock.</li> |
− | <li>Shimshon | + | <li>Shimshon overpowers the Philistines with his physical strength and fights his battles alone to combat personal grudges. Shemuel's victories, in contrast, are spiritual. When the nation is in need, he motivates them repent so as to merit salvation.</li> |
<li>Though Shimshon at times prays for assistance, this is to save or avenge himself rather than the nation. In contrast, Shemuel prays on behalf of the people, to ensure that they (not he) will be saved.</li> | <li>Though Shimshon at times prays for assistance, this is to save or avenge himself rather than the nation. In contrast, Shemuel prays on behalf of the people, to ensure that they (not he) will be saved.</li> | ||
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− | <li><b><span style="color: #008000;">Hashem</span></b> – Shemuel achieves full prophetic status (נֶאֱמָן שְׁמוּאֵל לְנָבִיא לַה') while Shimshon appears to attain only that "the spirit of God beat within him".  When his head is shaven, Hashem is no longer with him at all.</li> | + | <li><b><span style="color: #008000;">Hashem</span></b> – Shemuel achieves full prophetic status ("נֶאֱמָן שְׁמוּאֵל לְנָבִיא לַה'‏") while Shimshon appears to attain only that "the spirit of God beat within him".  When his head is shaven, Hashem is no longer with him at all.</li> |
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Version as of 01:21, 29 May 2015
Shimshon and Shemuel
Introduction
The Shimshon and Shemuel narratives each open with a scene in which the leader's birth and future destiny is promised. The two birth stories contain a significant number of plot similarities, buttressed by some linguistic allusions. The similarities, though, mainly serve to highlight the many contrasts between the narratives and the difference in character between the protagonists.
Content Parallels
Both stories revolve around a barren woman who is promised a child who then grows up to be a leader of the nation. There are many more specific parallels, which are summarized in the following table:
Mrs. Manoach and Channah |
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Shimshon and Shemuel |
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Male Figures |
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Literary Allusions
There are a handful of linguistic parallels as well:
בשורת הולדת שמשון (שופטים יג) | בשורת הולדת שמואל (ספר שמואל א' א-ב) |
(יג:ב) וַיְהִי אִישׁ אֶחָד מִצָּרְעָה מִמִּשְׁפַּחַת הַדָּנִי וּשְׁמוֹ מָנוֹחַ | (א:א) וַיְהִי אִישׁ אֶחָד מִן הָרָמָתַיִם צוֹפִים מֵהַר אֶפְרָיִם וּשְׁמוֹ אֶלְקָנָה |
(יג:ה) וּמוֹרָה לֹא יַעֲלֶה עַל רֹאשׁוֹ כִּי נְזִיר אֱלֹהִים יִהְיֶה הַנַּעַר מִן הַבָּטֶן | (א:יא) וּנְתַתִּיו לַה' כָּל יְמֵי חַיָּיו וּמוֹרָה לֹא יַעֲלֶה עַל רֹאשׁוֹ |
(יג:כד) וַיִּגְדַּל הַנַּעַר וַיְבָרְכֵהוּ ה' | (ב:כא) וַיִּגְדַּל הַנַּעַר שְׁמוּאֵל עִם ה' |
Analysis
- Degree of similarity – All of the above phrases have a very high level of linguistic similarity, with the entire clause being identical, word for word.
- Distinctive phrases – Both of the phrases ""וּמוֹרָה לֹא יַעֲלֶה עַל רֹאשׁו2 and "וַיִּגְדַּל הַנַּעַר" appear only in these two stories.
Contrasts
Despite the many similarities, there are several important points of contrast between the narratives. These are summarized in the chart below:
Mrs. Manoach and Channah |
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Shimshon and Shemuel |
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