Difference between revisions of "Shimshon and Shemuel/0"
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− | <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="color: #993366;"><b> | + | <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="color: #993366;"><b>Male Figures </b></span></td> |
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<li><b><span style="color: #993366;">Husbands</span></b> – Both husbands bring a sacrifice in the context of the annunciation.</li> | <li><b><span style="color: #993366;">Husbands</span></b> – Both husbands bring a sacrifice in the context of the annunciation.</li> | ||
− | <li><b><span style="color: #993366;">Man of God</span></b> – In each story there is a man of God (the angel in the Shofetim story and Eli | + | <li><b><span style="color: #993366;">Man of God</span></b> – In each story there is a man of God (the angel in the Shofetim story and Eli in Sefer Shemuel) who plays a role in promising the birth of the child. The angel actively promises the couple a son while Eli more passively tells Channah, "May Hashem grant your request that you asked of Him."</li> |
<li><b><span style="color: #993366;">Missing something</span></b> – Both Manoach and Eli are portrayed as knowing less than the females around them. Manoach is not privy to the original prophecy and erroneously believes that the angel's visit will incur death. Eli similarly is in the dark regarding Channah true nature, accusing of her drunkenness until she corrects his mistake.</li> | <li><b><span style="color: #993366;">Missing something</span></b> – Both Manoach and Eli are portrayed as knowing less than the females around them. Manoach is not privy to the original prophecy and erroneously believes that the angel's visit will incur death. Eli similarly is in the dark regarding Channah true nature, accusing of her drunkenness until she corrects his mistake.</li> | ||
</ul> | </ul> | ||
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<h2 name="">Analysis</h2> | <h2 name="">Analysis</h2> | ||
+ | <ul> | ||
+ | <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 only these two stories.</li> | ||
+ | </ul> | ||
+ | <p> </p> | ||
<h2 name="">Contrasts</h2> | <h2 name="">Contrasts</h2> | ||
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− | <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"> Shimshon and Shemuel </td> | + | <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"> <b><span style="color: #008000;">Shimshon and Shemuel </span></b></td> |
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<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> | ||
</ul> | </ul> | ||
− | <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> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</td> | </td> |
Version as of 01:10, 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 (ספר שופטים) | בשורת הולדת שמואל (ספר שמואל א') |
(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 רֹאשׁוֹ" and "וַיִּגְדַּל הַנַּעַר" appear in only 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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