Difference between revisions of "Shimshon and Shemuel/0"
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<h1>Shimshon and Shemuel</h1> | <h1>Shimshon and Shemuel</h1> | ||
<h2 name="">Introduction</h2> | <h2 name="">Introduction</h2> | ||
− | 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 | + | 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. |
<h2 name="">Content Parallels</h2> | <h2 name="">Content Parallels</h2> | ||
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<li><b><span style="color: #339966;">Leadership</span></b> – Both Shimshon and Shemuel becomes judges of Israel.<fn>By Shimshon the verse states "וַיִּשְׁפֹּט אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּימֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה" and by shemuel we are told, "וַיִּשְׁפֹּט שְׁמוּאֵל אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל כֹּל יְמֵי חַיָּיו".</fn> </li> | <li><b><span style="color: #339966;">Leadership</span></b> – Both Shimshon and Shemuel becomes judges of Israel.<fn>By Shimshon the verse states "וַיִּשְׁפֹּט אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּימֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה" and by shemuel we are told, "וַיִּשְׁפֹּט שְׁמוּאֵל אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל כֹּל יְמֵי חַיָּיו".</fn> </li> | ||
<li><span style="color: #339966;"><b>Fight Philistines</b></span> – Both leaders help save their nation from the Philistines.</li> | <li><span style="color: #339966;"><b>Fight Philistines</b></span> – Both leaders help save their nation from the Philistines.</li> | ||
− | <li><b><span style="color: #339966;">Hashem with them</span></b> – The verses state that both boys grow up "with Hashem" or blessed by Him. Moreover, Hashem allows each some level of prophetic ability. By Shimshon we are told, "וַתָּחֶל רוּחַ ה' לְפַעֲמוֹ" and by Shemuel, " נִגְלָה ה' אֶל שְׁמוּאֵל ".</li> | + | <li><b><span style="color: #339966;">Hashem with them</span></b> – The verses state that both boys grow up "with Hashem" or blessed by Him. Moreover, Hashem allows each some level of prophetic ability. By Shimshon we are told, "וַתָּחֶל רוּחַ ה' לְפַעֲמוֹ" and by Shemuel, "נִגְלָה ה' אֶל שְׁמוּאֵל ".</li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</td> | </td> | ||
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</multilang> | </multilang> | ||
<p> </p> | <p> </p> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <h2 name="">Analysis</h2> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <h2 name="">Contrasts</h2> | ||
+ | <p>Despite the many similarities, there are several important points of contrast between the narratives.  These are summarized in the chart below:</p> | ||
+ | <table lang="en"> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <tr> | ||
+ | <td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"> <span style="color: #0000ff;"><b>Mrs. Manoach and Channah </b></span></td> | ||
+ | <td> | ||
+ | <ul> | ||
+ | <li><b><span style="color: #0000ff;">Name</span></b> – Despite the dominant character of both females, only Channah is named while Manoach's wife is not.</li> | ||
+ | <li><b><span style="color: #0000ff;">Active vs. Passive</span></b> – While Mrs. Manoach passively receives news of her son's birth, Channah actively prays to have a baby.</li> | ||
+ | <li><span style="color: #0000ff;"><b>Command vs. Promise</b></span> – Similarly, while Shimshon's mother is commanded not to shave her son's head, Channah proactively promises this if her wish for a child is granted</li> | ||
+ | </ul> | ||
+ | </td> | ||
+ | </tr> | ||
+ | <tr> | ||
+ | <td> Shimshon and Shemuel </td> | ||
+ | <td> | ||
+ | <ul> | ||
+ | <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> - 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> | ||
+ | <ul> | ||
+ | <li>While Shimshon is disconnected from the nation, leaving them to live amidst the Philistines, Shemuel actively makes rounds amongst the nation, interacting with his flock.</li> | ||
+ | <li>Shimshon beats the Philistines through might, fighting his battles alone, to combat personal grudges. Shemuel's victories, in contrast, are spiritual. When the nation is in need, he helps 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> | ||
+ | </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> | ||
+ | </ul> | ||
+ | </td> | ||
+ | </tr> | ||
+ | |||
+ | </table> | ||
</page> | </page> | ||
</aht-xml> | </aht-xml> |
Version as of 00:53, 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 |
|
The Men |
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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
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 |
|
Shimshon and Shemuel |
|